favorite food? favorite band? How much in student loans do you owe?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703389004575033063806327030.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_personalfinance

"..There is an estimated $730 billion in outstanding federal and private student-loan debt, says Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid.org, a Web site that tracks financial-aid issues—and only 40% of that debt is actively being repaid. The rest is in default, or in deferment, which means that payments and interest are halted, or in "forbearance," which means payments are halted while interest accrues."

Thank god we chose to go to a state school. After I read this article, I felt that making the decision to go to Stony Brook was a great investment. An interesting point this article arose is that if we were to choose to go to a very expensive university, we would be working the rest of our lives to pay for it. Would it have been worth it?

Another thought I had was before your seriously begin to date someone, plan a future, and decide if you guys were meant to be, will you discuss your finances? If someone I am dating admits to me he has over $100,000 of debt, I might think twice about getting serious with that person. There is the possibility that the person might be very successful, but there is also the possibility that they'll be average. Average and drowning is student loan repayments. Where would that leave me? As awful as it sounds, this is going to have to be a concern now.

The other thought the article arose in my mind was.. by the time these people pay off their student loans. They will be taking out more student loans to help their future children. When will this vicious cycle end? I know this, unless I have a child that is born a genius, invents a social media site like facebook, or wins the lottery.. chances are they will be going to state school.