 |
24/7 Application Processing
Customer service that is offered seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Law School Loans offers this feature to our borrowers.
Academic Year
The amount of time, defined by a school, within which a student has to accomplish his or her academic work.
ACT
A standardized multiple-choice test that is given to high school students. Some colleges and universities require the ACT as an entrance exam. The ACT measures a student's academic aptitude in English, math, reading, and science.
Accrual Date
The time that a loan's interest begins to accrue.
Accrued Interest
Unpaid interest that collects on the principal balance of a loan is called accrued interest.
Some loans, such as the Subsidized Stafford and Perkins Loans, let the student defer repayment of principal and interest while still in school. If you are eligible for federal interest subsidy, the interest may be paid by the federal government during this period.
In case your loan does not qualify for the federal interest subsidy, or if your loan is in forbearance, the unpaid interest amount that accrues while you are not making payments will be added to your loan balance. To limit the growth of your loan balance, you can make some payments toward the accrued interest even when they are not required.
Additional Education Borrowing
Borrowing more than one loan. You may reconsolidate your previously-consolidated loans with Law School Loans if you have additional education borrowing.
Adjusted Available Income
The income that is left after taxes and basic living allowances has been deducted.
Advanced Placement
A high school program that allows students to take college classes while they are still in high school. At the end of the classes, students take an exam that allows them to receive college credits for their score on the exam.
Alternative Loan
Also known as a private loan, this is a loan that is given through private institutions that are not backed by the federal government. They offer relaxed terms, competitive rates, simplified procedures, and a prompt pre-approval credit decision. Credit checks are mandatory to the borrower of alternative/private student loans.
Amortization
Repayment of a loan in a series of installments over a period of time; for example, monthly payments of principal and interest for the term of the loan.
Annual Percentage Rate
Mmeasures the total cost of interest that the borrower will pay on the loan each year.
AP
Refer to "Advanced Placement"
APR
Refer to "Annual Percentage Rate."
Assets
Items owned by an individual that can have a cash value. This includes bonds, real estate, stocks, business equipment, etc. When a student or parent is filling out the Expected Family Contribution on the FAFSA, it asks that all assets be considered in the calculation.
Asset Protection Allowance
A formula used by the U.S. Department of Education and financial aid offices to determine which assets of a student's parents should be excluded by them while calculating the Expected Family Contribution.
Assistantship
Employment for college students which usually entails participating in departmental research assistance or student teaching.
Associate Degree
A two-year college degree.
Auto Debit
A program offered through Law School Loans that allows borrowers to make their payments by having them deducted automatically from checking or savings accounts each month. When borrowers take advantage of this benefit, they receive an immediate 0.25% interest rate reduction.
Automated Debit Payment
Refer to "Auto Debit"
Award Letter
Letters sent to students from colleges that inform the students as to the amount of financial aid that they have been awarded.
Bachelors Degree
A four-year college degree.
Bar Loan
Loan that provides funds to be used for expenses related to taking the bar exam.
Base Rate
The interest rate prior to any borrower benefits or incentives.
Borrower
The person who signed the promissory note and is legally obligated to repay the loan.
Borrower Benefits
These are benefits that lenders offer borrowers, generally as payment incentives, in order to reduce the borrower's interest rate and save his/her money.
A 0.25% rate reduction is currently offered by Law School Loans if you use auto-debit to make payments. On federal consolidations, borrowers will receive an additional 1% interest rate reduction after 36 consecutive on-time full payments are made.
Bursar's Office
An office at a college that is responsible for collections and billing issues.
Campus-based Aid
Financial aid that is given to a student from their college, but is partially funded from government programs. The colleges determine which students will receive the aid from these programs. They include Perkins Loans, work-study, Pell Grants, and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG).
Cancellation
In terms of consolidation, cancellation terminates the consolidation process, keeping the borrower's multiple loans as they were.
In regards to loans, cancellation annuls the obligations of the borrower to repay a loan. This only happens in extreme situations.
Capitalization
When unpaid interest is added to the loan principal, it is called capitalization. In this case, the borrower pays interest on the loan principal as well as on the outstanding unpaid interest.
Citizenship
Many loans require that you have U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency, before you may borrow. This includes being a:
- U.S. Citizen
- U.S. National
- U.S. Permanent Resident with an I-151, I-155, or I-551C
COA
Refer to "Cost of Attendance"
COE
Refer to "Cost of Education"
Collective Bargaining
Negotiation between students and their colleges or lenders to determine the amount of financial aid that they will receive.
