I placed a copy of the "Congratulations" letter from Sallie Mae on the wall of my cubicle

As a single mother it was hard trying to finish my education and even harder paying off my student loan, but I did both. If I had not been in college, I probably would not have the employer that I still work for today. I was so proud of the fact that I paid off my student loan, I placed a copy of the "Congratulations" letter from Sallie Mae on the wall of my cubicle.

For me, the key to paying off my loan faster was to add a little extra to the payment each month. Also having the payments taken out automatically from my bank account was a great help. I feel fortunate that I was able to pay off my student loan in a timely manner. I'm glad Sallie Mae was there when I needed it.

Angelique Tellis, Lafayette, Louisiana

I teach singing and opera and am still singing professionally thanks to Sallie Mae!

Thank you so much for acknowledging that I paid off my student loan. It was a wonderful moment when I clicked the send button for my last payment!

I attained my undergraduate degree in music in 1983, my masters degree in music in 1990 and my doctorate in 2000. It is now 2008 and I have paid off all my degrees! I am currently a tenured college professor at California State University in Los Angeles. Without my degrees, I could not have made that dream come true. I teach singing and opera and am still singing professionally thanks to Sallie Mae!

I paid my loans by adding just a little bit more to the payment than was due and by paying double or triple payments when I had the funds.

Dr. Susan W. Kane, Los Angeles

It is my goal to be debt free

I have paid off my student loan because it is my goal to be debt free. I am fortunate that I live in Saudi Arabia working as a Registered Nurse for a oil company so I was paid tax free dollars for the first 5 years of my employment.

I was able to pay off the loan every month and at one point I even increase[d] my monthly payment. I also want to buy [a] house one day and realize that good credit is the way to accomplish this goal.

For anyone who is thinking about waiting to pay off the loan don't [wait]; pay it off and you will be so happy to get an email telling you congratulations.

Sincerely,
Coelise Martin Taleb

My education has allowed me the freedom to work hours that complement my husband's

Since completing nursing school I have worked as a nurse in several capacities. First I worked in a facility for mentally and physically handicapped adults in Morganton, N.C. Following the birth of my first son I went to work in a nursing home, also in Morganton. Since my second son was born I've done home health care nursing, mostly taking care of severely disabled adults and children. I currently work in this position in Hickory, N.C.

My education has allowed me the freedom to work hours that complement my husband's, plus provide for my family. Without my nursing degree this would not have been possible.

Sincerely,
Andrea Gammaro

I like to pay my debts off as quickly as possible

I graduated with a degree in information technology in 2007 from ITI Technical College thanks to the financial support from Sallie Mae. I successfully paid my student loan off early. There were payment options I could have taken that could have reduced my payments, but I like to pay my debts off as quickly as possible. After receiving a well paying job after college I was earning enough money to pay my loan off before the grace period was over.

Garry Mullins, Baton Rouge, Lousiana

I highly recommend that if you are to repay your student loan on your own, start planning to do so early

I attended Purdue University for four years to obtain a Bachelor degree in Financial Planning and Counseling.

In the fall semester during my senior year I decided to find a job and to start saving for the big pay off that I would have to face after graduation. I did so working as a clerical student assistant for International Programs in Agriculture.

While working and going to school I would split my paycheck in half and stick one half in savings and the other half would be placed in checking. If you decide to get a job during college, I highly recommend to find one on campus because it is less time and effort on your part at the end of the day.

Make things easy on yourself — no need to get stressed out; this is why you should always plan early when you need to pay off a loan.

Jennifer L. Smith, Valparaiso, Indiana

What I did ... was pay 5 to 10 dollars more each payment to help knock down the principal faster

Sallie Mae was an essential tool at a way better interest rate than almost anything out there, and the fact that I did not need to start paying my loan back until 6 months after I was out of school was really nice. I had time to get into my job and get some of my other bills paid before starting this job.

What I did in repaying my loan amount was pay 5 to 10 dollars more each payment to help knock down the principal faster. I do that on all my bills. I wish I could take a loan out with Sallie Mae to pay off my credit card debt I used to help pay bills while I was doing school. Anyhow, thanks Sallie Mae for helping me out. There was really no other way I would have been able to do school. You were there, you had options, and it was easy. Thanks.

