Ask HN: Student loans to fund my startup ventures?
BACKGROUND: I graduated with my BS in BME from a top 5 engineering school and have been in a PhD program since. I expect to graduate in 2015. I don't see myself working on stuff related to my PhD after I graduate.
I have over $100k in private/govt loans already from my undergrad, but I haven't taken any loans during my PhD since I'm funded. I do feel like I'll be able to land a high paying job if I decide to go into industry. (A complete burn disaster wouldn't be the end of the world for me, but it'd suck really bad.)
PREMISE: The only excuse I've always had for not starting something was my lack of capital. I'm like the Jack of all trades, King of none when it comes to programming, web servers, startups, entrepreneurship, hustling, making stuff happen. I know enough so that people can't take advantage of me, and if I really spend time on something, I can figure it out. I'm in no way a ninja in anything specific, but I am a ninja in getting things done.
SITUATION: I can get $20k over two semesters in federal unsubsidized loans at 6.5% interest. Since I'm fully funded, I got back one refund check of around $10k and will get another check in a few weeks when the semester starts. Is it stupid to fund my startup ventures by taking on more student loans?
I know there are stupid risks and calculated risks. I feel like this is a calculated risk that limits my failure, and I can still succeed if I fail. I want to succeed in this, and I think in this situation, my back is against the wall, my money is where my mouth is, and if I fail, it's on me, which will drive me even more to succeed.