<p>As a financial aid officer, I see students racking up huge amounts of debt. I work at a relatively inexpensive state U … I can’t even imagine how much debt students at pricier schools are taking on. I strongly advise against taking on a large amount of debt. There are less expensive alternatives, and the education is still good … the student can make an okay school a great one through hard work, contact with profs, research, internships, out of class experiences, etc. All of these things are free.</p>
<p>In the end, how much debt to take on is a personal decision. Just remember that it is not NECESSARY to go into a lot of debt to get a good education.</p>