Joanie Jagoda

I took my loan out in 2004 to get my MBA in Barcelona

Hi. I am 31 years old and I took my loan out in 2004 to get my MBA in Barcelona, Spain. I had about 7 years of experience at the time and through the two incredible years in Barcelona at a top global MBA program, I decided to cancel plans to return to the U.S. and try my luck in Europe. I had made a solid network of people from 55 countries, many of whom live all over and in general I loved the way of life. With about $100,000 in loans, I applied to companies in Switzerland, London and Amsterdam.

I ended up in Management Consulting in Amsterdam in Financial Services. In August of 2008, 19 months after my repayments started ... I have paid off $70,000. I never could have landed a good paying job as I have now without the MBA. I also could never have created this great life in Amsterdam or have met my Dutch girlfriend. I also recently bought an apartment on a beautiful canal. I do partly owe it to Sallie Mae. Thanks.

Jubin Majlessi

It was a tremendous amount of work ... but it paid off

I always knew that I wanted to become a Special Education Teacher. I received my undergraduate degree in Special Education but did not immediately enroll in a teacher certification program. I worked for several years in the field of vocational rehabilitation which better prepared me to become a Special Education Teacher as I had a better understanding of post‑school options for my future students.

When I moved to the Bay Area, I decided to follow my dream and enroll in a teacher certification program. I was working as a substitute teacher at the time, in order to gain experience in the field, but due to that I was not able to afford my education costs. I applied for a student loan in order to pursue my goals. I enrolled in a teacher certification program that overlapped a Masters program as well. In the same week I began my credentialing program, I began working as a full‑time teacher.

It was a tremendous amount of work to do both simultaneously but it paid off. I have been working in the same position for the past nine years and am very satisfied with it. It has been a very rewarding experience to work with post‑secondary special education students on their transition goals. I am proud to say I earned a California teaching credential and a Masters degree in Special Education. My student loan has recently been paid off, thanks to my participation in the APLE program for teachers in specialized areas.

Laura Hillebrandt

Without Sallie Mae, neither my wife nor I would have been able to improve our lives

Education and I got along great until I reached college. I managed to make it through two whole years, although I only got credit for one and a half. I decided to give myself and my parents’ wallet a break. I spent the next ten years working, exploring, and searching.

During that time I met a woman who would later become my wife. She wanted to go back to school for her Master’s degree so we took out loans to make that happen. She earned her degree and her teaching certificate and entered that field.

Several years later I went back to school to finally finish up that Bachelor’s degree I had put off for so long. This required more loans for me and deferment for her. By the time I finished those last two years, we had accrued quite a sizable debt.

I entered the New York City Teaching Fellows. This is a program that provides one with a Master’s in Education and a teaching certificate while employing them as a full time teacher in a high-needs school. It is a part of the AmeriCorps program. We moved to the Bronx with our one year old and I started into my first “real” job.

Since it was an AmeriCorps program, the government paid off most of the interest that had accrued on my student loans during my time in the program. They also cut me a check to help me defray some education expenses. This check went straight to our student loans which at that point hovered around $50,000.

Once my two years were finished, we decided to work overseas. We interviewed with many different schools in dozens of foreign countries. We accepted a position in rural Mali. We chose to focus on our debts. Over the next three years, we sent as much as we could afford to our student loans until, at last, they were paid off.

Without Sallie Mae, neither my wife nor I would have been able to improve our lives. The student loan money we received enabled us to attain our goals. Although the payments were a burden at times, through hard work, perseverance, and frugal living we are now debt free and living the life we have always dreamed of. Thank you Sallie Mae.

Mark Richards, Valencia, Venezuela

I recommend Sallie

Sallie Mae for me was the most wonderful help I found when I came to this country. They were [there] for me all the time, when I was processing the loan, when I was graduating from college, when I couldn't pay because I was trying to find a job, and for me to see the name Sallie Mae means to be successful as a student, as a professional.

Now I do have a wonderful job as Office Manager with an excellent salary. My son got a loan too with Sallie Mae and I recommend Sallie to all the students that want to achieve their careers.

