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Friday, December 9, 2011

How to Get the Best Student Loan

Education as we all know, is the key to betterment. It is through good education that the world has been able to grow in terms of innovations. There has been a tremendous increase in the number of innovations both in the technical and academic fields. Getting good education is however not a very easy task. The student needs to be adequately prepared both psychologically and materially. Psychological preparation involves having the brain set for what is ahead and how to effectively conquer. Material preparation on the other hand involves having all the relevant materials in hand so as to effectively pursue the studies. Material preparation often involves financial intervention.

Governments all over the world have systems in place that ensure that every student who qualifies to join a public learning institution of higher learning has access to the same. They give the needed financial help to ensure that the student is able to pay for his/her college fees up to completion of the course. These systems are tailored such that any student regardless of whether he/she has money to pay for the college fees is able to start and continue with their studies. However, the student is expected to repay back the money given to him/her after successful completion of his/her studies and securing job.

In instances when the student is not able to secure a job fast enough after completing the studies, the same institutions that offered the student help start giving him/her pressure to repay. They expect every student to comply with their repayment terms so that they can continue in offering financial help to other needy students. The student is left grappling with their large interest rates which become a headache especially if he/she does not have a source of income. Luckily, there are student loan repayment help centers and organizations that are custom made to ensure that the former student is able to repay the loan effortlessly.

Student loan repayment help centers ensures that former students are able to repay their debts as ten percent of their income. This is good especially for low earners as they can be forgiven after successfully repaying their loans for twenty years. The former students are also able to manage their loans better by consolidating all their student debt into one direct loan hence reducing interest for all the other loans as the interest will be calculated as a single loan's interest.

To get considered for these programs, the former student has to submit his/her current earnings report and also all the loans owed and to what authorities they are owed to. This ensures that the help asked for is exactly the help deserved. After successful consideration, the former student is given the help deserved which makes sure that he/she is able to repay for the loan in a better and less demanding environment. Student loan repayment help centers and organizations have indeed provided many students with platforms of ensuring that they lead stress free and responsible lives by giving them long lasting solutions that go a long way in helping them pay for their student loans.

Student Loans in the US

Everybody knows what a student (or college) loan is: it is very simple, it is just "another loan" that is in fact designed to help college students pay for their tuition, living expenses, books, and the likes. The difference from other types of loans is that (i) the interest rate is quite lower with respect to a "standard loan" (the one you could get to buy a car for instance) and (ii) the repayment schedule is deferred for the entire duration of the education. Accepting a student loan, of any kind, should be done with extreme care, and the student should be aware of the basic facts and total US figures: - The current outstanding student loan debt in the United States stands at more that $830 billion; - Almost 14.5 millions are the undergraduates who enroll for college; - Each college student in higher education pays (but this is just an average figure) almost $11,000 to attend university education.

The figures above are impressive and we may wonder how the US can keep up this huge higher education loan deficit that appears to be getting wider and wider... Anyway, for sure a student loan has some advantages as said, in particular, the 2 major advantages of a student loan over conventional loans are: 1) Lower interest rates; 2) Easier repayment terms.
You can have a private student loan or a federal student loan. In the case of a federal student loan, Federal Direct Student Loan Program, also called Direct Loan Program or FLDP provides low interest loans for students (and parents) to help pay for the cost of college education after high school. The lender, in this case, is the U.S. Department of Education and not a bank or a financial institution, such as SallieMae for instance (and in this case we would be talking of private loan). For sake of clarity, also consider that until recently, there was the Federal Family Education Loan or FFEL Program, the second largest of the US higher education loan programs initiated by the Higher Education Act of 1965 and funded through a public/private partnership. Following the passage of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 on March 26, 2010 FFEL Program was eliminated, and no subsequent loans were permitted to be made under the program after June 30, 2010. In other words, following the passage of the Health Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, the Federal Direct Loan Program is the sole government-backed loan program in the United States.

