You can't be an RA as a freshman. And not everyone who applies for an RA position gets one after that. Work study is a federal aid program (you have to fill out the FAFSA, and the college decides whether and how much to award if you meet the qualifications). But work study is not a lot of money usually... Also, at many colleges if they award you a merit scholarship, they just turn around and reduce the need based aid by that amount, so your cost of attendance is the same. Some colleges even do this if you earn outside scholarships (so they knock that amount off your need based aid). It is much, much harder to go to college "on your own" than it used to be.
Regarding loans, the most a student can take out on their own in loans is $5,500 each year freshman and sophomore year, $6,500 junior year, and $7,500 senior year. Total is $25,000. Any loans beyond that require a co-signer (usually a parent). So there is some cap of how much they can take out on their own.
And... sorry, but it seems ridiculous to give up four years of full time earning power with a college education to avoid taking out any loans at all. There are some situations in which really limiting loans make sense -- for example, kids who expect to go to grad school in areas where they typically would need to pay full price with no stipends. Or those who major in areas with very poor employment prospects -- although federal loans have a forgiveness component built in if your income is low over a long period of time. The odds are a whole lot higher of living on Ramen for 20 years for people who don't go to college at all.
I was simplifying. Just naming various options that are out there. I have plenty of friends who have done it and not that long ago.
I do find it important to get out of college debt free if at all possible. Far too many people aren't even using their degrees and the last thing I would want my kids to have to do is paying off loans for something they decide not to do or not be able to find a job in that field.
