i’m going to probably stand alone in this, but if it were me…D wouldn’t really even be on the table unless there was some ridiculously compelling reason (and fit isn’t one of them–bloom where you are planted).
I strongly believe that a 17 year old cant grasp the real costs of $40,000 in loans and as a parent I feel its my role to rein it in. the real costs are more than just the $$$ involved—that kind of debt for a young person is truly life altering.
I would be on board with a much more manageable amount…every kid is different and yes, some are more motivated with skin in, some will be willing to live at home for a year or two to pound out loans, some will have careers that make the payments a drop in the bucket. but many will struggle on a level that can become a stranglehold.
i just feel that these kids end up with choking debt based on a decision made as a teenager in which they just don’t have the life experience to understand the ramifications and i find it both scary and sad.