$300,000 in loans? wow I know doctors that didn't have that much student loan. And in a few years they will be able to afford to fly their own Baron. What did they fly at that school? brand new cirrus SR-22 and Beach Barons?

I hate to say it but I've had kids come to me for their CFI certificates from emery riddle, UND, ATP, you name it, some were very good some I wouldn't hire to drive an uber.

I have no idea what sales pitch they gave you but the magic number moves as the needs of the airlines change, right now they need captains so if you have 1000 hrs of part 121 time then you can write your own ticket, There are a lot of part 91 gigs out there that would take you though. Some pay really well.

Don't kick yourself too much though, you don't know what you don't know till you know it. Best advice now is to keep flying anything that is safe and airworthy that you can get your hands on. Hopefully your parents still have a room for you, and pinch those pennies. There's a reason pilots, yes even 450,000$ a year Delta captains have a rep for being cheapskates.