<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084</id><updated>2008-09-30T21:47:11.140-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Education Loans Blog</title><subtitle type='html'>Education Loan information and updates provided by the staff at EducationLoans.Org. Features recent news, helpful articles and additional resources for students and parents looking for college loans.</subtitle><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/blogger.html'/><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.educationloans.org/atom.xml'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>17</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-5363587081797653269</id><published>2008-03-19T20:58:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-03-19T21:05:53.838-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><title type='text'>Education loan focus : PLUS Loans</title><content type='html'>The United States &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Department of Education&lt;/span&gt; (EOD) offers parents and graduate students a PLUS Loan to fund college related expenses. For parents, this means an opportunity for them to pay for their child’s collegiate education without the hassle of taking on a second mortgage or other form of private funding. For graduates, who find themselves qualifying for less student aid once an initial bachelor’s degree is achieved, it means funding an education to earn a master’s or doctorate’s degree. The following is a brief breakdown of the pros and cons associated with the &lt;a href="http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/parentloans.jsp"&gt;PLUS Loan&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Low Interest Rates&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because the EOD PLUS loan is a federally backed loan, it boasts a very low interest rate. Quite typically, the PLUS loan features a loan rate considerably lower than the student or parent’s other financing options.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Covers College Expenses&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A PLUS Loan borrower can take out the total amount needed to cover all education expenses minus any other student aid awarded to the student.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Accommodating Repayment Plans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The federal government offers several repayment plans flexible in nature in an effort to make it easier for the borrower to repay the debt. The PLUS Loan repayment plan begins within two months after the first disbursement is made to the school.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Credit Check Needed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unlike other EOD loan programs, the PLUS Loan does require the borrower to undergo a credit check. The borrower must have a positive credit score in order for the government to award him or her a loan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Federal Application&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As with all other EOD student aid, a PLUS Loan borrower must fill out a Free Application For Federal Student Aid (&lt;a href="http://fafsa.ed.gov"&gt;FAFSA&lt;/a&gt;). This loan process can be a bit long and extensive. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Numerous Borrowings&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal student aid is a renewable process that takes place on an annual basis. The PLUS Loan program is no different. Students and parents taking out a PLUS Loan must reapply through the FAFSA each year in January. Once the student is out of college, he or she (or the parent) can opt to have the multiple borrowings consolidated into a lump sum for payoff.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more on &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; for college, visit &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org"&gt;www.educationloans.org&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/5363587081797653269/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=5363587081797653269' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5363587081797653269'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5363587081797653269'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2008/03/united-states-department-of-education.html' title='Education loan focus : PLUS Loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-4532361238307288884</id><published>2008-03-02T16:07:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-03-02T16:09:05.619-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='finance'/><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>If you have student debt and plan on filing bankruptcy anytime soon, don’t count of the government to bail you out of you education loans. Per federal law, education loans from both the private and federal sectors cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy. According to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, all education loans are protected from bankruptcy. Under certain circumstances, this restriction may not apply. However, the borrower must prove that he or she faces an “undue hardship” when making a loan payment. Unfortunately, the odds of actually proving undue hardship are quite low, so most borrowers end up repaying any education loan debt they may have. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you have education loans, however, don’t give up just yet. Borrowers who file Chapter 13 bankruptcy can ask to have their loans consolidated with the rest of their bankruptcy debt. In a Chapter 13 filing, the borrower must repay the debt via a payment plan that lasts between three and five years. Most likely, the student loan debt will not be paid off during this timeframe, however it will lower the amount the borrower owes. A new repayment plan on the education loans will begin following the conclusion of the bankruptcy plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The borrower can also dispute the amount loan lenders claim is owed on the education loans. This is because an education loan that is transferred between lending institutions many times – which is not an uncommon practice – can lose its true amount due. By filing an objection to the institution’s claim, the borrower may convince the court to knock off some of the debt due on the loan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Financial aid experts recommend borrowers who are struggling financially contact their lenders directly before heading to bankruptcy court. Most lenders offer flexible repayment plans, student loan consolidation options, and hardship deferments that can help keep the borrower afloat during a particularly touch time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Learn more about education loans at &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org"&gt;EducationLoans.org&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/4532361238307288884/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=4532361238307288884' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/4532361238307288884'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/4532361238307288884'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2008/03/if-you-have-student-debt-and-plan-on.html' title=''/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-5684099434199715548</id><published>2008-02-13T06:31:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-02-13T06:38:58.945-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Paying for College With a Direct Student Loan</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Paying for College With a Direct Student Loan&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Written By Marc Ryan&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org"&gt;Education Loans&lt;/a&gt;.