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	<title>Student Loan Blog &#187; Student Loan Articles</title>
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	<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>
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		<title>Canada Student Loan Debt Consolidation</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-consolidation-canada</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-consolidation-canada#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:58:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Debt Consolidation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=2627</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Students  living in Canada that are having difficulties paying off their student loans  can opt for student loan debt consolidation programs that are being offered in  Canada. <strong><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-consolidation">Student loan debt consolidation</a></strong> is a great way for Canadian students to merge their existing debts into one  manageable debt, thus easing the stress of having several bills to pay each  month.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Students  living in Canada that are having difficulties paying off their student loans  can opt for student loan debt consolidation programs that are being offered in  Canada. <strong><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-consolidation">Student loan debt consolidation</a></strong> is a great way for Canadian students to merge their existing debts into one  manageable debt, thus easing the stress of having several bills to pay each  month.</p>
<h2>Benefits  of Student Loan Debt Consolidation in the UK</h2>
<p>  Other great benefit of  Canada student loan debt consolidation is that students can also:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lower  their interest rates</li>
<li>Reduce  their monthly payments</li>
<li>Ease  financial hardships and stress</li>
<li>Manage  their bills more efficiently</li>
<li>Get  new terms and conditions</li>
<li>Get  a new loan value</li>
<li>Obtain  a new repayment schedule</li>
</ul>
<h2>Canada  Student Loan Debt Consolidation Options</h2>
<p>  Students that are  looking for a way out and want to ease the stress of financial hardships should  contact a Canadian student loan lender to help them manage their loans more  efficiently. There are several debt management solutions in Canada that can  assist students that are having difficulties paying back their <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/"><strong>student loans</strong></a>.</p>
<h2>How  to Manage Student Loan Debt in Canada</h2>
<p>  Students that are  graduating from college with huge debts hanging over their shoulders can turn  to loan consolidation programs to ease the financial burden. Canadian students  that are trying to juggle studying and paying multiple bills such as high  interest credit cards, car payments, student loans and other monthly expenses,  have a way to consolidate their <strong><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-debt-consolidation">student  loan debts</a></strong> into one loan and one simple monthly  payment.</p>
<h2>Student Loan Consolidation in Canada</h2>
<p>  Students that have multiple student loans can replace  their loans with one loan and one monthly payment. Canadian student loan  lenders do this by combining all existing student loans, then issuing a new  single loan. The new loan has a new loan value, new repayment terms, a new life  of the loan, one monthly payment, and a new loan limit among others.</p>
<h2>How Can I Get a Student Loan Debt Consolidation in Canada?</h2>
<p>  Students looking to consolidate their student debts can  inquire at banks or other loan lenders in Canada. Here is a list of documents  that may be required when consolidating student loans. They are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Monthly bills </li>
<li>Proof of income</li>
<li>Collateral or a co-signer for  students with bad credit</li>
<li>Credit report</li>
<li>Income tax return</li>
</ul>
<h2>Should I go for Debt Consolidation Loan in Canada?</h2>
<p>  Debt  consolidation is a great way to easy financial hardships. However, research and  learn about the advantage and disadvantages that are involved, will help  students make better decisions when it comes to consolidating their student  loans in Canada. Even Students with a bad credit rating can also consider  consolidating their debts.</p>
<h2>Consolidating  Student  Loan Debts in Canada</h2>
<p>Canada student loan debt  consolidation is a perfect fit for students that are facing financial problems  due to accumulating student debts to help pay for their college education.  Graduating from college should be an exciting time in a student&#8217;s life and a  new beginning. Students in Canada should not have to worry about debts problems  when consolidation programs in Canada are available.</p>
