Hi,
I'm planning to apply to the doctoral programs in the US starting in 2013. I am trying to understand if that loan for the total expenses (roughly around 30,000$/year) must be taken for only the first year, or is it advised to take it more years? I understand that Ph.D. students are given aid in the form of fellowships/RAship/TA etc., but are these approximately enough to pay part of the loan back and still have enough left to use on daily expenses?