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Paying for college is a dilemma that many families worry about when they have a child that is graduating from high school. However, a direct student loan can ease that worry for most families. A direct student loan helps students pay for college who many not otherwise have been able to go to college. When trying to figure out how to pay for school, any little bit helps and a direct student loan can be that help&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A direct student loan is a loan supplied by the department of education. Direct education loans offer financial support to students who can not afford to pay for school themselves. It is government funded, therefore a direct loan is very beneficial compared to other loans offered on the market.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the benefits of a direct student loan is that the direct student loan can be repaid once a student finishes their education. Often times a direct student loan has a six month grace period once a student graduates. This six month grace period starts right after graduation and gives a student a chance to find a job and start earning money before the student has to start making payments on a direct student loan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/loans/"&gt;direct education loans&lt;/a&gt; also offer a lower interest rate compared to loans that are offered at private lending institutions. Students are able to get a lower interest rate on a direct student loan because the direct student loan program is funded and run by the federal government. A direct student loan also has a fixed interest rate once a student consolidates a direct student loan with other educational loans. A fixed interest rate means that the interest rate on a direct loan will stay constant no matter how much the economy changes. This results in lower payments for student paying off a direct student loan, which means more money saved in the long run.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nearly all students are eligible for some form of a direct student loan. Students are awarded a direct loan depending on their financial need and credit. The more financial need you have the more money you can get with your education loan. Students can apply for a direct student loan through their college or university or they can also contact the &lt;a href="http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/funding.jsp"&gt;department of education&lt;/a&gt; for a direct student loan application.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/5684099434199715548/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=5684099434199715548' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5684099434199715548'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5684099434199715548'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2008/02/paying-for-college-with-direct-student.html' title='Paying for College With a Direct Student Loan'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-7322791505876424110</id><published>2008-02-06T21:21:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-02-06T21:26:43.499-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='finance'/><title type='text'>Private Educational Loans:  Taking the funding initiative</title><content type='html'>Private Educational Loans:  Taking the funding initiative&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When considering private educational loans they should only be used as a last resort to fill in the gaps after being approved for federal loans.  Both federal loans and private educational loans have advantages.  For instance, private educational loans have attractive after tax rates of interest; but unfortunately, private educational loans may not always have cancellation provisions.  Private educational loans typically do not have economic deferment clauses, nor are they deferred when the borrower is unemployed. Private educational loans may not include a provision for loan consolidations that are available with federal loan borrowers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some schools of higher learning have programs that are not eligible for federal loans so private educational loans are the only option for the student.  Other colleges and universities elect to refuse federal loan programs due to the heavy accounting and paperwork involved in compliance issues.  These colleges and universities can and do accept monies from private educational loans.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Private educational loans make sense in another situation.  If the student has past due balances on a school account that must be cleared before the student is allowed to return to school, obtaining private education loans can take care of the balance and give the student a running start on the next term's expenses. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;Private educational loans&lt;/a&gt; are much more readily available since they do not depend on federal allocations by Congress.  In recent years, costs of college tuition and related fees have far surpassed the appropriations made available by the government to award to students and their families through government loan programs. Private educational loans are not limited in the same way.  Since they are based on credit scores, private loans can be arranged either by the student, parents, or with a co-signer if need be. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Private educational loans can be obtained at any time during the year and are not tied to the deadlines imposed under FAFSA guidelines.  Chances are that obtaining private education loans to pay school bills will actually cost less than equivalent federal loans since you only borrow what you need when you need it. Like federal loans, private school loans repayment is deferred until after completion of college or postgraduate work, unless the course load drops to less than a half-time student status. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Private educational loans amounts are based on the total cost of attendance.  In fact, a student can obtain private educational loans up to $40,000 annually if needed. Another advantage to private education loans is their rapid funding.  You can apply for a loan online, be approved provisionally within 15 minute and receive your loan proceeds within five days.  This is good news for students preparing to enroll for a coming semester whose federal funds won't arrive for a month into the school term.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Private education loans&lt;/a&gt; aren't the answer for every student, and certainly unneeded borrowing is never a wise idea, but they can provide a smart way of investing in the future.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/7322791505876424110/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=7322791505876424110' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7322791505876424110'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7322791505876424110'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2008/02/private-educational-loans-taking.html' title='Private Educational Loans:  Taking the funding initiative'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-441049953286658233</id><published>2008-01-13T15:20:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-01-13T15:40:42.004-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='finance'/><title type='text'>Different Types of Education loans</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Types of Education Loans for college&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By Ari Kay, EducationLoans.