<prompt> Human: Good afternoon everyone, Happy Fathers day to all those who are fathers.A sibling of mine is hoping that I can co-sign on her student loans. From my understanding shes attempting to go to Spelman College. Now let me say this upfront, I in no way shape or form grew up fortunate money standpoint nor wise focused on working instead of school enough to go to a university straight out of high school. Which is why I enlisted in the Air Force, hoping to obtain my education debt free and not digging myself in a hole. I feel awful about telling her no because we dont have many people to count on, my moms credit is so bad Im sure she couldnt get approved for a loan for government cheese. However, Im trying to set myself and my future family for financial success with the less amount of burden.Per the Spelman website, cost of attendance is 42,929.00 per year. How would I be affected if I were to co-sign her student loans? Will this affect my credit score in the short and long term? Shes hoping to become a OBGYN, so will I have to continue to cosign her student loans after her undergraduate is finished as she progresses into med school? Are there any avenues we can take on attempting to retrieve a loan? Have you all had bad experiences with co-signing debt? Keep in mind, Spelman only accepts federal loans.Note: If this isnt the correct sub to be posting these question, please refer to me to a better sub to seek guidance please and thanks. Assistant: First, you would not be cosigning federal loans. Your sister can take out 5500 in federal loans her freshman year with no cosigner required. For additional loans after that, she would need a parent to take out Parent Plus loans or she would need a cosigner for private student loans. Your sister is asking you to take out private student loans, which have higher interest rates, up-front fees takrn off the amount borrowed and begin accruing interest immediately. For all intents and purposes, the effect to your credit and finances in cosigning on these loans is the same to you as you going down to a bank, borrowing 30,000 or whatever large amount each year, giving it to your sister, and hoping she pays you back.Long story short, you should NOT cosign for her student loans, under any circumstances. Of course, you dont want to break your sisters heart. And you dont want to say No. But agreeing to sign on these loans, year after year, could ruin you, financially.You say youre doing okay financially and are interested in helping. My advice would be to determine how much money you could afford to give your sister, each month, toward her college costs Maybe thats 100 a month? More? Less? and offer to pay that directly to her college account. Sorry, Sis, I really cant afford to cosign because thats the same as me taking on the loans. I looked at my budget, though, and can send 100 a month to your college account.Can she afford this college? Probably not. But its okay to let her figure that out on her own. Will she be upset? Yes, but thats okay.Human: Thats actually something I didnt think about, thank you for that recommendation! Hopefully this will open her open to more a discussion because at this point she doesnt even want to talk to me.  <response>: She doesnt want to talk to you because you arent giving her what she wants. Its not your fault she cant afford the school she chose. Not your fault at all.Dont allow yourself to be guilted into taking on 100k in debt because your sister pouts if she doesnt get her way. 