College Financial Aid
All grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs given to students to cover their tuition fees and living expenses for college are considered financial aid.
Law School Loans helps you to better understand the college financial aid process and offers solutions to your college financial aid needs.
College Funding
All monies distributed are to be used to help with college costs, including tuition, board and lodgings, books, transportation, and other expenses.
Law School Loans helps you in understanding the college funding process and offers you solutions that best suit your needs.
College Loan
All monies distributed to be used to help with college costs, including tuition, board and lodgings, books, transportation, and other expenses.
Combination Billing
This repayment plan combines all of your loans into one payment and a single statement each month. The terms of the loans, interest rates, and payment installments do not change.
Commercial Lender
For-profit institutions such as banks, or credit unions that give out loans.
Compound Interest
Refer to "Capitalization"
Consolidation
Merges multiple loans into a single loan, frequently with a lower monthly payment and a longer payback period. Law School Loans offers both federal and private consolidations to accommodate all of our borrowers' loans.
With Law School Loans' federal loan consolidation program, you can effectively merge either all or some of your outstanding college loans into a single new loan, even if your present loans are held by more than one lender or are of different types.
Consolidation Loan
Refer to "Consolidation"
Cosigner
A signer in addition to the principal borrower who is jointly responsible for the repayment of loan(s); usually necessary when additional security is needed to obtain a loan.
Cosigner Release
Allows cosigners to be released of his or her obligations to the loan.
Cost of Education
The net annual cost of attending a particular school. It includes tuition fees, books, boarding and lodging, food, transportation and personal expenses.
Cost of Attendance
The total cost associated with attending college. It includes tuition fees, books, room and board, supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses. A student's residency or marital status also helps to determine the Cost of Attendance.
Credit Check
The report that looks at a potential borrower's credit history and determines his or her credit rating.
Credit-Based
Implies that a loan lender takes into consideration a potential borrower's credit, prior to lending. Private loans and private consolidations are credit-based.
Credit Rating
Measures the level of risk for lenders to lend money, using a borrower's previous loan histories, etc. A good credit rating indicates that a borrower is likely to repay the amount that he or she borrows. A poor credit rating shows that there is a higher level of risk associated with lending money to the borrower, due to the increased possibility that the borrower may default on their loan repayment.
Credit Score
Refer to "Credit Rating"
Credit Sensitive
Implies that a loan may require a credit check prior to lending to a potential borrower.
CSS Profile
Also known as the College Scholarship Service this is an application that can be required by some private colleges and universities that helps to determine a student's eligibility for private financial aid.
Current Balance
The amount that a borrower owes on his or her loans at a specific point of time. This includes principal and interest amounts.
Current Lender
The existing institution that lends money to a borrower.
Custodial Parent
When a student's parents are divorced or separated, the custodial parent is the one whom the student has lived with for the last 12 months.
Debt Consolidation
Also termed as loan consolidation, it is the replacement of multiple loans with a single loan which may carry a lower monthly installment and a longer payback period.
With our federal loan consolidation program, you can merge all or some of your outstanding loans into one, even if they are held by more than one lender, or are of different types.
Default
Status for loans that are not repaid in accordance with the repayment terms on the promissory note.
Deferment
The postponement of loan payments for a given period of time. Deferment can be granted under any one of the following conditions:
- Enrollment in a higher program like a graduate or fellowship program
- Half-time study
- Inability to procure a full-time job
- Admission to an approved rehabilitation counseling program
- Any other financial hardships
Deferment Rate
Refers to the rate at which some loans are given while they are in deferment status.
Delinquency
A loan that is 30 to 60 days past due with no payments being made. This can result in default.
Dependency Status
For financial aid purposes, the status of a student who is dependent upon his or her parents for financial support.
Dependent
Refers to "Dependent Student"
Dependent Student
A student who, for federal financial aid purposes, is dependent upon his or her parents for support. He/she must provide parental information on the FAFSA.
Direct Lender
Refer to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program."
Direct Loans
Loans given through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program from The Department of Education. Refer "William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program."
Direct Loan Program
Refer to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program."
Disbursement
The payment of funds, in this case, to a school on behalf of a student to pay education expenses.
Disclosure Statement
A statement of the total cost of your loan, which includes the principal as well as the interest.
DOE
Refer to "William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program."