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		<title>Grants and scholarships for College Students</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/grants-scholarships-college-students</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/grants-scholarships-college-students#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:55:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Scholarship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[college students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial aid]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scholarships]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=2189</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The average cost for a college education per academic year is around $20,000. Most students today are finding it extremely difficult to pay the bill. However, this is where scholarships and grants for college students play an important role. The purpose of grants is to make higher education affordable for students who need it the most. Scholarships are awarded based on many factors like GPA, race, major, and so on. Grants and scholarships are both free money that students do<strong> ... </strong>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The average cost for a college education per academic year is around $20,000. Most students today are finding it extremely difficult to pay the bill. However, this is where <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/different-types-of-scholarships">scholarships</a> and grants for college students play an important role. The purpose of grants is to make higher education affordable for students who need it the most. Scholarships are awarded based on many factors like GPA, race, major, and so on.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/what-is-the-real-difference-between-scholarship-and-grant"><strong>Grants and scholarships</strong></a> are both free money that students do not have to pay back. However, obtaining them has a few prerequisite that must be fulfilled. For example, grants are awarded only to financially needy students to help defray the cost of an education. Students that fall into the category of needy and can prove that they have a financial need are eligible for grant money. Scholarships on the other hand are awarded based on a student’s athletic ability, grade point average, nationality, area of study, etc.</p>
<h5>Finding Education Grants and College Scholarships by Categories</h5>
<p>When looking for college funding, there are a few categories that students can look, for example:</p>
<ul>
<li>Minority grants</li>
<li>Student-specific</li>
<li>Level of degree</li>
<li>Academic scholarships</li>
<li>Subject-specific</li>
<li>Leadership scholarships</li>
<li><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/women-scholarship"><strong>Scholarships for women</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p>A few reliable sources for these funding are through federal and state government, organizations, and universities and colleges.</p>
<h5>Federal Grant Programs</h5>
<p>Federal grant programs like the Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness (AC) grant, and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, are available to students looking to fund their higher education. There are also state’s grant programs that are awarded to residents of the state based on different factors like merit, financial need, and major.</p>
<h5>In Conclusion</h5>
<p>Grants and scholarships are programs that give students the <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/financial-aid"><strong>financial aid</strong></a> they need to cover the rising cost of tuition and other <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/get-the-money-you-need-for-college-expenses"><strong>college related expenses</strong></a>. There are many sources out there for free money which does not have to be paid back, unlike loans. However the key is that students need to keep searching until they find a match. There are all types of funding available to meet every need, so don’t stop searching.</p>
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		<title>The Best &amp; Worst of Taking Student Loans</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/best-worst-taking-student-loans</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/best-worst-taking-student-loans#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 07:13:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[student loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=2085</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most college and university students finish school with a significant sum of student loan debt. Many college students are forced to get student loans to meet the cost of college tuition, fees and other expenses. However, there are some good things about student loans and thing that are not good. Getting a student loan is normal and is considered a very good investment in your future, however not every student loan is considered good debt built. Let’s talk about some<strong> ... </strong>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most college and university students finish school with a significant sum of student loan debt. Many college students are forced to get student loans to meet the cost of college tuition, fees and other expenses. However, there are some good things about student loans and thing that are not good. Getting a student loan is normal and is considered a very good investment in your future, however not every <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/"><strong>student loan</strong></a> is considered good debt built. Let’s talk about some good and bad points of taking out student loans and start by looking at a few loans.</p>
<h5>Which Student Loan Can Become Bad Debt?</h5>
<p>United States government and other non-private student loans are usually considered good debt. These student loans have small fixed interest rates and are very flexible when it comes to paying back the loan. <em><strong>Governmental loans</strong></em> don&#8217;t have to be repaid until you finish school after the six months grace period after you graduate. The half of a year gives your time to generate some cash flow to begin paying back the student loan.</p>
<h5>Private Student Loan Debt can have Flexibility Issues </h5>
<p>Some private non-subsidized student loans are similar consumer credit debt. These loans have terms and agreement that are generally not negotiable, the monthly payments expected to be paid regardless of your ability to pay them back and they usually carry a much higher interest rate than governmental loans.</p>