THANKS SALLIE MAE,
Marta Orozco

When I finally got the balance down ... I just paid the full balance

Paying off my student loan was not an easy thing to do. I have been working on paying the loan off for the past few years ... when I finally got the balance down to a certain amount, I just paid the full balance.

My intentions now would be to go back to school to obtain my bachelors degree and who knows what direction that is going to take me.

Sincerely yours,
Michael L. Moore, Richmond, Virginia

I worked ... all semester long and was able to pay off my loan once school was over

This year I am a sophomore majoring in Wildlife at Purdue University. After my schooling is complete I hope to become a zookeeper and work with primates.

After completing my freshman year at Purdue I decided to get an internship at the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette. This internship helped me a lot. I was able to work in a zoo setting to make sure I enjoyed it, and make sure this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

As everyone knows, schooling is not easy to pay for. Like most college students, I had to take out a Sallie Mae student loan, but I was determined to pay off my loan by the end of the year instead of waiting till I am completely done with school. My parents taught me a lot about credit growing up, so I understand how important it is to have good credit and this Sallie Mae loan was a great opportunity for me to build good credit.

Well being a freshman in college, my parents really didn’t want me to work first semester, because they wanted me to make sure my focus was on school and just get a good feel for college in general so I waited till second semester. As soon as second semester came along I went down to the dining court that was closest to my campus housing and I put in an application. I received the job and worked twelve hours a week all semester long and was able to pay off my loan once school was over.

Now that I’m a sophomore at Purdue University, I had to take out another Sallie Mae student loan for this year. I plan on returning to the dining court and working twelve hours a week again this year, and I hope to pay off this student loan at the end of the year also.

Misty Zimmer, Winamac, Indiana

Thanks Sallie Mae

Although student loans may seem overwhelming, they are worth it. I can't imagine any other form of paying for my college degree. Be careful while in school to minimize debts outside of your student loans, i.e., CREDIT CARDS and large purchases — TVs, etc. If you can manage this, jobs after graduation will ultimately enable [you] to pay off your student loan debt. I am grateful for the programs given to us by which we can achieve success that may not have been possible without college/vocational/other degrees. Thanks Sallie Mae.

Paid Off Young Professional

We were able to pay off all of these loans while I was in graduate school

I am thrilled about completing my MBA and JD programs. It really is a dream come true. The difficult part for me was the mountain of undergraduate debt I had to go along with my graduate loans. Thanks to a couple high‑paying summer jobs and my wife's job, we were able to pay off all of these loans while I was in graduate school and made the final payment to Sallie Mae within 3 months of graduation.

Scott Gotshall

Sallie Mae paving the way!

My Sallie Mae Student Loan helped me do things in my life I never dreamed of being able to do. As an 'older' student returning to the world of education, I was ineligible for most grants. Through Sallie Mae, I never had to worry about finances because Sallie Mae helped me by providing the finances and the freedom to concentrate on my Nursing A.A.S. degree.

I graduated in 1997 and have been part of the Health Care Team providing quality care to patients as a long term Registered Nurse, the Peri‑Operative Circulating R.N., as an I.C.U. R.N., as a Medical‑Surgical Nurse and currently as an R.N. in the Post‑Anesthesia Recovery Room.

I love my career in nursing and the opportunities it has provided me since my graduation in 1997. Three years of education and Sallie Mae paving the way! They have provided me with a foundation that allows me to work as a Travel R.N. and I have been to places I had not imagined I would be able to visit. I am a contributing member of my community and it is a rewarding feeling of accomplishment. Thank you, Sallie Mae!

Respectfully,
Sonja Gross, R.N.

I was working at a dead end job and wanted a better future for myself

I was working at a dead end job and wanted a better future for myself, so I decided to go back to college and make a better future. I found Sallie Mae's website for college loans and went from there. With all of the help from customer service and the website, I was able to obtain the financing I needed to attend college.

After attending school it was time to repay my loans. I just managed my debts correctly and was able to pay on them in a timely manner.

Tracy Fairchild, Whitehall, Ohio

I am grateful for the loan I received from Sallie Mae

I am grateful for the loan I received from Sallie Mae. I went to school to become a massage therapist. I just received my license and am now a Massage Therapist licensed in Texas.

Melissa, Texas