Additional Student Loans

When I first applied for my graduate student loan I was approved for a certain amount but over time my needs have changed as have my educational goals and I am now in need of increasing that amount in order to further my education. the lender had suggested that in order to do that I would need to re-apply and take additional loans. My parents feel that could hurt my credit and they want me to take one new loan and consolidate my previous one (there are many ways to refinance consolidated student loans)  into the new loan so that I will have one payment to make when I am out of school.