Education Financing
Includes all scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs offered to a student to cover his or her tuition fees as well as college living expenses.
Educational Loan
Used to meet the cost of college- tuition, boarding and lodging, transportation, and other expenses.
EFC
Refer to "Expected Family Contribution"
EFT
Refer to "Electronic Funds Transfer"
Electronic Funds Transfer
An automated electronic transfer of funds from the bank or the lender.
Eligible Non-Citizen
A U.S. Permanent Resident with an I-151, I-155, or I-551C. This is required for a borrower to borrow federal student loans.
Eligible Program
A field of study that leads to a degree or certificate and also meets the U.S. Department of Education's requirements.
Entrance Counseling
Mandatory counseling for students before receiving a student loan; covers how to manage educational expenses and understand loan responsibilities.
Enrollment Status
A student's status that shows whether a student attends school part-time, half-time or full-time. A student must have at least an enrollment status of half-time to be eligible for most financial aid. In order to be considered full-time, a student must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. To be considered half-time, a student must carry a minimum of 6 credit hours.
E-sign
Refer to "E-signature"
E-signature
Also known as electronic signature, this is a binding contract that allows borrowers to complete an application online, rather than "wet signing" the physical application. Law School Loans offers this feature to our borrowers to help make the application process quick and simple.
Exit Counseling
Required counseling before graduating or leaving college; explains students' rights and responsibilities as a Direct Loan borrower.
Expected Family Contribution
The amount of money your family is expected to contribute to your college education for one year. It is not just your parent's contribution; you and your parents share the responsibility to paying for college.
Expected Graduation Date
The day that a borrower anticipates completing his or her schooling.
FAFSA
Refer to "Free Application for Federal Student Aid"
FFELP
Refer to "Federal Family Education Lending Program"
Federal Consolidation
Refer to "Federal Student Loan Consolidation"
Federal Consolidation Loan
Refer to "Federal Student Loan Consolidation"
Federal Family Education Lending Program
A program that allows private lenders to provide federal loans to students that are backed by the federal government. FFELP loans are the largest federal source of financial aid for college. It is made up of the following parts:
- Stafford Loan
Subsidized Stafford loans are available to students who demonstrate financial need. Unsubsidized Stafford loans are available to students regardless of their financial need.
- PLUS loans
Parents can borrow up to the total cost of their children's undergraduate education, less financial aid from other sources.
- Federal Consolidation Loans
Borrowers can consolidate their federal education loans into one loan with a single monthly payment and, depending on their outstanding loan balance, extend their repayment period.
Federal Financial Aid
All federal aid including: scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study, given to students to meet their cost of education and living expenses.
Federal Loan
Refer to "Federal Student Loan"
Federal Loan Consolidation
Refer to "Federal Student Loan Consolidation"
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
Refer to "Graduate PLUS Loan"
Federal Grants
Refer to "Grants"
Federal Perkins Loan
Refer to "Perkins Loan."
Federal PLUS Loan
Refer to "PLUS Loan"
Federal Stafford Loan
Refer to "Stafford Loan"
Federal Student Aid
Student financial aid provided through the federal government. Federal student aid can be in the form of grants, loans, and work-study aid.
Federal Student Loan
Loans given to college students and their parents that are backed by the federal government. These are offered through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).
Federal Student Loan Consolidation
Merges multiple federal student loans into one, easy-to-manage loan. With Law School Loans' federal loan consolidation program, you can effectively merge either all or some of your outstanding college loans into a single new loan, even if your present loans are held by more than one lender or are of different types.
Federal Work-Study
Refer to "Work-Study Program"
Financial Aid
A general term that includes all types of money, loans, and work-study programs offered to a student to help pay tuition costs and living expenses.
Financial Aid Administrator
Refer to Financial Aid Officer
Financial Aid Officer
Responsible for advising and counseling students regarding financial aid, and overseeing their financial aid packages.
Financial Aid Package
The total amount of financial aid that a student receives. This includes both federal and private funding.
Financial Need
The Cost of Attendance minus the Expected Family Contribution.
Fixed Interest Rate
An interest rate the borrower locks into at the origination of the loan which does not change during the term of the loan.
Forbearance
Allows borrowers to temporarily suspend payments or make a reduced payment amount, do to inability to make monthly payments. Interest continues to accrue during any period of forbearance.
