Help me figure out my options for a small (~$4000) student loan. [more inside]
posted by rossination on Sep 30, 2009 - 7 answers

I’m in grad school and work full time. I have several Federal student loans in deferment, all of which are subsidized or unsubsidized with different interest rates. I have an extra $500 each month that I'd like to use towards my loans. If I want to have lower monthly payments when my loans go into repayment, should I make extra payments now towards the interest from unsubsidized loans with a lower interest rate or the principal of subsidized loans with a higher interest rate? Or is there a better approach? [more inside]
posted by yeoja on Sep 22, 2009 - 9 answers

Liberal-arts-grad-filter: How can I parlay my existing skills (qualitative, creative, communication-oriented, artistic, empathetic) and experience (tutoring, writing/editing, activism) into something with a sustainable income and job security? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 12, 2009 - 13 answers

I'm trying to go back to school. I have bad credit, some unpaid debt, and cannot afford any classes without help... Help! [more inside]
posted by itsacover on Jul 10, 2009 - 9 answers

For doctoral grad school: what does one need to do to borrow more than the school's "cost of attendance"? I know federal loans don't permit this; which private lenders do? Will private student lenders lend out despite a lack of income or assets, and despite previous student loans (though no defaults, and good credit)?
posted by Malad on Apr 29, 2009 - 6 answers

Friend is from S. Africa. Friend's family is going to have to move back there in August. Friend wants to continue going to college here but says he can't get student loans. Hive-mind to the rescue? [more inside]
posted by PaulingL on Apr 23, 2009 - 5 answers

How do I fulfill my dream of getting my MBA in Spain? (Argentina is on the menu too). My main goal is to get my MBA, and I am currently a United States Citizen, however I have family in Spain. [more inside]
posted by OuttaHere on Apr 13, 2009 - 6 answers

This moving out thing, uh...how do I do this (financially)? [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Apr 6, 2009 - 37 answers

Can I turn a loan from a family member into a loan that qualifies for loan repayment? [more inside]
posted by hurricanemag on Feb 26, 2009 - 3 answers

New student loan regulations mean that govt consolidated student loans will be forgiven after 25 years but the balance may be taxed as income. Seems that's being debated but stands as taxable at this point. I work public service = make little cash. How to calculate how little I can pay through income-sensitive payment ($165/month currently on 48K at 6.875%) without getting slammed too much at 25 years? Want to see my options for cash flow/403b money now vs. balance later. Thanks!
posted by warsawjude on Feb 8, 2009 - 5 answers

How can I consolidate my PRIVATE student loans, to make my financial life a little easier? [more inside]
posted by SansPoint on Jan 29, 2009 - 5 answers

FinancialAidFilter: How do I decide whether to fill out the FAFSA (for law school) with or without parental info when some schools require and some don't? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 - 6 answers

I have already consolidated my student loans (federal Stafford loans) with Brazos, and I am not happy with them. Is it possible for me to move these loans to another lender? Is there a down side to doing so? [more inside]
posted by nosila on Dec 15, 2008 - 2 answers

Due to a breakdown in negotiations, I have $30,000 more student debt than I thought, leaving me with $35k. I live very, very simply, and after college I wanted to go travel the world for a few years and not worry about a career or marriage or consumer debt. Am I totally, completely screwed into a life of mediocrity? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 28, 2008 - 58 answers

Are there any credit counseling or 3rd party agencies that work with student loan repayments? [more inside]
posted by smashingstars on Sep 17, 2008 - 16 answers

I am a frugal person entering his senior year in college [age 21]. I have been following advice like the stuff in thread 84915and thread 99852 and living below my means. I sought advice in Financial books for college kids my age [for example, generation debt], but left feeling wanting more because they focus primarily on how to cut expenses [skipping the latte, etc]. So, I have some student loans already, but will need more for my senior year. I also have some money set aside, but I should I use this money to lower the loan amount that I'll take out or use this money for an investment (Roth IRA, index fund), and take out more for my student loans ? [more inside]
posted by fizzix on Aug 26, 2008 - 11 answers

What is the best financial/tax situation for us? Kid on way, financial aid eligibility concerns. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 - 4 answers

So, is there any reason not to go for the new public service loan forgiveness program? [more inside]
posted by roll truck roll on Jun 27, 2008 - 11 answers

My partner and I need to acquire a loan for her grad school. The catch(es): She's not a citizen. We're gay. We don't have the first clue how to go about doing this. Help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 15, 2008 - 12 answers

Future Lawyer-Financial Aid-Student Loan-Borrower/Cosigner-Filter: Help me help both and Myself and my Ecuadorian friend achieve the American dream--Many details and questions follow. [more inside]
posted by mynameismandab on May 3, 2008 - 11 answers

