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<channel>
	<title>Student Loan Blog</title>
	
	<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog</link>
	<description>Student Loans are a great financial aid option for young people to build credit and www.studentloaninfo.org/blog totally aims to help you take full responsibility for your Student Loan.</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:06:15 +0000</pubDate>
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			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Student Loans are a great financial aid option for young people to build credit and www.studentloaninfo.org/blog totally aims to help you take full responsibility for your Student Loan.</itunes:subtitle><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/studentloaninfo/tZUt" type="application/rss+xml" /><item>
		<title>Learning To Negotiate Student Loan Debt Repayment</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-repayment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-repayment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:06:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[School Loan Debt]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[student loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Debt Repayment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=717</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Student Loan Debt
The question of negotiating student loan debt repayment arises only when the possibility of repayment looks hazy. Almost every student goes through the phase of borrowing money in order to fund his/ her educational need, which means the student is incurring the liability of repaying a huge sum of money which sum times [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5>Student Loan Debt</h5>
<p>The question of negotiating student loan debt repayment arises only when the possibility of repayment looks hazy. Almost every student goes through the phase of borrowing money in order to fund his/ her educational need, which means the student is incurring the liability of repaying a huge sum of money which sum times even takes a life time to be repaid. It is no doubt a very important financial decision in one’s life as the impact of it is far reaching. Careful research and analysis alone can help you choose the right loan plan. </p>
<h5>Learning to Negotiate Student Loan Debt Repayment</h5>
<p>Negotiating Student Loan Debt Repayment arises when the time of <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/repayment/">repayment</a> begins. It usually starts atleast six months after the completion of the course. Say, the student is already into a job, then probably he is under no pressure, say otherwise, it is a long process to go through. Repaying monthly installments becomes really difficult or even impossible. </p>
<p>Being proactive helps you manage such circumstances. Call the lender before he could call you! Yes, let him know about your intention to repay and the difficulty you face in making it happen. This paves way for negotiating a beneficial repayment deal. It is true that there are certain debts that you can’t get rid of even if you file bankruptcy. One such debt is student loan. Hence you should ensure to pay it back no matter what. It becomes important to talk to your guarantors or cosigners about the difficulty you face, because if you fail, repaying the loan becomes their responsibility.</p>
<p>Negotiating you debt repayment is all about getting into favorable terms of repayment. Such as lowering the cost of the loan, getting the lowest of interest rates or extended repayment term, which eventually reduces your monthly liability. You can either proceed doing it yourself or take the help of a negotiating agency which will help talking to the lenders on your behalf presenting the case in a favorable light.</p>
<p>The negotiation could be for settling a $10,000 loan for $5,000. You should remember that creditors as such do not have a requirement to consider your negotiation and hence they might not readily accept your proposal. But putting things in place and letting them know the reason for your proposal and intention to truly repay the loan amount can make them accept the deal positively.</p>
<h5>Student Debt Consolidation</h5>
<p>The solution to this problem lies in striking the <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-consolidation/">best student loan consolidation</a> deal. A consolidation loan helps you combine all student loans into one single loan liability with a lower interest rate and single monthly installment. Again, consolidation loans are no less than the original student’s loan except that you have certain favorable terms of repayment which help you meet the liability. It is also a debt which needs to be repaid.</p>
<h5>Student Loan Negotiation Services</h5>
<p>The process of negotiating a student loan deal can be done by the student himself or take the help of an agency. Taking professional help is good, no doubt, but what about the fee they charge. It is really expensive and so much so that most of such agencies demand a 60% upfront payment of their fees at the beginning. You are trying to negotiate for <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/">Student Loan</a> quoting the fact that you do not have sufficient money to pay back, then where from you will pay their fees from? There are cases where the professional fee takes a long time to repay, even long after the original loan is repaid.</p>
<h5>Do it yourself!</h5>
<p>Though you might not be as experienced as a professional, but the legitimacy with which you approach the problem and the proactive gesture of informing the lender about the difficulty in repayment is sure to help you strike the best of deals. A clear self analysis of the situation, research into the best negotiation deals and the approach will help you succeed making the right and beneficial negotiation of your student loan debt. Have you tried negotiating? If yes, then share your experience.</p>
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		<title>Student Loan Rates Will Drop to All Time Low - Take Advantage of it!</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/dropped-student-loan-rates/</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/dropped-student-loan-rates/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:38:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Direct PLUS Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal School Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Financial Advice]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[College Cost Reduction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal Direct Loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal PLUS loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal Stafford Loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stafford Loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=713</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is good news. How I was waiting for this! Any saving really matters to me. How about you? Don’t you think reduction in interest rates are surely going to help you get the best deal ever? The answer is yes.