Forgiveness Programs
Also known as student loan repayment programs, these programs relieve students and graduates from a portion or all of their student loans in exchange for working for a specified period of time. Forgiveness programs can be provided by the federal government, state government, military, and other various organizations and agencies across the country.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The official application students must use to apply for federal aid.
Full Deferment
A status in which the borrower is not obligated to pay either interest or principal amount. This status is available when the student is in an "in-school status."
Grace Period
A specified period of time after a student leaves school or drops below half-time status during which he or she is not required to make payments on either principle or interest. The grace period is typically six to nine months, depending on the type of loan.
Graduate PLUS Loan
A federal loan for graduate and professional students. This loan is another version of the PLUS loans for parents of undergraduate students. The Graduate PLUS Loan can pay a borrower the total COA, minus any other financial aid received. It is however, credit-based.
Graduate Program
University programs for students who have completed their undergraduate or bachelor's degrees.
Graduate Student
A student enrolled in a graduate program.
Graduated Repayment
Repayment terms calling for gradual increase in the payments on a closed-end obligation.
Grants
Monetary federal financial aid that does not require repayment. Grants are need-based financial aid.
Guarantee Fee
A fee paid to the guaranty agency to insure the loan. The amount of the fee is deducted from the dollar amount of the loan.
Guarantor
See "Guaranty Agency"
Guaranty Agency
An organization that insures student loans for banks and administers the student loan insurance program for the federal government.
Government Student Loan
Student loans provided through the federal government.
Half-Time Enrollment
A student's school enrollment status when the student is taking at least 6 credit hours. Most financial aid requires that a student be enrolled at least half time to qualify.
Home Equity
The principal on a home minus the current market value.
HOPE Tax Credit
A tax credit subtracted directly from the tax owed, instead of being subtracted from taxable income like a tax deduction. You cannot get a refund for the Hope Credit if you do not pay taxes.
Income Verification
Process to confirm one's annual wages. Some private student loans require income verification.
Income-Sensitive Repayment
Method of repayment in which the amount of monthly payments is based on the borrower's income. Payments must cover at least the interest, which accrues between payments.
In-School Interest Rate
The rate at which interest accrues when a student is in at least a half-time enrollment status. This rate is usually lower than when the loan is in its repayment status.
Independent Status
The status of a student who is: 24 years or older, is a graduate or professional student, is married, has legal documents, is an orphan or ward of the court; or is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Interest
The price paid by a borrower for the use of a lender's money. The original amount lent is called the principal, and the percentage of the principal which must be paid annually as interest is called the interest rate.
Interest Period
The amount of time that interest accrues on a loan.
Interest Rate
The percentage of the principal which must be paid annually by a borrower for its use.
Interest Rate Reduction
When the overall interest rate of a loan or consolidation is lowered. Law School Loans offers interest rate reductions of up to 1.25%.
Independent Student
Someone who is one of the following: 24 years of age or older; an orphan; a ward of the court; a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; is married; has a child; is a graduate or professional student; or has serious family circumstances.
Interest-Only Payment
Payment that covers only accrued interest that is owed on a loan and none of the principal balance.
Internship
A work-related learning experience for individuals who wish to develop hands on-work experience in a certain occupational field.
Lender
An institution, such as banks and credit unions, that lends money.
LIBOR
Stands for London Interbank Offered Rate. This is a financial index that some private lenders use to determine the interest rates on their private loans.
Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
A federal income tax credit of as much as $1,000 per household annually; available to eligible taxpayers based on "out-of-pocket" tuition and fee expenditures, according to income eligibility guidelines.
Line of Credit
An additional amount of credit with a prearranged limit.
Loan
Lending money to a borrower for a specific amount of time, with the understanding that the borrower will repay the money lent.
Loan Counselor
Refer to "Loan Specialist"
Loan Holder
The agency or company that "owns" the loan the borrower is or will be repaying. It should be noted that because some lenders sell their loans to other companies, the initial lender and the loan holder may not be the same company.
Loan Principal
The initial amount of money borrowed, given by the lender as a loan.
Loan Specialist
A Law School Loans professional who helps borrowers consolidate their student loans into one easy-to-manage loan. When a borrower consolidates with Law School Loans, he or she will have a loan specialist assigned specifically to him or her. The loan specialist will then be the borrower's main point of contact when he or she has questions or concerns about his or her consolidation or loans.
Loan Type
The kind of loan that is borrowed. Because loans vary, borrowers may choose one of the several federal loans or perhaps a private loan.
