<p>Interest rates are all going up in July - if you have education loans or parents have PLUS loans you need to consolidate them now and get a fixed interest rate before July 1st. There are alot of consolidation programs that offer extra benefits if you use their program but beware of the fine print and the “gotcha’s”.</p>
<p>What are some of the gotchas? Our parental outside loans are already fixed. </p>
<p>Should D consolidate her Stafford loans from the first two years even though she has two more years to go? I thought I had understood that you can consolidate loans only once and that in that case it was best until you had all four years of loans in place.</p>
<p>I’m wondering about this too–is it better to consolidate now, while kids still in college, or wait? They will both be taking out more loans . . .</p>
<p>Same/similar question… If received (and would be receiving) subsidized Staffords, do you lose the subsidy if you consolidate? If so, is it worthwhile anyway?</p>