Student Loan Rates
The best of deals come with very low interest rates. It is the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is good news. How I was waiting for this! Any saving really matters to me. How about you? Don’t you think reduction in interest rates are surely going to help you get the best deal ever? The answer is yes.</p>
<h5>Student Loan Rates</h5>
<p>The best of deals come with very low interest rates. It is the rate of interest which decides the <strong>cost of borrowing</strong>; the lower it is the lesser will be your liability. Hence <strong>students</strong> normally tend to go for those loan options which offer the least of interest rate cost.</p>
<h5>Student Loan Rates Will Drop to All Time Low</h5>
<p>It is the happiest of news to all those who have student loan liabilities. Kindly note, that on the first of July, interest rates on <strong>Federal Stafford Loans</strong> and <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/how-do-my-parents-get-a-direct-plus-loan/">Federal PLUS loans</a> are going to drop to an all time low. Are you eager to know what the new rates are going to look like well, have look below.</p>
<ul>
<li>The rate is at 2% for all Stafford Loans in the status of in-school and grace period.</li>
<li>For those <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/how-do-my-parents-get-a-direct-plus-loan/">Stafford Loans in repayment</a> the rate is expected to be fixed at 2.50%</li>
<li>Federal PLUS loans offered to the parents of the students taking up the course of study will be at 3%</li>
</ul>
<p>The situation is some what similar to the rates say some 5 years back when the consolidation rates where around 2.77%. Hence for all those who failed to consolidate few years back it is great news.</p>
<p>These <strong>Federal Direct Loans</strong> can be consolidated with interest rates on borrowing locked in. A lock in facility helps you fix the interest rate at a particular percentage and which does not change with the change in <strong>market condition</strong> as far as your deal is concerned. Please to remember that you benefit the maximum only if have <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/">Student Loan</a> which was borrowed much before July 1, 2006. In order to be clear about the benefits you are bound to get due to the newly revised <strong>interest rates</strong> it is important that you read through the entire notification once it is issued. Other wise you are sure to end up in misconceptions about the new rates. </p>
<h5>Cap on Students Loan</h5>
<p>Friends! Also be aware of the fact that on the 1st of July this year the <strong>College Cost Reduction</strong> and <strong>Access Act (CCRAA)</strong> initiates a change, according to which the law will cap the student loans at 15% of the <strong>adjusted gross income</strong> of the individuals intending to borrow money. As far as the loan forgiveness is concerned, the <strong>student loan liabilities</strong> of those individuals who are in public service for a period of 10 years are completely dropped.  These interesting changes are to come up on the 1st of July this year. What we have mentioned in this article is just a highlight of the possibilities, please read through the final version of it once it is passed.</p>
<p>You can always feel free to post, any latest information, updates and details on this topic. Make it the most happening place on the web <img src='http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> !!   </p>
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		<title>Alternative Student Loan - A Feasible Solution</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/alternative-student-loan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/alternative-student-loan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:13:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[FAFSA]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Private Student Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Alternative Student Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[credit score]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal Loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Monthly Installments]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Need Based Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Private Student Loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[repayment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=709</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Alternative Student Loan
Alternative Loan is a specialized educational loan available to students to finance their educational needs. Private or Alternative Loan is an option to be exercised after completely exhausting every federal loan option. Even those who were denied a federal student loan can apply for an alternative student’s loan. Unlike federal loans alternative loans [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h5>Alternative Student Loan</h5>
<p>Alternative Loan is a specialized educational loan available to students to finance their educational needs. Private or Alternative Loan is an option to be exercised after completely exhausting every federal loan option. Even those who were denied a federal student loan can apply for an alternative student’s loan. Unlike federal loans alternative loans can be applied at any time of the year. These loans are available for funding tuition, books, room and transportation.</p>
<h5>Applying for an Alternative Student Loan</h5>
<p>You need not subscribe to FAFSA in order to qualify for an alternative loan. <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/fafsa/">FAFSA</a> requirement is applicable only for <strong>federal loan schemes</strong>. Federal loans are mostly need based loans and credit check is not a major issue there. But yes, every <strong>alternative loan</strong> issued is based on the credit worthiness of the <strong>student borrower</strong>. Hence it is important to watch your <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/credit-score/">credit score</a> before applying for a private loan. While are rates are a little higher, you benefit from their immediate processing and granting of loan, unlike <strong>federal</strong> or <strong>government loans</strong> which take a huge amount of time before they are issued.</p>