Student Loans For Nurses

Nurses are in high demand right now, which is good news for students who are interested in becoming a nurse. It is easy to find attractive student loans that have your nursing career goals and education in mind.
With the correct information, you can put together a loan package that includes very low interest rate and an easy repayment program.

Federal loans for students are your first source in financing your nursing education. They are low-interest and long-term making them a perfect resource and the first place to start. To apply for a federal loan you have to fill out the FAFSA. The application is free and is available online, making it very convenient and easy to complete.

It is important to remember there is a deadline. You have to get the application completed on time or you will rule yourself out from a major affordable source of funding for your education.

Another option are discounted Stafford student loans. These loans are sometimes packaged with tempting incentives. The best way to find these loans is to shop lenders for Stafford student "nursing loans". In Virginia for example, you can get a discounted Stafford Loan because a lender and the State of Virginia work together to extend a loan to students prepared to stay and work as a nurse.

There is also a government loan program with low-interest available. You may qualify and be entitled to a Nursing Student Loan if you are registered in an accepted nursing program. This is a campus-based loan program and the funds are administered by the financial aid office at the participating schools.

These loans may not cover all the costs associated with your education. You may still need to borrow more and you might consider a private loan. These may seem very accommodating but they can be expensive and should be your last resource.

Another option are programs for loan repayment and loan forgiveness. These programs assist with repayment of student loans for nurses. One highly recognized repayment program pays up to 60 percent of your loan if you qualify. Another program for repayment requires you to make a two-year commitment, and you may qualify for either partial or full repayment of your student loans.

Minnesota is a great example of a repayment program for student loans. Nurses committing to working in a rural facility may earn approximately $6,700 per year for a maximum of four years toward loan forgiveness.

Tips For Paying Back Student Loans

A student loan provides you with financial assistance to fund your college education. After graduating, you are given a grace period before a student loan must be paid back. While enrolled in college, your loans collect interest, making the amount of money you pay back higher than the amount that you borrowed initially. Fortunately, there is a ceiling on the amount of interest you can be charged on a loan.

Attending college allows you to access rewarding careers that can provide you with financial stability, which is why many people feel comfortable taking out student loans. Borrowing money can cover the difference between what you've received in grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, or even pay for your whole education.

Paying Back Student Loans

Student loan providers understand that it isn't always easy to pay back the money borrowed for your education, which is why there are many government and private loans that are very low cost and also offer flexible repayment schedules. Loan forgiveness programs also exist for graduates that allow them to do volunteer work or military or public service instead of paying back the amount of the loan. Organization is essential. Keeping track of your paperwork from your loans allows you to have clear records of what you owe and when. Put your paperwork in a folder in a safe place to ensure that your information is protected.

Loan Consolidation

Consolidation of the money you've borrowed means that instead of making many little payments, you will be able to make one larger monthly payment. This is a great option, as it can relieve the stress of making several payments each month. People who choose the consolidation method have more consistently paid their student loan payments on time than those who have not consolidated. Consolidated loans help simplify the process and save you time.

Avoid Missing Payments

Believe it or not, almost one third of the people who take out student loans miss their very first payment. That's not a good way to approach loan payments, and there are tips to help you avoid this mistake. Take advantage of the six month grace period to make sure you have the financial ability to handle your first few payments. This window of time is for your advantage, so don't use it to forget about your payments.
It is common for a student to move after they graduate, and unfortunately, it is common to not inform your loan lender of where you've moved. Regardless of whether or not you receive a statement in the mail, you will be responsible to pay the amount of money owed. A good way to avoid this is by letting your lender know ahead of time if you are moving and where you are moving to. You may be able to receive an electronic notification as well so that if you are not negatively impacted by being in between addresses.

Online banking is a wonderful tool that we can use for making all sorts of payments, including student loan payments. Making direct payments on a monthly schedule helps you to avoid missing payments, since they are being paid automatically. All you have to do is make sure that the correct amount of money is available each month, and you will have no problem. You may even be eligible to receive a discount from your lender if you use this direct payment method because it simplifies the payment process for everyone involved.