Loan Verification Certificate
An official document that verifies all of the borrower's federal student loans with a specific lender/servicer.
London Interbank Offer Rate
Also, known as LIBOR, this is a financial index that some private lenders use to determine the interest rates on their private loans.
LVC
Refer to Loan Verification Certificate
Master Promissory Note
A document that a borrower must sign when borrowing a loan. This outlines the terms of the loan.
Masters Degree
A degree that is usually awarded to students who complete two additional years of schooling after they earn their Bachelor's degrees.
Marketing Company
A company that acts as a middle man by marketing loans to potential borrowers and then finds companies to sell loans to borrowers. Law School Loans is NOT a marketing company, but a true lender! This ensures that our borrowers' loans are handled by experts and not just marketers.
Maturity Date
The date in which a loan reaches its maximum payment period. At this time the loan must be paid in full.
Merit-based Aid
Financial aid that is awarded to students based on merit, such as good grades, leadership, community service, etc. Many scholarships are merit-based aid.
Minimum Monthly Payment
The least amount that can be paid each month to repay a borrower's loans. Law School Loans offers several flexible repayment options that can help borrowers who want to pay the minimum monthly payment on their loans.
Monthly Payment
The amount that a borrower must pay each month as repayment of his or her loan(s).
MPN
Refer to "Master Promissory Note"
National Student Loan Data System
A database through the U.S. Department of Education. NSLDS provides lenders with information on a borrower's loans that is received from schools, agencies, and other federal programs.
Need
The Cost of Attendance minus a student's Expected Family Contribution.
Need-Based Aid
Aid that is given to students based on their financial need.
Need-blind Admissions
A policy in which a school's admissions department does not take into consideration a student's inability to pay for their schooling when deciding on his or her acceptance into the school.
Needs Analysis
An amount determined by FAFSA that shows the amount that a student's family can afford to contribute towards the student's schooling.
NSLDS
Refer to "National Student Loan Data System."
Non-Citizen
A person who is not a United States citizen.
Non-portable Funding
Financial aid that is specific to a certain college or university. This means that it cannot be transferred to another college. The student will lose the aid if he or she chooses to transfer.
Online Application
A feature on Law School Loans that allows our potential borrowers to complete their entire application online with our convenient e-signature option.
Originator
The initial financial institution or company that begins a loan before reselling them.
Origination Fee
A fee that the borrower must pay to the lender to cover administrative fees on a loan.
Parental Contribution
The amount that a student's parent(s) are able to contribute to the student's schooling costs.
Payment Incentives
Presently, a 0.25% reduction in interest rates is offered by Law School Loans for using auto-debit and an additional 1.0% interest rate reduction is given after 36 consecutive full payments have been made on time.
Payment Schedule
The schedule of a borrower which lists the monthly installment, interest rate, total repayment obligation, and the length of time for the repayment.
Pell Grant
Monetary financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Awarded through the government or one's school. Pell grants are awarded solely on demonstrated financial need to every eligible undergraduate student who hasn't already earned a bachelor's or professional degree. The amount of the Pell grant will depend on financial need, college costs, and whether enrollment is full-time or part-time.
Perkins Loan
A federal student loan that has one of the lowest interest rates. Perkins Loans are awarded to students with exceptional financial need. The student must have applied for a Pell Grant to be eligible. The interest on the Perkins Loan is subsidized while the student is in school.
PLUS Loan
The Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students are available to parents of dependent students, regardless of financial need. Parents are responsible for interest that accrues during any period.
Podcast
Audio interviews, offered by Law School Loans' website, that provide listeners with important information pertaining to the student loan industry and student loan consolidations.
Portable Funding
Financial aid that is not specific to a certain college or university. This allows it to be transferred to another college, should the student transfer.
Prepayment Penalties
Fees that are incurred when a borrower repays his or her loan prior to the length of the loan. Law School Loans' consolidations programs do NOT have prepayment penalties.
Prepaid Tuition Plan
Savings plan for future students that adjust to accommodate the rising cost of college tuition. This ensures that the savings will be adequate when he or she enters college.
Prepayment
Any amount that a borrower pays on a loan before it is required as per the terms of the promissory note. There is never a prepayment penalty on Law School Loans' federal or private student loan consolidations.
Prime
Refer to "Prime Rate"
Prime Rate
The lowest interest rate on loans that is offered to preferred borrowers.
Principal
The amount of money lent to a borrower, prior to interest.
