Delete comment from: Captain Capitalism
Absolutely true. I had a conversation with a young lady who was headed off to college and thought her parents were being vaguely unreasonable for suggesting she stay in-state; she just hand-waved it with something about "I'll get student loans." I was about 35 at the time and told her the SINGLE biggest difference between my adult friends who had "made it" (comfortably supporting themselves and family, etc) and those who were still struggling was whether or not they had taken out student loans. She honestly didn't know that...
As for me, I wished MANY times that my parents had been honest enough (and that I'd pulled my head out of the sand enough) to insist on a state school vs. telling me, "You just worry about getting in, and we'll take care of the rest..." then sticking me with a $22,000 tuition bill (after my financial aid fell thru so there was no way I could get out of it) IN ADDITION to all the student loans. Frankly, that alone is motivation to stick it out and finish my PhD (STEM field) when I feel like quitting-- two more years to get a job that pays double what I'd get if I left now.
Feb 22, 2013, 8:40:53 PM
Posted to How an 18 Year Old Can Be Better Off Than Most 40 Year Olds Today