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;High school graduates not only have to make the decision of what college or university to attend, or even if they want to go to college for that matter, but they also have numerous college loans to choose from. These &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;college education loans&lt;/span&gt; help students pay for college and other expenses they incur while pursing a higher education. In general there are two types of college loans. One type of education loans are federally funded college loans. Most &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;federal education loans&lt;/span&gt; are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need; however financial need is not the only requirement to receive Federal loans for college.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In order to be eligible for federal loans, students must at least be enrolled in an accredited college or university half time. Once a student drops down to half time status while they are attending college, they are no longer eligible for &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/loans/"&gt;college education loans&lt;/a&gt;. For college loans, half time status means a student takes at least 12 credits a semester. Students also have to be a United States citizen in order to be eligible for federally funded college loans. Federal loans tend to be the most stable type of loan, therefore many students choose to take this route.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For federal college loans there are either student or parent loans available to help pay for expenses associated with higher education. Student college loans come in the form of Stafford loans, while parent college loans come in the form of PLUS loans. There are some differences between these college loans, however. One difference is that parental college loans allow parents to borrow more money than student college loans. Also, payments on parent college loans starts right away, where as payments on student education loans do not start until six months after college graduation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The second type of loans comes into play when federal college loans do not cover the full cost of education. These types of loans are called &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;private educational loans&lt;/a&gt; and they are also available to both parents and students. &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Private education loans&lt;/span&gt; have the similar benefits as federally funded loans, however there are some differences. The main difference is that private college loans tend to have a higher interest rate than &lt;a href="http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/studentloans.jsp"&gt;federally funded educational loans&lt;/a&gt;. The terms and conditions of private loans typically vary depending on the lending institution providing the loan. However, a &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loan&lt;/a&gt; has competitive rates to stay within range of their competition and do not feature the strict application deadlines Federal loans do. Also, there is less paperwork with private loans as there is no FAFSA to fill out.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Private educational loans&lt;/span&gt; are also a benefit in that they can be applied to most all educational related expenses and often the check is sent directly to the student, or applicant, and not the school's financial aid/controller's office. Students should give serious consideration to spending some time to learn loan basics and compare as many college lenders as possible before filing out an application. Private loans are credit based and a credit check is performed each time an application is submitted, so be careful and do not submit multiple applications, especially within a short period of time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To learn more about private education loan basics - visit www.educationloans.org</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/441049953286658233/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=441049953286658233' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/441049953286658233'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/441049953286658233'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2008/01/different-types-of-education-loans.html' title='Different Types of Education loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-7330202976193558723</id><published>2007-12-27T21:24:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-27T21:34:43.462-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>Education Financial Aid</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Education Financial Aid&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Education financial aid is available to students through the U.S. Department of Education. The government offers undergraduate and graduate students a variety of funding opportunities to pay for tuition, textbooks, fees, housing, and other expenses related to their education venture. &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Education financial aid&lt;/span&gt; comes in the form of grants, work-study, and &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;education loans&lt;/span&gt;. The following is a brief breakdown of common education financial aid resources available to students.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal Pell Grant&lt;br /&gt;Money that doesn’t have to be repaid is offered through the Federal Pell Grant Program. Awarded only to undergraduate students, the Pell Grant award maxes out at $4,310 annually. The award amount is based on the student’s financial need and year in school.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal Work-Study&lt;br /&gt;The Federal Work-Study program offers recipients an award amount to be earned through working at minimum wage. The program is ideal for students who don’t want to take on &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;education loan&lt;/span&gt; debt, because work study awards don’t have to be repaid.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal Stafford Loan&lt;br /&gt;For expenses not covered by grants, scholarships, and work-study, students can utilize a Federal Stafford Loan. To qualify for a loan, the borrower has to be enrolled at least part time. Repayment of the loan begins six months after the borrower graduates or exits school.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stafford Loans come in two forms – subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are awarded based on financial need and do not incur interest charges while the student is in school or during the grace period. Unsubsidized loans are always subject to interest charges. They are also not based on financial need. Federal Stafford Education Loans can total more than $20,000 a year depending on the student’s dependency status and year in school. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Federal PLUS Loans&lt;br /&gt;Parents can pay for their dependent child’s schooling with a Federal PLUS Loan. Graduate students can also utilize the Federal PLUS Loan. The PLUS Loan can only be used to pay for approved costs related to college. Borrowers must undergo a credit check to receive the loan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information on &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; and other money for college visit our website located at www.educationloans.org</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/7330202976193558723/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=7330202976193558723' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7330202976193558723'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7330202976193558723'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/education-financial-aid.html' title='Education Financial Aid'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-7491142407426596056</id><published>2007-12-20T04:20:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-20T04:27:57.359-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>When to Apply for Private Education Loans</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;When to Apply for Private Education Loans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;by Aimee Tran, EducationLoans.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Education loan&lt;/span&gt;s are private financing funds created by specialized companies to help students pay for their college education.  Private student loans are easy to apply for, and require a credit check on the student applying for the private student loans so that the lenders can be assured of your good credit.  Private student loans are very convenient for most students because private education loans do not require repayment until after you graduate.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Private loans&lt;/span&gt; are also very flexible for students.  You can apply for private education loans any time that you feel like you might soon need them, from the beginning of the term right up until the end.  For your private student loans, you will need to provide proof to the private loans lenders that you are taking a certain number of units and that you are passing your classes.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you do not or can not provide that proof, the private &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;education loans&lt;/span&gt; will come due, and you will have to begin making payments on your student loans as well as on the interest that they have accrued.  Your loans will not come due until that point, however, which for most students comes a few months after graduation.  After graduation, your private student loans are ready for repayment, and you will begin receiving bills instead of just statements.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Private education loans&lt;/span&gt; can be applied for at any time in your college career as long as you are currently enrolled in classes.  You can apply for private loans through the college in some cases, or you can apply for private student loans on the internet by finding private student loans at web sites like EducationLoans.org.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private student loans&lt;/span&gt; will require you to submit an application when you are ready to apply, and will include a check of your credit by the lenders supplying your loans.  If this might be an issue, then you might want to find other financing and deal with your credit so that when you really need them, you will be approved for your private student loans.  If you are certain that you will be denied, wait a while before applying for &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt;, as refused applications will only hurt your credit score.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If prepared, It is never a bad time to apply for &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; otherwise, and these special private student loans can truly help you get through college.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/7491142407426596056/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=7491142407426596056' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7491142407426596056'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7491142407426596056'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/when-to-apply-for-private-education.html' title='When to Apply for Private Education Loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-5197148731748432710</id><published>2007-12-16T00:46:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-16T00:53:30.949-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>Managing Private Education Loans</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Managing private education loans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By Ryan Michael, EducationLoans.org Staff&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the most important issues students face when becoming responsible borrowers is learning how to manage their &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private student loans&lt;/span&gt; in addition to their federal loans.  For most students this is their first experience with managing finances beyond an allowance and the cell phone bill, therefore it is easy for them to find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information presented to them about their private student loans and federal loans. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First and foremost always save any paperwork related to your private education loans.  Even if it is as simple as a monthly statement that tells you everything you already know about your private student loans you should still file it away in a safe place. Not only is this a good practice to get into in general it is a safeguard in case mistakes are made with your &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private education loans&lt;/span&gt;, which well rare do indeed happen. In addition to filing all information relating to your private student loans you should also create a spreadsheet for your private student loans as well as your federal loans.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This will keep all information easily accessible at your fingertips so that you do not constantly have to go digging through the hard copies every time you need to know something regarding your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt;.  It is also beneficial to keep track of education related expenses so that you can compare this against the size of your private  loans and your federal loans.  Using this information you can then extrapolate future financial information to see whether or not you need to apply for additional loans, increase the size of the private loans you are already receiving, or decrease your loans depending on a reduced financial need.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That last bit is one of the most important things you need to know for managing your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt;.  Often times people do not realize that they can decrease the size of their private student loans.  While this may seem like turning away easily accessible money keep in mind that you will one day have to repay all of these private student loans so the less you borrow the easier it will be to repay in the future.  Not to mention it you’ll also accrue less interest.  Managing your private student loans is vital to your future financial success and just good practice in general for the real world.