Did you apply for student loans just because you could?

Or, if your parents had you apply even though they could have probably afforded your education outright.

I am just curious how many people prefer to get a loan, just because it simply is available to them, and why the person who does it prefers this course of action.

I thought of the question because we are talking about forgiving student loans on another Q, and the answers have wandered a little talking about tuition costs, and how some state schools are still rather reasonable.