I am starting law school this fall. I have about $25,000 in undergraduate student loans and I know absolutely nothing about finances! My loans are spread among 4 different lenders and people are calling my house everyday telling me that I will get all kinds of benefits if I consolidate. I didn't consolidate when I graduated because the interest rate was high and my loans will go on deferment when I start school. So...the question is, will it really be worth it to consolidate now or are people just trying to sell me a loan? If I do not consolidate now, what are the chances that the interest rate will be lower by the time I graduate law school? Help!
2007-07-13 09:00:24 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
If you are in deferment, there is not so much of a need to consolidate, especially if you have government guaranteed loans and not personal education loans. But even in deferment, interest is accruing, you just aren't on the hook to pay it, so you should find the lowest fixed rate option you can find.
The interest rate question is a little bit harder because you have to have a view 3 years out. Rates have been rising, but are still reasonable. If there is a wider effect from subprime mortgages and a slow down in the economy, rates may come back down. If the economy gets stronger, rate may increase. Are your loans fixed rate right now? You might not have to worry depending on the specifics of the existing loans.
2007-07-13 09:05:53 · answer #1 · answered by PK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, first of all, even if you consolidate you can still use the deferment when you go back to school, it is your federal right.
Second, You have your loans spread out between four different lenders, when you consolidate that will be one, which helps your credit, less open lines of credit.
Third, no matter what company you consolidate with, your fixed interest rate WILL be the same, it is figured by a federal formula all companies must follow. If anyone tells you other wise, they are lying or misinformed.
Fourth, the main difference between companies are reductions and rebates, but most of them depend on you going into repayment, so those won't matter for you because you will be in deferment, and when you graduate you will want to re-consolidate anyway.
Fifth, there is always a chance that interest rates will go down, but three years ago the variable rate on federal loans was at 2.77%, now they are at 6.62%, and it doesn't look like the rates are going down within the next ten years. But, like I said earlier there is always that chance.
hope that helps
2007-07-15 06:24:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they are government backed loans, you should not be required to make any payments while you are in law school. Until you start making payments, it makes absolutely no difference. When you leave law school, it may be worth consolidating. If you consolidate now, you may lose the option of consolidating after law school. Anyone that thinks they know what rates will be at any time in the future is wrong.
2007-07-13 10:16:17 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter consolidated inner maximum and federal. (maximum federal are truthfully privately held besides, basically federally subsidized/insured in case of default) there are various agencies that consolidate. My first suggestion could be do not consolidate with Sallie Mae or the others that originally write the loans on your college. they many times are much less very own to handle and experience that they have you ever already, so do not might desire to be aggressive. in case you do a seek and learn the ideas, you will come across a consolidation plan appropriate for you. costs of activity and words exchange, and there is no person business business enterprise which will in wonderful condition all financial desires. basically be advantageous you get all your loans indexed once you consolidate. Your financial help workplace might desire to have the flexibility that might actually assist you come across all of them. My daughter ignored one, so had to pay it one by one. fortuitously it became into sufficiently small that she basically paid it off thoroughly. i understand that would not supply you a particular business business enterprise to look for, yet with a bit of luck it supply you a initiate in the the basically right option direction.
2016-09-29 22:38:17 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2007-07-14 06:42:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-24 08:34:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