<p>@juillet I understand what you’re saying about a lack of debt being a different type of freedom. Good point.</p>
<p>I’m a little confused by your point at the end of your post. Are you saying that if you refuse a TA position for funding, then you’re also declining the opportunity to work for the prof in his lab? Can’t the student simply choose to pay his own way and still work for the same prof in the same lab, without the TA? Or is this just not done?</p>