[Kate*]

As a graduate student who will graduate with more debt than I originally intended, I have to suggest staying home for now, especially if you plan to be in school for awhile. For the sake of your financial sanity save what you can now because eventually you will have to pay it back and graduate school is more expensive than undergrad (both masters and doctorate). Also, you're not as eligible for the subsidized loans and you'll have to take the unsubsidized. Take as few loans as possible. I'm not going to talk you out of a PhD if that's what you want, but I was going to get one until I realized I could do what I wanted with just a masters which will save me a lot of time and money.