Consolidate Students

As a result of the string of rate cuts made by the Fed over the last year, most parent and student borrowers who have existing variable-rate federal student loans will see their interest rates drop by 3 percent on July 1, 2008 — the biggest rate drop in the history of the federal student loan program.

A growing trend in how students apply to college is changing the landscape of college admissions, forcing admissions offices to rethink the number of students the school needs to admit and, in turn, how the school awards its available federal grants, student loans, work-study, and other limited financial aid funds.

Though the United States continues — at least for now — to be the top destination of choice for prospective international graduate students seeking their postbaccalaureate degree, it can no longer take for granted its ability to attract a growing pool of international applicants, according to a report by the Council of Graduate Schools released this month.