<p>You should be a US Citizen or atleast a permanent resident to qualify for making an alternative loan application and yes, you should have completed atleast half of the time in the course of study. The rate of interest is dependant on the <strong>Prime Rate</strong> to which a margin is added to arrive at cost of borrowing.</p>
<h5>Alternative Student Loan – A feasible solution</h5>
<p>If I were to put it in other words it is the only option you are left with which is also feasible. We all know that federal loans though available at a lower cost and sometimes even without <strong>interest liability</strong> cover only upto 1/3rd of the total money required financing the <strong>cost of education</strong>, then what about the rest? How do you think you will manage? Say, you have personal funds to depend upon. But is it enough to cover the entire cost? Yes, then you have no issues, say the answer is no, then alternative finance becomes the only way you can handle the crisis.</p>
<p><strong>Private finance</strong> or the <strong>lender</strong> of last resort should be the last option as the name suggests. The real pain of having taken a loan is felt only when it is repaid or <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/repayment/">repayment</a> is due. Private loans come with flexible repayment options and they are as follows.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Deferral </strong>– There is no repayment during the course of study. The repayment period begins only after the graduation is completed. The interest over the period of time is capitalized and added to the principal loan amount. This helps the student study without hassles.</li>
<li><strong>Interest Only Payment</strong> - While the principal amount will be repaid after completing the course, the interest repayment will begin soon after soon after the loan is issued.</li>
<li><strong>Immediate Repayment</strong> - The repayment will begin with immediate effect once the loan is granted to the student. Mode of repayment is completely your choice.</li>
</ul>
<p>Alternative loans come with a lot of attractive options; you get .25% reduction on your interest cost if you allow an auto debit facility for repayment of your monthly installments. Interest paid on <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/private-student-loan/">Private Student Loans</a> are tax deductible upto $2,500. No FAFSA application need to be made and best of all no interest or principle repayment until six months after finishing your graduation. If you submit your loan application with all the required documentation, your loan is processed in no time. The real test lies in choosing the right scheme alternative loans. Do you agree?</p>
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		<title>All You Need To Know About Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/fafsa/</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/fafsa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:26:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[FAFSA]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Federal School Loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Financial Advice]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[financial aid]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Need Based Grants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=705</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that is filled out by college students on a yearly basis to evaluate their eligibility for federal student financial aid. This includes PLUS loans, Stafford loans and Pell grants. The majority of schools use details from the FAFSA to give approval for non-federal aid. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that is filled out by college students on a yearly basis to evaluate their eligibility for federal student financial aid. This includes <strong>PLUS loans</strong>, <strong>Stafford loans</strong> and <strong>Pell grants</strong>. The majority of schools use details from the FAFSA to give approval for non-federal aid. </p>
<h5>Before Starting </h5>
<ul>
<li>Gather all the documents you will need in order to fill out the form. It includes driving license, bank statement, social security number and income tax returns.</li>
<li>Make sure that you print out your <strong>FAFSA</strong> on the web worksheet. Check all your answers before sending in the information.</li>
<li>To avoid any issues, it is advisable that you sign electronically.</li>
</ul>
<h5>Questions </h5>
<p>On the FAFSA, you will find a wide variety of questions ranging from student&#8217;s finances to family income. All these details are entered into a formula that evaluates the <strong>Expected Family Contribution</strong>. In calculating, a number of factors are taken into account, including income, household size, assets and number of students studying in <strong>college</strong> from the same household. These details are very important because parents are going to play some sort of financial role in their <strong>child&#8217;s education</strong>. You do not need to answer any questions related to family race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity on the FAFSA.</p>
<h5>Student Aid Report</h5>
<p>The Student Aid Report is basically a FAFSA responses summary is passed on to the student. As a student, it is your responsibility to make sure that you review the <strong>Student Aid Report</strong> carefully for mistakes. If you find any mistake, corrections should be made. </p>