Private Certified Loan
A private loan that requires certification from a school official before it can be disbursed. The certification from the school verifies that the student is not borrowing in excess of the COA, minus any other financial aid received.
Private Educational Loan
Refer to "Private Student Loan"
Private Loan
Refer to "Private Student Loan"
Private Loan Consolidation
A process that merges multiple loans into a single loan, frequently with a lower monthly payment and a longer payback period. This allows for a single, monthly bill that is made to just one lender.
Private Student Loan
A student loan that is given through private institutions that are not backed by the federal government. They offer relaxed terms, competitive rates, simplified procedures, and a prompt pre-approval credit decision. Credit checks are mandatory to a borrower of private student loan.
Private Uncertified Loan
A private student loan that does not require certification from a school official to be disbursed.
Promissory Note
A legally binding contract between a lender and a borrower. The promissory note contains the terms and conditions of the loan, including how and when the loan must be repaid.
PSAT
A preliminary test given to students to prepare for the SAT.
Rate Index
A published rate such as the Prime Rate, LIBOR, or Treasury Rate that is a variable in calculating the interest rates for student loans.
Renewable Scholarships
Financial aid that is awarded to students for more than a single year.
Repayment
The loan status that requires borrowers to make monthly payments on the loan.
Repayment Fee
A fee that is added to some loans when the loan enters into repayment status.
Repayment Length
The allotted time within which a borrower has to repay his or her loan or consolidation loan. Law School Loans has extended repayment options that allow a borrower to extend his or her repayment length up to 30 years.
Repayment Options
Allows borrowers to choose a repayment plan that best suites his or her financial situation.
Law School Loans provides the following repayment options on our federal student loan consolidations:
- Equal Payments
This is the standard option in which both the interest and principal will be paid equally over the life of the loan. Your monthly payment amounts will not change over the life of the loan.
- Select2/Graduated Payments
With this option, you will be allowed to make interest-only payments for the first two years of repayment. After two years, the payments will increase to include equal installments of both the interest and principal for the remaining term of the loan.
- Select 5/Graduated Payments
This option allows you to make interest-only payments for the first two years of repayment. During the third through fifth years of the loan, the payments will increase to include only a portion of the principal with the interest. Upon the sixth year, your payments will once again increase to include both the principal and interest equally throughout the remaining term of the loan.
- Income-Sensitive Payments
This option provides for payments to be adjusted annually, based on your expected total monthly gross income from employment and all other sources.
- Extended Equal Payments
This option allows up to a 25-year repayment term for loan balances between $30,000 and $40,000 of equal payments
- Extended Select 2/ Payments
This option allows up to a 25-year repayment term for loan balances between $30,000 and $40,000 with the Select 2/Graduated Payment Plan.
- Extended Select 5/ Payments
This option allows up to a 25-year repayment term for loan balances between $30,000 and $40,000 with the Select 5/Graduated Payment Plan.
Law School Loans offers the following repayment options on our private student loan consolidations:
- Equal Payments
This is the standard option in which both the interest and principal will be paid equally over the life of the loan. Your monthly payment amounts will not change over the life of the loan.
- Select 2/ Graduated Payments
With this option, you will be allowed to make interest-only payments for the first two years of repayment. After 2 years, the payments will increase to include equal installments of both the interest and principal for the remaining term of the loan.
- Select 5/Graduated Payments
This option allows you to make interest-only payments for the first 2 years of repayment. During the third through fifth years of the loan, the payments will increase to include only a portion of the principal with the interest. Upon the sixth year, your payments will once again increase to include both the principal and interest equally throughout the remainder of the loan.
Repayment Rate
Refers to the rate at which some loans are given while in repayment status.
Repayment Schedule
The schedule of a borrower which lists the monthly installment, interest rate, total repayment obligation, and the length of time for the repayment.
Repayment Terms
The specified terms for repayment. This may include the monthly payment due date, and interest rate.
Research Assistantship
Positions administered by colleges that provide students with monetary aid in exchange for assisting professors with research.
Residency Loan
Loan that provides funds to be used for expenses related to working in a residency program.
SAR
Refer to "Student Aid Report"
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Required by many federal aid programs, satisfactory academic progress is demonstrated when a student maintains a specified GPA or better while in school.
SAT
A standardized multiple-choice test that is given to high school students, and is required as an entrance exam to some colleges and universities. The SAT measures a student's academic aptitude in math, and verbal reasoning.
