find out if the debt is in your name or your parents' name

find out if you need a cosigner

find out the rate and if its variable or static

find out if theres a prepayment penalty

find out if interest compounds while youre in college

once youve found all that out, take the total balance and put it into a compound interest calculator. if you owe $25,000, you'll end up paying $30,000 or more usually

find out if you'll have a job where you can pay that debt off quickly