<p>You also get access to the electronic version of the <strong>Student Aid Report</strong>. The electronic version is also sent to state agencies that give need-based grants and other aid. There are plenty of schools that <strong>grant aid</strong> on a on a first-come, first-serve basis so it is recommended that you fill out the <strong>FAFSA</strong> early rather than waiting for a deadline. Almost all students are eligible for some kind of <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/financial-aid/">financial aid</a>. For example, if you are not eligible for <strong>need-based aid</strong>, there is a strong possibility that you may qualify for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan or academic-based aid irrespective of your income.</p>
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		<title>Michael Jackson - Student Loan Blog Pays Tribute to the Legend</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/michael-jackson/</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/michael-jackson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:27:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Celebrity News]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[African American Entertainer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Diprivan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Downtown Los Angeles]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[King of Pop]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Michael Jackson]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Michael Jackson Funeral]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Moonwalk]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[MTV Awards]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Neverland]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Staples Center]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=696</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Michael Joseph Jackson has created tremendous impact on the mind of students. He has given them a belief that if you are willing to work hard and give your 100 percent in every situation, you are going to attain success. Jackson was not a huge success right from the beginning but he kept on preserving [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Michael Joseph Jackson has created tremendous impact on the mind of students. He has given them a belief that if you are willing to work hard and give your 100 percent in every situation, you are going to attain success. Jackson was not a huge success right from the beginning but he kept on preserving until he gained the superstar status. Michael Jackson is an inspiration to all those students who give up their hopes just because they do not taste success in the initial stage. The life of Michael Jackson gives students a clear lesson that nothing is impossible in life. Rather than taking shortcuts in life, you should stick with your original plan and do not give up until and unless you achieve your objective.  </p>
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9183672/3673335286/in/photostream/"><img src="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/wp-content/themes/SLB_new/images/mj.jpg" alt="Michael Joseph Jackson" border="0" /></a></div>
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<h5>King of Pop’s Profile</h5>
<p>Michael Jackson made his debut as an entertainer in 1968. Three years later, Jackson started a solo career and was known as King of Pop in media fraternity. His album Thriller that was a huge hit among masses especially students. Till date, Thriller is widely been regarded as one of the world’s best selling album. Jackson other solo studio albums such as History, Bad, Off the Wall and Dangerous are among the world&#8217;s best-selling records.</p>
<p>Jackson was a prominent personality in American popular music and culture. Michael was the first African American entertainer to build a strong fan following in MTV. With music videos and stage performances, Michael implemented wide variety of complicated dance routines, such as the moonwalk and the robot. Jackson donated millions of dollars in the form of charity. Jackson has done everything he can for the betterment of society but in 1993 he was accused of child sexual abuse. However, investigation by the FBI found no evidence against Jackson and the case was closed immediately.
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<div align="center"><iframe src="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog//wp-content/themes/SLB_new/images/demoslide.html" height="410" width="455"></iframe></div>
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<h5>Michael Jackson Death</h5>
<p>The sudden death of Michael Jackson has surprised everyone. The real reason behind his death is not known as yet but the investigation is focusing on the powerful sedative Diprivan. According to media reports, police found plenty of bottles of Diprivan inside Michael’s Los Angeles home.</p>
<h5>MJ’s Children</h5>
<p>Jackson&#8217;s three kids - 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jr, 11-year-old Paris Michael Katherine and 7-year-old Prince Michael II adored their father and are proud of his achievements. If media reports are to be believed, Jackson was not only a good father but also good mother, helping out kids in every possible way. Over 1.2 million people registered to get two of the 11,000 tickets for Jackson&#8217;s memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. </p>
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10177027@N08/3662687339/in/photostream/"><img src="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/wp-content/themes/SLB_new/images/mj3.jpg" alt="Michael Jackson with Brothers" border="0" /></a></div>
<div style=" height:10px;"></div>
<h5>Michael Jackson Funeral</h5>
<p>Michael Jackson was laid to rest on July 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. His family, friends and friends made the funeral larger than life, it is said MJ’s funeral was attended by some 20,000 attendants and viewed by millions of viewers all across the globe. Number of celebrities attended the funeral and paid touching tribute to pop king. </p>
<p>Without any doubt Michael Jackson in going to remain in his fans heart forever. He was a living legend and now his songs would keep him alive for years to come.</p>
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