Is it possible Sallie Mae is scamming me? [more inside]
posted by Jess the Mess on Apr 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Please help me make the right decision about graduate school. [more inside]
posted by lxs on Apr 11, 2008 - 15 answers

I've been accepted to a Classics PhD program, and I can't decide whether to go or not. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 8, 2008 - 48 answers

How do you figure out daily interest from an APR on student loans due monthly? [more inside]
posted by johnofjack on Feb 28, 2008 - 8 answers

Why am I unable to access one particular website? Since moving out of the country, I cannot access the Federal Direct Loan Servicer site to maintain my student loans. I take care of all my financial business online - stateside banks, credit cards, etc. This is the only website in the world that never loads. [more inside]
posted by BinGregory on Feb 14, 2008 - 10 answers

I'm an American living in BC with about $20K in consolidated Stafford loans. I moved up here two years ago for graduate school at UBC. I've since graduated, secured gainful employment and have applied for permanent residency. My student loan repayment begins soon and I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to do the actual paying. I heard that the Dept of Ed will give you an interest rate reduction if you setup direct withdrawal from a bank account. Is this possible with a Canadian bank? If not, is there another way to setup automatic payments? Any other hidden gremlins of loan repayment from abroad, both physically and financially? [more inside]
posted by Nelsormensch on Nov 7, 2007 - 11 answers

Consolidate student loan or would that possibly be bad for my credit? [more inside]
posted by thetenthstory on Oct 16, 2007 - 2 answers

Recommend me a good educational loan consolidator. [more inside]
posted by calistasm on Oct 11, 2007 - 8 answers

Who owns my student loans? [more inside]
posted by snickerdoodle on Oct 10, 2007 - 5 answers

Please tell me, using layman's terms whenever possibly, everything you know about student loans. (backstory inside) [more inside]
posted by Quidam on Aug 12, 2007 - 13 answers

I have private student loans (not fed subsidized) through Sallie Mae. I, accidentally, have found myself delinquent on the loans for one month. A friend is offering to pay a large portion of the loans, but not the entire amount. Can I use this to negotiate wiping my delinquency from the records and thus not have it hit my credit report? Also how bad will going into forbearance during my (unpaid) internship be until my full-time job starts? One more, due private student loans qualify for the interest deduction on my taxes? [more inside]
posted by geoff. on Aug 6, 2007 - 9 answers

Am I being stupid about money? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 25, 2007 - 22 answers

I'll be borrowing $22,200 to pay for school. All other things being equal, which loan is best? All three options have a 10-year term. Loan #1: 5.55% fixed rate; 1% principal rebate after 12 months; a second 1% principal rebate after 24 months Loan #2: 5.55% fixed rate; zero payments for the last 6 months Loan #3: 6.55% fixed rate; a 3.3% principal rebate after 33 months [more inside]
posted by kakes on Jun 25, 2007 - 7 answers

Right now, I plan to start business school in the fall. It's a top five program, and in all likelihood, my salary after school will be about twice what I make now. That said, I'll be borrowing about $80K to cover the costs in the short-term. Is this a good idea? I'm excited about b-school in general but perhaps not to the extent that I'm willing to incur a debt that will burden me for decades to come.
posted by kakes on Jun 13, 2007 - 23 answers

StudentLoanHellFilter: No more sub or unsub fed loans. No help from FAFSA. Are we doomed to pay back student loans for the rest of our lives? [more inside]
posted by CwgrlUp on May 9, 2007 - 38 answers

What happens if someone gets a stafford loan disbursement, receives the money and then drops all their classes?
posted by drezdn on Aug 28, 2006 - 6 answers

What should I do with $10,000? [more inside]
posted by CaptMcalister on Aug 23, 2006 - 36 answers

CreditFilter: Does co-signing for my student loans affect my parents' credit? [more inside]
posted by charmston on Jul 1, 2006 - 9 answers

Student Loan Question. I know it has been asked several times in the past month on askmefi, but i do not believe my specific question has been addressed... [more inside]
posted by I_am_jesus on May 31, 2006 - 18 answers

Tax Filter: Why would the fact that I paid interest on student loans last year mean I owe the IRS more money? I was doing my taxes on TurboTax today, and I have two 1098-E forms which say that I paid a total of $1,700 dollars in interest last year on student loans. This is the first year I'm paying on loans rather than taking them out, so I'm not sure how it works. My little counter at the top of the screen was saying I was getting an $800 refund until I entered that amount. After that, it said I would owe the IRS $450 this year. When it said I might be able to take the $1,700 as a deduction, that seemed like a good thing... so why do I owe now when before, I didn't? I don't get it.
posted by abbyladybug on Mar 25, 2006 - 12 answers

