<prompt> Human: We obviously know why, I applied, they gave me money, and now I owe them back. I am more curious as to why my situation landed me with 100,000 of student loan debt.Im 25 now and Ive been pondering this since I graduated college. You see, I went to community college for two years like a good ol chap to save a ton of money on my education. After the two years, I decided to go to a private college with a 30,000 annual tuition. Obviously that was a mistake and reason 1 but I went because of the reputation, connection, and opportunities this college can get you. I was forced to obviously take out about 100,000 of student loans over the next 3 years needed 150 credits. I never received any grant or scholarships nor qualified for anything due to my parents income. This is where it gets tricky and life bites you in the ass.I never wanted my parents to pay for my education nor could they even if they wanted to. My parents immigrated to the US at 31 from Russia and were making low to average income up to the time before I went to college. This means they were building a nest for themselves for almost 20 years by making for a home and saving up for their retirement so they obviously had none left over for my college funds by the time I went. When I started going to college, they were finally making good money, 160k a year for approx. 2 years. This amount meant that I would qualify for grants scholarships and the system expects your parents to funnel the cost. It all goes to shit when I am approaching the end of my college career that my Dad falls ill to cancer that their income is cut in half. So basically they worked for twenty years trying to get somewhere, their son goes to college and has to take out full loans because he gets no discount or help, parents fall ill and their income drops, son has the full burden of paying everything off. My situation is one of many and many have worse off than me. Im just reviewing everything and feel that my family and I as middle class people got really screwed by the system. Am I over my head here or was I dealt bad cards in life?TL;DR - Parents make lower income before son goes to college, son goes to college while parents finally make a good income for two years. Son doesnt qualify for anything due to parents income. Parents fall sick when son graduates college and income is cut in half. Son bears full cost of college loans.  <response>: Tough love time. You didnt get screwed by the system. You chose to go to that college and take out those loans. The system didnt force anything upon you. You could have went to a cheap state school and graduated in 4 years instead of 5. You could have worked more and paid toward your tuition. You could have applied for scholarships or grants. All of these were options but you chose the expensive prestigious route. It sucks that your pops got cancer and all, but your decisions alone are the reason youre in the position youre in. Now do your best to find a well paying job, dig yourself out of the hole you dug, and dont let this type of thing happen again. 