<h5>What to do to stay out of bad debt? </h5>
<p>When work cannot be found or the work that you have does not generate enough income to let you be able to make the minimum payment on your student loan, you still have a few options if the six month grace period has expired. They are offered to students who get into financial trouble after graduation and they cannot make ends meet:</p>
<ul>
<li>extended repayment plans</li>
<li>graduated repayment plans </li>
<li><a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/student-loan-deferment-forbearance"><strong>deferment and forbearance</strong></a></li>
<li>income-based repayment plans</li>
</ul>
<p>Find out from your lender which of these option are available to you and which best suits your particular issue and situation. However, if you just stop making <em><strong>payments on your student loan</strong></em> things can get very bad real fast so contact your lender as soon as you start getting into a difficult financial situation. Always stay in contact with your lender whether you are making the payments or not.</p>
<h5>Discharging Student Loan Debt</h5>
<p>One important issue with all student loans is the debt can never be discharged, not even bankruptcy can have it expunged. There is nothing you can do but pay back the loan, so make paying back your student loan a priority when you graduate or stop studying.</p>
<h5>Keep Your Student Loan Debt Good Debt </h5>
<p>There is good debt and bad debt, however, to make sure your <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/best-worst-student-loan-debt"><strong>student loan debt</strong></a> does not become bad debt, be informed and do research on the loan you are considering and borrow smartly.</p>
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		<title>How to find Low Interest Money for your College?</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/finding-low-interest-money-for-college</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/finding-low-interest-money-for-college#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 08:21:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Scholarship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[College Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=1627</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We know how exciting going off to college can be, but paying for it now that’s another story. College tuition continues to rise and what started out as excitement may turn into stress and panic. This is not the way to start off college and definitely not a way to look forward to the future. There are thousands of college students paying much more for college than they have to, and that’s because they don&#8217;t apply for financial aid or<strong> ... </strong>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We know how exciting going off to college can be, but paying for it now that’s another story. <strong>College tuition</strong> continues to rise and what started out as excitement may turn into stress and panic. This is not the way to start off college and definitely not a way to look forward to the future. </p>
<p>There are thousands of college students paying much more for college than they have to, and that’s because they don&#8217;t apply for <strong>financial aid</strong> or take advantage of scholarships to defray their college expenses. Let’s look at some ways in which you can find l<strong>ow interest money</strong> for college and make going to college exciting once again.</p>
<h5>Four different types of Student Loan</h5>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">1.	Grants and Scholarships</strong> – <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/scholarship-grants/">Grants and scholarships</a> usually come from the federal government or the state, whereas scholarships can come from private outside sources or your college.</p>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">2.	Education loans</strong> – education loans come from two places: </p>
<ul>
<li>Government loans that have low-interest rates </li>
<li>Private loans, which are more expensive</li>
</ul>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">3.	Education tax benefits</strong> – You can save money on your income taxes by simply claiming your out-of-pocket costs for <strong>college expenses</strong>. </p>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">4.	Work-study funds </strong>– Work-study helps you to work on campus and in return you get help with paying for school. </p>
<h5>How to find money for college?</h5>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">FAFSA </strong><br />
First you want to start by filling out the <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/fafsa/">Free Application for Federal Student Aid</a> form (FAFSA). The information you put on this form will help to determine the amount of award you qualify for. This is usually based on your financial need. However, even if you think you may not qualify, still fill out the form.</p>
<p><strong style="color:#993300;">Apply for scholarships</strong><br />
Scholarships are a wonderful way to help pay for college or even to help cut the cost of having to pay for college on your own.  There are a variety of scholarships that you can apply for online. Started by <strong>financial aid expert</strong> Mark Kantrowicz, FinAid and FastWeb are two online sites that will match you with a scholarship and even tell you how to apply for it. All you have to do is fill out the required information.</p>
<p>Even though some of the scholarships are small, they are still worth applying for. The best thing to do is to apply for a variety of awards, and the smaller the award the less competitive they are and easier to obtain.</p>
<h5>Beware of scam artists &#8211; Don’t fall for it!</h5>