I'm a poor, nineteen year old college student in Washington, DC. Given my predilection for travel and my extreme aversion to actual (i.e. boring) work, I figure it's about time to start saving money and finding ways to make a little on the side. [more inside]
posted by borkingchikapa on Nov 30, 2005 - 20 answers

I am applying for an alternative student loan. I am confused about the difference between Prime and LIBOR, and I am confused about how to actually decide which lender to go with. [more inside]
posted by jennyjenny on Oct 8, 2005 - 2 answers

So this idiot "friend" of mine defaulted on his student loans, and the collection agency in charge of, well, collecting them has tacked on about $5000 worth of fees. Now that he's paying them back and rehabilitating his loan, is there any way he can get those fees eliminated? The collections agency says the best they'll do is deduct about $1000 after rehabilitation, but I'm convinced there must be something more he can do. Thanks, as always!
posted by anonymous on Jul 2, 2005 - 7 answers

Where should I go to graduate school? Program 1 is about a decade old, is pretty good match for me, and is well respected within the field. Program 2 is several decades old, is an even better match for me, is even more respected within the field, and is located in a much better environment for internships, off-campus jobs, post-graduation employment prospects, and so forth. So what's the problem? Program 1 has offered a full tuition scholarship, while program 2 has offered only less than a third of its tuition. [more inside]
posted by ChasFile on Apr 8, 2005 - 16 answers

I have a sizable amount of Federal Perkins and Subsidized Stafford student loan debt, and I'm thinking of consolidating to take advantage of current interest rates. 1) Is this a good idea (why/why not?), 2) Through whom do I consolidate? I seem to get offers to do so every day from random companies. Is any one more reputable than any other? The only one of which I've heard is Sallie Mae. [more inside]
posted by The Michael The on Apr 1, 2005 - 15 answers

I'm a full-time college sophomore. I'm working full time, 35 hours a week, to try and make ends meet but I'm having a hard time. I know there was another thread on loans earlier, but my situation is different.

The disbursement I get from the federal student loan programs is not enough to cover my tuition itself, and the extra cost of room, board, books and other necessities is eating in and I'm beginning to run up serious credit card debt. My parents make enough money to keep me from getting grants or financial need scholarships, but they will not help me with school, nor will they co-sign a 3rd party loan. I live in a very cheap apartment and take the bus to school, and I've cut food and entertainment expenses to the minimums. I talked to the financial aid office and they said that there was nothing they could do except offer me a position on campus (for less hours and the same money as my current job) or give me a list of 3rd party loan providers. I called the providers, but they all rejected me because I'm too young (21), single and don't have a cosigner.

What do I do? I feel like I'm being punished for trying to go to school.
posted by anonymous on Jan 27, 2005 - 59 answers

FinanceFilter: I recently experienced the wonderful epiphany of 'college student = poor' as I finished paying bills and checking my bank accounts today. It seems that I've spent almost all of my summer job savings, and by February 1st I will have the grand total of approximately $12 to my name.

My basic question is: what should I know before taking out student loans? I'm looking for personal experiences, warnings, recommendations, etc. I want to make sure I do this right so a few years from now I won't be posting an AskMe question about trying to get out of my many-times-deferred loans. I'm not hardcore set on taking out student loans, but it's an option that seems favorable at first glance and has been recommended and pursued by many of my friends. [MI] [more inside]
posted by ElfWord on Jan 26, 2005 - 16 answers

DebtForgivenessFilter: I'm currently student teaching and expect to get my licensure in May or June, and a job shortly thereafter. Problem is, over my educational career, I've managed to accumulate a not-insubstantial amount in student loans. I'd like to see them lessened to vanish entirely. [+mi] [more inside]
posted by absalom on Jan 20, 2005 - 7 answers

I'm in college in the U.S., and have a few state student loans. They were under a forebearance that I once requested, which ended four months ago. I didn't realize this, and ignored the mail that was sent about it because I thought it was the usual mail they send me about how I have a loan and ads for consolidation. I just recently got this fixed and the forebearance backdated so it will have another year from when it ended. But I now have two 60-day late marks on my otherwise good credit report. Anything I can do to get rid of them?
posted by anonymous on Jan 8, 2005 - 5 answers

How risky is it to default on your student loans?
I have a friend/in-law who has been living abroad (England) for the last 10 or so years. They never repaid their student loans before moving but do visit the U.S. fairly frequently. Is there any risk of them being caught entering or leaving the country?
posted by anonymous on Dec 31, 2004 - 10 answers