Circa 1983 the oilfield crashed and burned. My geology degree most valuable and experience on the drilling rig no longer had value. I sold my house and airplane. I was 35 years old and needed a high paying job quickly. I became a pharmacist in only 2-1/2 years by going to school year round. I already had all the basic math, chem, physics, biology, etc. I went straight into pharmacy school with no pre-pharm courses. Upon graduation and passing the state boards I had an immediate high paying job. I made value judgements on my educational choices. It worked. I was broke the last year and took out loans, 8000 dollars about 20,000 in today’s money. Paid it off early!
At that time pharmacists were in short supply. One chain pharmacy in Louisiana would come and interview students one year from graduation. They offered considerable money if one signed a contract for a couple of years work at which time the loan was forgiven. I did not take it but it was fair offers. “Aint” capitalism great?
If Joe Biden forgives student loans, I want my 20K back! That will not happen.
It should be noted that at my hospital (I am now retired) we had pharmacist students trainees that had 200K of student loans.
I forgot to add a buddy of mine in pharmacy school was also ex oilfield. He to had no marketable skills anymore. His degree was in biology he as I had all the prerequisites for pharmacy school. His job in the oilfield was as a pipeline welder. He was making a hell of a lot more money than teaching biology. He did well also.