The Law School's Office of Student Financial Services is part of a University-wide financial aid system. All loan certifications are done by the University's Financial Aid Office, which handles applications from approximately 34,000 students annually. As such, the Law School Office of Student Financial Services works very closely with the University Financial Aid Office to ensure the smoothest navigation of the loan application process for all law students. Therefore, all inquiries relating to your loans and certification status (of those loans) should be addressed to our office, the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Selecting a lender is the most important part of the loan application process. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a lender:
- How long has the lender been in the student loan industry?
- Is the lender well regarded in the area of educational financing?
- How is the customer service? What are their hours (are they available when you need them)? Is information available online? Call the lender and ask questions.
- Does the lender use a servicer? Who is the servicer?
- Does the lender sell their loans to a secondary market?
- What are the terms and conditions for hardship deferments/forbearance?
- Does the lender offer a preferred interest rate for students attending my school?
- How often is accrued interest capitalized? Monthly? Quarterly? Only when the loan status changes? (i.e., at repayment)
- What borrower incentives are offered? What percentage of borrowers qualify for those incentives? Can the incentives offered change? How? When? Are the incentives in writing? If so, where can I find them?
Our goal is to assist you to navigate a rather complex system with minimal stress and confusion. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We would be pleased to help you in any way we can.