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When you consolidate student loans the process is often long and sometimes difficult. Many students will find it confusing with obstacles that are tiring. For that reason is best to consolidate student loans as quickly as possible after graduation. For the most part, the student loan company will handle the difficult issues when you consolidate student loans. A student loan consolidation combines several payments into a single much lower monthly payment. When you consolidate student loans it makes life easier at a time when you are launching your career. With certain repayment plans, the student can easily budget out the payment each month to ensure that the loan is retired promptly.

When you consolidate student loans you not only lower the monthly payment, but budgeting your finances becomes much easier. The consolidation process can also potentially lower your interest rate, saving you significant money over the life of the loan. So don't get discouraged when you consolidate student loans, as the student loan company is always there to help.

When you want to consolidate student loans, the Internet is the best place to find information on repayment options. Many options are available to you when you consolidate student loans, so it is important to get as much information as possible to assure you get the best payment plan. Some payment plans even have a sliding scale to compensate for lower income when you are just getting started in your career.

Before you apply for student loan consolidation you should check out student loan forgiveness programs. You can qualify to have your student loans forgiven by:

1) Performing volunteer work:

If you serve for 12 months in AmeriCorps, you receive up to $7400 in stipends plus $4725 for your loan retirement. Call 1-800-942-2677.
Peace Corps Volunteers can retire up to 70% of consolidate student loans Call 1-800-424-8580 or 1-202-692-1845.
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) can earn up to $4725 in debt forgiveness. Call 1-800-942-2677 or 1-202-606-5000.

2) Performing military service:
The Army National Guard offers $10,000 of repayment funds its members.

3) Teaching in certain types of communities:
The American Federation of Teachers maintains a list of loan forgiveness programs for teachers. Also contact your local school boards to learn which schools qualify for loan forgiveness

4) Medical and Legal service in certain communities.
Many law schools forgive the loans of students who serve in public interest or non-profit positions. Call Equal Justice Works 1-202-466-3686 or fax 1-202-429-9766.
The US National Institutes of Health's NIH Loan Repayment Programs repay up to $35,000/year of student loan debt for US citizens who are conducting clinical medical research.

The more you know about your student loans and the options available when you consolidate student loans, the better judgments and decisions you will make. Most students who do not want to do volunteer work can benefit when they consolidate student loans. If you have small, low interest rate student loans, it is best to keep them separate when you consolidate student loans to preserve the advantageous interest rate.

To consolidate student loans is a smart way of managing student loan debt. Study all the options on the Internet and make good decisions on how to pay back student loans. When you consolidate student loans it does not remove all the pain of repaying your debt, but it makes life more enjoyable while you do.

Bill Stephens is a management consultant that shares his expertise on how to consolidate student loans at http://www.consolidate-student-loans.biz