Also, if you have more than one loan then you should consolidate them. This means you make them into one monthly payment. You can lower your interest rates by doing this.

Go here to learn more:

http://www.studentfinancedomain.com/student_loans/college_student_loan_consolidation.aspx

Good luck!

it’s 6 months after graduation OR withdrawal for Stafford loans (and 9 months after for Perkins loans).

You DON’T have to pay back any grant money, like the Pell or Federal Supplemental Grant. I have never heard of a school issuing institutional grant money (essentially a lowering of the tuition sticker price) and then asking for it back. In short, grant money is a gift. Loan money gets paid back (FED loans with grace period, private loans, to my knowledge, without).

I’m pretty sure only Perkins loans are forgiven with any regularity, and then only if you teach for the state or work in a state run medical facility (never a guarantee of forgiveness). Deferrals are easier to get–never make a late payment without saying something first. Always contact them if you know you’ll be short.

Hopefully you are going into a field where once you find a job, the state will forgive your loans! For example, in WI, if you are a teacher working with at-risk youth, and your work for 3 years, they will forgive your loans. Check with your state and with the jobs that you could potentially have after college.

Good luck!