<p>There are always scammers waiting to prey on the innocent and desperate. Don’t be one of their victims. As Kantrowitz said “You should never invest more than a postage stamp to find out information on a scholarship or apply for <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/scholarships/">scholarships</a>. And if you have to pay money to get money, it’s probably a scam.”</p>
<p>That’s good advice to live by. Now it’s time for you to go in search of the <strong>college money</strong> that has your name on it. And during your quest should you obtain other helpful tips on how to find low interest money for college we’d love to hear them. </p>
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		<title>Obama Education Agenda and Teachers Outrage</title>
		<link>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/obama-education-agenda</link>
		<comments>http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/obama-education-agenda#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:25:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sally Croft</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loan Articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/?p=1467</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[President Obama proposal on the national school system has sent teachers and their unions scrambling. This proposal is based on the same blueprint of a similar plan forwarded by former President Bush during his administration. In his weekly address, President Obama stressed that he hoped his plan would be to the benefit of both teachers and students. He encouraged teachers to remain in the field and insisted they be treated with the respect they deserve as true professionals and nation<strong> ... </strong>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>President Obama proposal on the national school system has sent teachers and their unions scrambling. This proposal is based on the same blueprint of a similar plan forwarded by former President Bush during his administration. In his weekly address, President Obama stressed that he hoped his plan would be to the benefit of both teachers and students. He encouraged teachers to remain in the field and insisted they be treated with the respect they deserve as true professionals and nation builders.</p>
<h5>What does President Obama Education Plan Entail?</h5>
<p>The education plan proposed by <strong>President Obama</strong> takes a multi-faceted approach to the revamping of the educational system. It attacks the many ills within the educational system from the angles of teacher and child with input and support from the <strong>Federal government</strong>. In his weekly address, the President stated that he hoped his education plan would make <a href="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/10-best-careers-for-graduating-students/">students career</a> &#8211; or college-ready by the end of the decade.</p>
<div align="center"><img src="http://www.studentloaninfo.org/blog/wp-content/themes/SLB_new/images/obama_education_policy.jpg" alt="Obama Education Policy" title="Obama Education Policy" /></div>
<div style="height:10px;"></div>
<p>In the first segment, <strong>Obama education proposal</strong> offers a series of competitive grants for both school and staff improvement. Here, schools would receive federal funding to create innovative programs that enhance the student-learning environment and promote student achievement.</p>
<p>The second segment tackles the problem of failing schools. Hard decisions will have to be made based on assessment done by <strong>education officials</strong>. Decisions will include whether to provide more federal funding under the plan for success program, replace the teaching staff and transitioning the school into a charter school. In these circumstances, the school is also given the opportunity to develop their own plan to retain its teachers and improve their performance in exchange for <strong>federal funding</strong>. </p>
<p>The third segment of education proposal introduces by Obama offers an assessment of teacher performance based on <strong>student growth</strong>. As a result, pay incentives will be offered to high performing teachers, especially those who work in schools that generally underperform.</p>
<h5>Teachers’ Bone of Contention with Obama Education Plan</h5>
<p>Not all teachers are happy with President Education Proposal offered by President Obama. They have mobilized their unions to express their disagreement. In a statement issued by Dennis Van Roekel, President of the National Education Association, one of America’s largest <strong>teachers unions</strong>, he said that his union could not support the administration’s proposal in its current form. This was echoed by others teachers’ union, American Federation of Teachers, who stated that they are failing to see how the <strong>President Obama proposal</strong> help both the students and teachers. Their statement went on to comment that the proposal places the responsibility of the success of students 100% at the feet of teachers.</p>
<h5>The way forward for President Obama Education Proposal</h5>
<p>From what we see of the President Obama education proposal, there is still room for dialogue. Both sides of the table have valid points. President’s proposal to establish a system of continuous assessment and accountability will encourage teachers to put in more effort in helping students to be successful. However, to place improvement at 100% at the feet of students is a hard to do as students are severely influenced by the environment in which the live. As a result, the plan should include some means of incorporating the parents into the overall <strong>educational development</strong> of their students as an aid to the teachers.</p>
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