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/5197148731748432710/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=5197148731748432710' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5197148731748432710'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5197148731748432710'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/managing-private-education-loans.html' title='Managing Private Education Loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-5455777167014130874</id><published>2007-12-13T04:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-13T04:13:43.370-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>Getting a cosigner for lower education loan rates</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Getting a cosigner for lower education loan rates&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By Shannon Lacy, EducationLoans.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Getting a &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;cosigner&lt;/span&gt; for your &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private education loans&lt;/span&gt; is a great move if at all possible.  Understandably not everyone has access to a qualified cosigner for their private education loans, however if they find themselves in a situation where they can secure a cosigner that is willing to sign their loan they will find several benefits that are definitely worth looking into.&lt;br /&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;For instance when using a cosigner on your private education loans you will find that you can usually get a more favorable interest rate than you could if you did not have a cosigner.  Now this is not true for all private education loans, however it is for the majority of them.  Additionally a cosigner on your private education loans will usually entitle you to a higher borrowing limit then it would otherwise be available to you.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is not necessarily always a good thing, especially if you do not need the extra money, however if you’re attending a school with astronomically high tuition and then the additional money from private education loans will definitely come in handy.  Some &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;education loans&lt;/span&gt; even have clauses that allow you to drop the cosigner from the contract after you have made a number of payments on time.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This will vary between different &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private education loans&lt;/span&gt;; however it is usually after a good chunk of time such as three years of continual on-time payments.  If you do not have a cosigner for your private education loans then it is unlikely you’ll see these benefits, however you will still have access to the basic private education loans that everyone else has access to.  You simply will not be eligible for the favorable interest rates and higher borrowing limits.  That is of course unless you have outstanding credit history.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Because private loans are simply a specific type of loan your credit history will play an important part in determining the terms of your loans and as always the higher your credit score the batter, in fact if you have a high enough credit score you may be able to get the same favorable terms for your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; that you would get if you had a cosigner.  Do not be afraid to talk things through with a representative from the company who is issuing the &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;private education loan&lt;/a&gt; as even this simple step may help secure better terms.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/5455777167014130874/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=5455777167014130874' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5455777167014130874'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5455777167014130874'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/getting-cosigner-for-lower-education.html' title='Getting a cosigner for lower education loan rates'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-1736003404424468942</id><published>2007-12-08T10:39:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-08T10:49:38.300-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>Finding Private Education Loans</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Finding Private Education Loans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you are looking for loans, you are probably aware that they might be confusing. However, private e&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;ducation loans&lt;/span&gt; can allow you to go to school and get the education that you deserve. Also, private education loans can be useful to you because you won't have to worry about paying them back until you graduate. This means that you can have your private education loans and be able to use them to go to school, as well as to pay for your living expenses at the same time. The private education loans are going to be highly useful for you, and if you are lucky the private education loans are going to be what gets you to the top. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Where Do You Find Them&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are many places where you can get &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private education loans&lt;/span&gt; so that you can go to school. The best place to look first for private education loans is online; at the different private lenders as well as private student loan directories.  through the governmental loan agencies. If you look at &lt;a href="http://www.student-loans.org"&gt;Student Loans&lt;/a&gt;.org, you can get information about the different types of private student loans and how you can apply for them. Then, you can find one that meets your needs. The reason that private loans can most easily be found online is because of the power of the internet's reach. The internet is a time effective way that you can compare and locate &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private education loans&lt;/span&gt;. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The other thing that you should remember about private education loans is that you will be able to truly take advantage of them in order to graduate from college. This is due to many reasons. For one, the private &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; are going to be deferred until you graduate. This means that you won't have to worry about making monthly payments while you are a student. You also will not have to worry about the interest rates climbing as much during this time. Remember that your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; are going to be what helps you get an education. You can also use your grace period after your schooling is over. This will be about 6 months in which you don't have to worry about paying back your loans. This is done so that you can find a job and get your life together.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/1736003404424468942/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=1736003404424468942' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/1736003404424468942'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/1736003404424468942'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/finding-private-education-loans.html' title='Finding Private Education Loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-2288330662143627922</id><published>2007-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-12-02T20:24:19.360-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Education Loans Defined</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Student loans&lt;/span&gt; are funding borrowed by degree seeking individuals enrolled in an accredited college or university. Generally speaking, students must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for a student loan. Loan programs are divided into two main categories – federal and private – and can be used to cover academic-related expenses. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Federal education loans&lt;/span&gt; require borrowers to fill out a Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA). The rigorous application determines a student’s eligibility not only for student loans but federally funded grants as well. Stafford loans can then be awarded to the students in a subsidized or unsubsidized form. Parents can also borrow federally-backed PLUS loans to cover the expenses of their dependent’s education.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Repayment of &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;Stafford loans&lt;/span&gt; begins after the student graduates from college or drops below half-time enrollment. PLUS loans, however, require immediate repayment by the parent or guardian. Finally, students can obtain Stafford loans based on financial need whereas parents applying for PLUS loans qualify based on their credit history.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Private student loans can also be taken out by either students or their parents, depending on the loan program. There are numerous banks and various private loan programs for borrowers to choose from. Each lender utilizes its own application and adheres to a particular loan approval process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Unlike the stricter deadlines of the federal loans, private funding can be applied for anytime of the year. The award amount is also greater then that of the federal loans, making &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; a way for students to bridge the student aid gap between federal aid and education expenses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The loan approval process for &lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;private student loans&lt;/span&gt; also tends to be faster then that of its counterparts. Some borrowers can sometimes have approval results in less then 30 seconds of submitting their application online.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;All student loans, federal or private, require repayment in full plus interest, usually begining six months after graduation or leaving school. To learn more about paying for college, visit &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Educationloans.org&lt;/a&gt;.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/2288330662143627922/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=2288330662143627922' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/2288330662143627922'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/2288330662143627922'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/12/education-loans-defined.html' title='Education Loans Defined'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-8203751121944000781</id><published>2007-11-29T01:07:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-29T01:12:44.865-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The FAFSA Defined</title><content type='html'>The FAFSA Defined&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If you are a college student or plan on attending college in the near future, chances are you have heard of the FAFSA. The term FAFSA is an acronym for a government form used to apply for financial aid. Anyone seeking assistance for college must first fill out The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. From there, the Department of &lt;strong&gt;Education&lt;/strong&gt; uses the information provided on the application to determine assistance eligibility. The awarding process for state grants, federal grants, and all federal based &lt;strong&gt;student loans&lt;/strong&gt; hinges on the completion of a FAFSA.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The free application relays a wide assortment of information to the &lt;strong&gt;Department of Education&lt;/strong&gt;. On it, students disclose everything from their basic contact information to their parents’ financial details. The easiest way to fill out and submit the form is via the FAFSA web site. Before you can complete an online form, however, you must request a pin that you will use to electronically sign your application.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A pin can also be requested on the FAFSA web site. Requests take up to three days to process for e-mail notification and 10 days to receive if sent through the mail. For a complete list of items to collect before filling out your application can be found on the web site.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After an application has been submitted, the Department of Education will produce a Student Aid Report (SAR). The student will then receive a copy of the SAR along with the schools the student included on the application. If the application was submitted online, it takes approximately a week for the SAR to be delivered. Mailed applications take about three weeks to process.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information on federal financial aid the application process, visit the Department of Education’s website located at Ed.gov.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Non Federal &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Education loans&lt;/a&gt; now in the form of credit based, direct to consumer &lt;strong&gt;private education loans&lt;/strong&gt;. Note that these &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; have limits ranging from $1,000 to $40,000 per year and are often used for everyday college related expenses. Visit our homepage for access to online applications.&lt;br /&gt;Staff @&lt;br /&gt;EducationLoans.org</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/8203751121944000781/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=8203751121944000781' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/8203751121944000781'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/8203751121944000781'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/fafsa-defined.html' title='The FAFSA Defined'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-5588931374500396096</id><published>2007-11-25T18:02:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-25T18:28:04.722-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><title type='text'>Managing Private Education Loans</title><content type='html'>Managing private education loans&lt;br /&gt;by Aimee Tran, EducationLoans.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Managing your private education loans does not need to be frustrating. Some simple steps can lead you on the way toward a sound financial future. Most private student loans do not require repayment until six (6) months after graduation, but check with your respective lender on the terms and conditions of the private loan you are carrying. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A good rule of thumb is to act like the funds from your lender do not really exist, aside from the obvious tuition tuition costs and bills that stem from everyday college expenses. In other words, do not utilize the money for expenses other than ones directly related to school. Spending your private education loan money on your significant other is not recommended. