u/warpshed

im kind of stuck on what i want to do in terms of getting a degree or not. so im trying to understand how the payment scale works and if its possible to quickly start at a GS-5 or so without a degree. if anyone else has done this without any higher education, please help me out!

When I begin searching for jobs, I will have a Master Wildlife Conservationist certification (which requires lots of volunteering) through my state, and I am aiming for CPR and EMT training since I am looking more towards the law enforcement/emergency side of things. (obviously would be attending a training academy for LE if i go down that path) Are these all most likely going to be helpful in achieving a higher pay level quickly?

What pay level did you start off at, and what experience did you go into it with? If you started on the lower end, how long did it take you to work your way up?

I just started doing my FASFA student loan counseling thing and it's making me a bit nervous.
In total, my school private loans will come up to around 76k, and at the moment I am not taking into consideration my federal loans (future career will qualify for PSLF I think).
My estimated interest for private loans is 7.41%. I have a plan to be paying 300 towards them while I am in school, which I think will be achievable for me because I am very determined and can balance school life and work enough to make money + have plenty in savings as a backup. Also trying to send any money I make inbetween semesters directly to my loans.
After school, the career I am aiming for will hopefully bring me between 56k and 59k a year when I am starting out (due to having a degree and aiming to get some experience in between semesters). FAFSA loan counseling tells me that paying off my loans will be completely unaffordable. I've tried calculating it all out by projected rent prices, monthly expenses, how much I'll have left over at the end of it to pay towards loans while also saving money and having extra money. I know it is a lot of money, but I was hoping to be able to maybe pay 900ish per month towards it. I will most likely do 500 at minimum, but I don't know if that's really an achievable plan. My career path will not be bringing me any money (basically starting out at the same salary I make part-time at a grocery store right now..) without a degree, where having a bachelor's+expierence instantly starts me at a higher pay level. But the amount is a lot, and I'm not sure if it's worth it. Do you think that your loan amount was worth it for the places it brought you? Or am I being too ambitious with it all. I don't have any problems paying debts on time, I don't spend like crazy, and I am very smart with saving my money and not blowing it all on dumb stuff. I also will be living with my parents for probably at least a year after graduation, and I do not pay rent aside from car insurance and phone bill.

TLDR: 76k in loan debt, 7.41% APR. Projected salary is 56kish, and I will not instantly have many bills to pay at home. Paying off in 10 years would require 900/mo, but planning on doing 300/mo while in school and all off-semester job money towards loans. Is this achievable? Will I be screwing myself over for these loans, or will it be doable? Going based off singular income/no help for projected bills and neccesities.

Were your loans worth it??? How long did it take you to pay it off?