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Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

5 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Student Loan

By Sabado Domingo

If you want to practice law, write a brilliant research paper worthy of a Nobel Prize, or engineer a rocket, then you’ll need to go to college.

However, higher education not only means academic excellence; it’s expensive, too. And not all present-day experts in various fields were particularly well-to-do as young hopeful students. Instead, they depended on scholarships and government assistance in equal measure.

So when you look at a company that offers research paper help from experts — you should understand something important: People with degrees who are ready to help you with your studies have fought an uphill battle themselves. Their hardship often involved finances.

Before you begin planning your education, think carefully how to pay for it and what your options are. With a good strategy, any battle is half-won already.

Let’s answer the most pressing question first: what are student loans? Simply put, they’re credit options people use in order to finance their education.

Student loans have a number of important differences compared to a mortgage, for example:

  • People borrowing money for education pay less interest
  • Payment plans are flexible, as banks take into account your employment status and other factors
  • For some loan types, there is no need for a credit history or a co-signer

It seem like a dream come true, but there are drawbacks. One of the biggest is: How does one pay the money back?

After graduation, former students need to spend year after year sending part of their income in repayment for what they’ve borrowed. The price is usually quite high, and their future seems rather bleak, for the repayment amount often makes it nearly impossible to save for anything else.

Prevention is half of the cure: Carefully consider your options before getting a student loans. Also, be sure to keep in mind the following crucial facts:

First stop: Federal Loans!

There are a number of different education loans for prospective students and their parents. These loans have many advantages:

  • It’s easier to qualify
  • Relatively low interest rates
  • No credit history or cosigner is necessary for some types
  • Some of the student debts can be forgiven if the graduate has a certain civil service job, such as those working as teachers in low-income districts

Private Banks also offer student loans

In some colleges, the cost of tuition is so high that government loans are not enough. Thankfully, other financial institutions can help make up the difference. But their interest rates are higher, and the payment plans are typically less flexible. Private banks are also interested in your credit history and may ask for a reliable co-signer.

Read the fine print

Take your time while discussing a student loan. There are several things to watch out for:

  • Research the average salary for the degree of your choice. Remember, as a fresh graduate, your starting salary will be relatively modest
  • Pay special attention to special terms for temporary deferment and other exceptions
  • Inquire how the interest would change in case of the delay/inability to pay

It is near impossible to declare bankruptcy on a student loan

If one can’t pay a student loan, two options are available:

  • deferment your creditor agrees to allow you to delay your payment for a while, and no interest will be accrued
  • forbearance you may delay payment for some time, but the interest would increase in this period;

You would need to contact your bank or agency and negotiate with them to qualify for either option. Most organizations require proof of your circumstances. If you don’t warn you creditor and do not pay for a long time — your wages or other property may be taken. Bankruptcy is not an option.

Student loans influence your credit history

As you continue to faithfully pay down your debt, other banks begin to trust you more — and that can make it easier to get a mortgage or business loan. On the other hand, late payments will quickly spoil your credit karma.

In short, remember: Higher education can be a great investment. But before jumping in head first, be sure to carefully calculate and research your ability to maximize your investment return.

Photo Credit: stock photo

1 Comment April 23, 2019

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  1. Why College Students Take On Loans They Can’t Repay – Len Penzo dot Com says:
    November 1, 2019 at 4:15 am

    […] With that in mind, let’s review the reasons why college students often take on loans they can’t repay. Some experts, including those from EssayShark, express the opinion that college loans are taken for a range of justifiable reasons. That being said, here are the most frequently-voiced reasons why people decide to take on onerous student loans. […]

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