Scholarship
Monetary financial aid provided to a student that does not need to be repaid. Scholarships can be awarded through colleges, organizations, and companies.
School Loan
A loan which includes transportation, room and board, books, and additional expenses.
Secondary Market
A market that provides for the purchase or sale of loans thereby providing the original lender with additional monies to make additional loans.
Secured Loan
A loan that is guaranteed by the borrower by adding collateral. In case the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender may seize the collateral on the loan.
SEOG
Refer to "Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant"
Servicer
An agency or company paid by the lender to oversee the status of the loan, disburse funds, receive payments, and take care of customer service and other related issues.
Simple Interest
Interest that accrues only on the principal of a loan.
Stafford Loan
A federally-guaranteed loan program that allows students to borrow funds from lenders. Stafford loans allow the student to defer payments while he/she is in school. These loans also have subsidized options for those who qualify.
Standard Repayment
A repayment schedule where the borrower pays the same amount for each payment for the entire repayment period.
State Student Incentive Grants
Funds provided as financial aid jointly by the federal government and the participating state governments for state residents.
Stipend
Monetary compensation awarded to students as part of a fellowship, assistantship, scholarship, etc.
Student Aid Report
A document that a student receives after his or her FAFSA is processed. The SAR lists all of the answers provided on the FAFSA.
Student Financial Aid
Funds awarded to a student to help meet post-secondary educational expenses. These funds are awarded on the basis of financial need and include scholarships, grants, loans, and employment.
Student Loan
A loan that is borrowed by students or parents to meet the cost of college- tuition, boarding and lodging, transportation, and other expenses associated with the cost of attendance.
Student Status
Refers to whether a student is independent or dependent, as well as the student's status in regards to his or her loan: i.e. in school, in grace period, in deferment or in repayment.
Subsidized Loan
A type of loan that allows the borrower to avoid accruing interest while in school, in their grace period or in deferment, due to the government paying the interest that accrues at this time. Subsidized loans are need-based.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Also known as SEOG or FSEOG, this grant is reserved for college students with the greatest need for financial aid to attend school. Colleges receive an annual allocation from the federal government for SEOG and, within certain guidelines, develop an awarding policy for this fund.
Teaching Assistantship
Also known as a T.A., these are positions administered by colleges that provide students with monetary aid in exchange for assisting professors with class work.
Term of a Loan
The time allotted for a loan to be repaid.
TERI
The Education Resources Institute, a non-profit, private institution.
TERI-Approved
Colleges or universities that have met the requirements set by The Education Resources Institute.
Title IV Programs
Federal aid programs implemented from Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
True Lender
A company or institution that is certified to handle loans or consolidations within their business, from start to finish. A true lender is NOT a marketing company, who merely markets to borrowers. Law School Loans is a true lender!
Tuition
The cost of enrollment at a college or university.
Undergraduate Student
A student who is pursuing a four-year Bachelor's degree.
Unmet Need
The need to fund a student's schooling that is not met by scholarships, grants, loans, etc.
Unsecured Loan
A loan that does entail having borrowers offer collateral to the lenders.
Unsubsidized Loan
A type of loan in which the borrower accrues interest throughout the life of their loan. With unsubsidized loans, the borrower is fully responsible to pay all of the interest that accumulates.
Variable Interest Rate
An interest rate that changes based on an index, such as the prime rate.
Variable Rate
Refer to "Variable Interest Rate"
Variable Loan
A loan that has a variable interest rate.
Verification
Documents that confirm the accuracy of a borrower's information. Verification is necessary for most types of financial aid.
Weighted average
Used in consolidation, the weighted average takes into account the total balance of a borrower's loans, as well as their interest rates.
Weighted GPA
A student's grade point average takes into account the number of credits on the basis of which a student is enrolled.
William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
Also known as DOE, DL, or Direct Loan Program, this program lends federal student loans through The Department of Education, instead of private institutions.
Work-Study Program
A financial aid program in which students work while they attend school. Usually work-study is part of students' financial aid "package." The work may be related to students' course of study, or credited toward payment of tuition, or simply a job to help pay expenses. Work-Study is a need-based program.
|
|
Provide superior financial advice to attorneys.
The Legal Career Resources column is presented by 
Free Ebook With All Registrations
It is extremely important to continue to make all of your regular payments on the loans that you have selected to consolidate until you receive your new Loan Consolidation Disclosure Statement and Repayment Schedule from your new loan servicer.
