Take a loan if parents can afford to pay?

<p>So this is my situation.</p>

<p>My parents can pay for my tuition and college costs, etc and we're not getting much fin aid because we simply have too much in terms of assets and my parents are on the higher end of the pay scale.</p>

<p>However, i think it's their idea of responsibility when they tell me they want me to take some loans (like 5k a year for 4 years) for college that i can pay myself or something. I don't have a real problem with it because i've grown up trying not to be spoiled and to abuse my fortunate financial circumstances that i was born into. However, being in debt has always unruffled me. For example, I hate when i owe my friends money. We don't nitpick over a few dollars but i've owed them about 100+ dollars a few times and i didn't like the idea of "owing money".</p>

<p>So, my question is, is it worth it to get the 5k loan from the college i'm going to as part of the finaid? it was offered as part of the finaid package (i only got 2.5k in grants and 1.7k in work study...the rest was 5k in loans from the college). If i can help it, would it be better not to unecessarily put myself in debt?</p>

<p>I am all for the student being financially invested in their own education. In my Ds case we cannot pay everything for her even if we wanted to - she will have work study for spending money plus some subsidised loans (Unless she gets one or two of the scholarships she has applied in which case the loans would go away or be reduced i think). We have friends whose policy is they will pay tuition/fees/books - their kids are responsible for living expenses. Everyone has their own 'belief system' when it comes to college. If it is possible for you to do it without incurring debt, or minimising the debt, via maybe summer jobs then I would recommend thaat.if this is not possible then $20,000 is not too onerous a debt load.</p>

<p>Also is any part of the loan subsidised? If so having no interest or capital to pay until you graduate is a pretty good deal IMO - providing the debt level is kept reasonable.</p>

<p>make a deal with your parents....get a loan from them. My son is taking a subsidized (0%) loan of 5k/yr. We have the paper work.</p>