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stick your budget and know exactly what your expenses are each month. Budgeting 101 is something you can teach yourself simply by being thrifty and spending only what you need to, key word being 'need.' Expected costs include tuition, rent, room and board, simple travel/transportation and school supplies. Keep a record of these expenses and save your receipts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Keep a set amount in savings and be prepared for unexpected expenses. A car breaking down or an illness can cause expenses that were not planned for, thus it's wise to prepare for the worst. The worse that can happen is you end up with extra money in your savings account, which is much better than depleting the funds from your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; before you finish the school year out. Don't get in to the trap many student before you have, where you're left with bills you cannot cover because the funds were not managed wisely.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Start preparing for private loan repayment 'before' graduating. Though most all repayment periods for private education loans begins six months after graduation, it's recommended to get in sync with your lender and start making payments ' to yourself' in the form of a savings account once you graduate. Getting ahead of the game and having emergency payback funds puts you in a safer position and develops better spending and payback habits. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Consider private student loan consolidation if you have more than once &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt;. Consolidating might be able to lower your monthly payments and interest rates, but read all the terms, conditions and fine print as extending the length of your repayment period will cause an overall increase in the total amount you pay back. Take your time and compare private loan consolidation companies before making any decisions.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information on education loans, visit &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Educationloans.org&lt;/a&gt;.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/5588931374500396096/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=5588931374500396096' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5588931374500396096'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/5588931374500396096'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/managing-private-education-loans.html' title='Managing Private Education Loans'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-6370392564302056170</id><published>2007-11-20T21:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-20T21:10:32.779-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Using Education Loans Responsibly</title><content type='html'>Using Education Loans Responsibly&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;By Aimee Tran,  EducationLoans.org&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So you have been approved for a private education loan and you receive the check in the mail. That's right, it came directly to you. There might come an urge to spend, but wait... STOP. Private student loans are credit based, meaning they reflect on your credit report. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A brief helpful check list includes: A) Making sure your tuition costs are covered and paid for. Just because you received the check, this does not mean you still have not paid for all of your tuition fees. B) Create a budget and more importantly, stick to your budget. Everyone knows how much money they have coming in and going out. Creating a budget is simply writing this down and exercising a plan to utilize the funds from your &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; in an appropriate manner. C) Avoid impulse buys. These funds are meant to cover school relate expenses and school supplies. Party supplies and fun money should not even be associated with the usage of funds received from private loans.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As mentioned before, private education loans are credit based and must be paid back. The average repayment period starts six months after graduation or dropping below half-time enrollment status as a student. Credit can be a powerful tool if used properly. Remember private loans are not free money for college. Before borrowing &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt; remember they must be repaid and will appear on your credit report. The responsible use and repayment of them can help you toward a brighter credit score.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Best of luck with exams and the rest of the semester.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Aimee Tran, &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Educationloans.org&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/6370392564302056170/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=6370392564302056170' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/6370392564302056170'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/6370392564302056170'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/using-education-loans-responsibly.html' title='Using Education Loans Responsibly'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-3108003840204975661</id><published>2007-11-16T23:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-16T23:16:23.925-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='students'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='education loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='college loan'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='student loans'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='educational'/><title type='text'>Understanding Education Loan Forbearance</title><content type='html'>Understanding Private Student Loan Concepts:  Forbearance&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Before you take the step of actually applying for a student loan, including a private student loan, it is crucial that you understand basic concepts that are associated with a student loan.  By being better informed before you take on the responsibility of &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Education Loans&lt;/a&gt;, you will be in the best possible position to deal with appropriately this serious financial obligation – not only today but into the future as well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Towards this end, this article has been created to help you better understand what is meant by the concept of forbearance when it comes to student loans generally and private education loans more specifically.  By understanding forbearance, you will be in a better position of understanding all of the options that are available to you when it comes to dealing with a private student loan.&lt;br /&gt;You need to understand that countless numbers of former students end up facing problems in dealing with their student loans, including &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/private/"&gt;Private Education Loans&lt;/a&gt;, each and every year.  Therefore, it sometimes becomes important for a person to be able to take advantage of different tools or options that are available in order to gain a sense of control and proper management of student loan debt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One option that might be available with a private student loan (and is available at least once with government student loans) is forbearance.  Through forbearance the lender actually allows the borrower on a private student loan to temporarily postpone making payments in the principal associated with the private student loan.&lt;br /&gt;During the period of forbearance, the borrower on the private student loan will continue to make payments on the interest due each and every month.  The same holds true for government student loans as well.  &lt;br /&gt;A forbearance is granted at the discretion of the lender when it comes to a private student loan. Normally a borrower will need to demonstrate extreme financial hardship or some sort of unusual set of circumstances that warrant the extension of a forbearance.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Every lender will have its own guidelines pertaining to a forbearance.  Therefore, it is very important that you obtain specific information about what a lender permits and allows in regard to a forbearance before you agree to take out a private student loan.  It is perfectly acceptable for you to ask questions about any forbearance options that may be available to you under the terms and conditions of a particular private &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Education Loan&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, you need to understand that in nearly ever case a lender will not grant to you a forbearance if the loan is in default.  Therefore, when it comes to taking advantage of a possible forbearance you need to be proactive.  You need to contact your lender in advance of your loan going into default.  By contacting your lender at an appropriate juncture, you likely will have a decent chance of obtaining a forbearance for a reasonable period of time.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/3108003840204975661/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=3108003840204975661' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/3108003840204975661'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/3108003840204975661'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/understanding-education-loan.html' title='Understanding Education Loan Forbearance'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-1677721007442723063</id><published>2007-11-12T02:15:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-12T02:36:08.703-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Improving Your Financial Future</title><content type='html'>Improving Your Financial Future with Private Education Loan Consolidation&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Education Loans&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Lenders who specialize in lending to individuals with who have been struggling keeping up with &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/loans/"&gt;private education loans&lt;/a&gt;' payments understand what these individuals have been going through.  They have helped thousands of individuals who also wanted to improve their lives but didn’t know how to get off the treadmill of dealing with multiple private student loans. Many people have felt stuck in debt paying a wide array of debts on a monthly basis.  The stress can be devastating.  Indeed, many people feel  that their entire lives actually are in ruin when they’ve found themselves dealing with a serious financial situation, when dealing with a seemingly insurmountable mountain of ugly debt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Everyone’s goal is to improve their financial future and if you have been struggling with delinquent debts and dealing with unreasonable creditors you probably have forgotten that this goal is obtainable.  Many people do not know that they can get private education loan consolidation.  However, when all is said and done, a private student loan consolidation can be a perfect solution for a person who is trying to bring a sense of order and financial control to his or her life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One of the primary benefits of private student loan consolidation is that you will feel a sense of order restored to your life.  You will not have to mess around with paying multiple loans each and every month.  You will have only one payment to make what it comes to your private student loans.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Moreover, as a general rule, that single monthly payment will be less that what you were paying on a combined basis on all of your private &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Additionally you can improve your financial future because by getting private loan consolidation you will avoid having to face an ever worsening financial situation.  The consolidated loan will help you improve your overall credit and financial situation.   &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And last but not least you will end the harassing phone calls and elevated stress that goes along with trying to juggle the payments that are due and owing each and every month.  The harassment and ill will that can be generated when a person has to deal with constantly debt collectors and collection agencies can be enough to cause serious damage to a person’s overall life.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Over the course of the long term, you will bring order to your financial life and you will have extra money on your hands which will improve the overall condition of your life.  You will be on your way towards a far, far better life … today and into the future.  Thanks to a private student loan consolidation, you will be on the road to restored financial health and you will also have a previously hard to capture sense of peace in your life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thanks for taking the time to read this post.&lt;br /&gt;Staff - &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;EducationLoans.org&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/1677721007442723063/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=1677721007442723063' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/1677721007442723063'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/1677721007442723063'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/improving-your-financial-future.html' title='Improving Your Financial Future'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4484121375614603084.post-7588935933212830682</id><published>2007-11-10T17:29:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-12T02:21:19.509-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Education Loan Blog</title><content type='html'>This new &lt;strong&gt;education loan&lt;/strong&gt; blog will provide weekly information and tips about the sometimes confusing student loan process. Our goal is to simplify it and provide students and parents with tools and info that might assist them with education loan application processes. With the help of industry professionals, EducationLoans.org plans to evolve in to a one stop shop where students and their parents can learn about private &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;education loans&lt;/a&gt; and compare lenders. Also, please be on the lookout for more tools, such as student loan calculators, which will be added to our website as time goes on. Thanks for reading our post. We will have more student loan information for you every week.&lt;br /&gt;-Staff at &lt;a href="http://www.educationloans.org/"&gt;Education Loans.Org&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/7588935933212830682/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4484121375614603084&amp;postID=7588935933212830682' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7588935933212830682'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4484121375614603084/posts/default/7588935933212830682'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://www.educationloans.org/2007/11/education-loan-blog.html' title='Education Loan Blog'/><author><name>Education Loans Blog</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01345249308087789612</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email></author></entry></feed>
