Thanks for the opportunity you gave me

Thanks for the opportunity you gave me through the student loans. It helped me to achieve my goals. I went to Computer Career Center to study Medical Billing and Office Technology.

After a long time applying for a job in this field, I couldn't find one. I ended up working for an important investment bank. When I started paying my student loan I was not working.

I learned that, in this country, it's very important to have a good credit history, so it was a commitment for me to start a good credit history with Sallie Mae. During the time I was paying my loan, I always paid 10 to 20 dollars more each month. There were months that I paid double. This helped me to lower the principal balance faster.

I am very grateful for this loan. Sallie Mae helped me improve my life.

Clara S.
New York City, New York

I think the smartest move I made to pay off my loans was to not extend the term

Hi, Sallie Mae,

I think the smartest move I made to pay off my loans was to not extend the term and to have them directly deducted from my checking account. I couldn't be late on the payments ever, and I saved myself some interest money. The convenience was a big plus. Not extending the term helped keep the interest down and, since the payments were level, as my income increased they became easy to pay back.

I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and an MBA from Rivier College in Nashua, NH. I went to work for an investment company after graduation. My most recent position was as a quality assurance engineer (software test). I spent most of my career there as a client contact and a business analyst.

Education, even if you don't use it directly in your work, is always a valuable thing. My educational experiences taught me superior analytical and communication skills that translate to any work environment. It also taught me how to learn more effectively and, for thinking humans, learning is a life-long endeavor.

I am so glad that I paid back the money that I was able to borrow with the gracious generosity of the American taxpayer.

Sincerely,
Laura L.

I am really grateful for Sallie Mae’s help and support

Hello everyone — I came to the United States in 1988, looking for a better future. At first, I started working in restaurants, delis, and doing all odd jobs; barely making ends meet. I got married and started focusing on the aspects of raising a family. The only choice I had is to go back to school and improve my skills.

In 1998 I enrolled in a technical college in New York (associate degree program) with the help of a Sallie Mae loan. I was able to graduate and landed a job as an electronic service technician.

Sallie Mae was very flexible with my payments. They offered all kinds of support. When I was going through hardship, they lowered my monthly payment. I must add there were times when I missed a few payments; yet Sallie Mae was very understanding and approach[ed] me with letters and e-mail notifications on how to make it easier and not to default on the loan. I am really grateful for Sallie Mae’s help and support. In today's economy, it is very hard to land a job.

Education is the solution. I am going back to college at the age of 44 to complete my bachelor degree. Ask me who I am going to consider for a student loan. Of course, Sallie Mae.

Mohamad R.

It was comforting to know that Sallie Mae had payment plans available to assist me

If felt a sense of relief and accomplishment when I was able to pay off my student loan! I chose Saint Louis University (SLU), St. Louis, Missouri to start my nursing education. SLU was more expensive than other nursing programs, but I felt that SLU’s nursing program was superior. Due to high school academic achievement, I was awarded a scholarship. My education was also financed through student loans and parent loans.

I started my work in nursing while I was going to school. I volunteered in a local emergency room, assisting to transport patients. I also worked as a student nurse at an urban hospital and as a Certified Nurse Assistant in my hometown. When I graduated, I worked in a hospital for a year and then began to explore the nursing options in the home health care specialty. I joined a home care and hospice agency on a part-time basis. Ultimately, I spent the rest of my nursing career at this agency working within the hospice division. I have worked as an RN field nurse, Patient Care Coordinator, and Director of Professional Services. Currently, I function as the Hospice Administrator.

After graduation, when I began paying off my student loans, there were times when money was tight. I was on a level repayment plan. While I was able to manage paying at least my monthly payment every month, it was comforting to know that Sallie Mae had payment plans available to assist me if I was having trouble. When I took out my student loans, the interest rates were quite a bit higher.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was rewarded for timely payments after a certain length of time — my interest rate would go down! I enjoyed being able to manage my student loans online as well. There were times when I would make the minimum payments and times when I would be able to make extra payments. Success in my career is what enabled me to pay down my student loan debt quicker than expected.

I’d love enroll in some type of graduate program someday — I may need Sallie Mae’s assistance again.

Sincerely,
Jennifer F.

Illinois

I realized in December 2008, that I had enough ... to pay the balance in full and start the New Year without my loan payment

The loan that I just paid off was from my undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. I received a BS in Elementary Education with a focus in music and mathematics. Though my parents were able to assist with part of my studies, I used loans for a majority of my tuition and other expenses. I graduated from UMCP.

I took advantage of Sallie Mae's deferment program twice — both times to work on Graduate Studies. The first time, I opted not to complete the program due to a career switch, but the second time, I completed my Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from George Mason University. I was grateful for Sallie Mae allowing me to defer my payments in order to pursue other educational opportunities. I am making more of a difference in my students' lives due to my own learning experiences, and I am making more money than I thought I would due to achieving a higher level of education for myself. I am ready to embark on another Masters, further certifications, or a PhD this coming fall. I am considering another Sallie Mae loan to assist me with the finances.

I paid the minimum amount due every month through auto-debit, except when in deferment. I realized in December 2008, that I had enough extra in savings to pay the balance in full and start the New Year without my loan payment. It was a very exciting moment when I sent in the "pay balance in full" payment.

Amy S.
Woodbridge, Virigina

My new career is everything I could have ever dreamed of

At 25 years old with a one-year-old daughter I started nursing school at ICN in Spokane, Washington. I wanted a career that enabled me to help people as well as make a good living. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to work while in nursing school so, just having to live on my husband's income, we decided to take out student loans. My intention was always to pay them off as soon as possible when I got my first nursing job.

Two years later and with baby number two on the way I landed my dream job as a RN at a local children's hospital. Still committed to paying off my loans quickly, every other Friday on payday I would always make a payment to Sallie Mae first. By making extra payments and always paying more than the minimums I was excited to watch the balance come down. I remember when the remaining balance dropped and feeling like I was really starting to accomplish something. Major purchases, vacations, or useless trips to mall were put off. Finally, just two years later on Dec. 30, 2008 I paid my last Sallie Mae payment and accomplished my goal to pay off the debt by 2009.

My new career is everything I could have ever dreamed of. I tell people all the time that I have the best job in the whole world. The work I do makes a difference to the children and families in my town. It is inspiring work and I can't imagine doing anything else. Without the help of student loans, going to nursing school would not have been possible. To become debt free with a new rewarding career took sacrifice, hard work and, honestly, a great deal of luck. It was worth every sacrifice. I am proud of what I've done and know that my life and the future for my two beautiful children will be so much brighter, and in today's world that makes me so grateful.

Jenna B., RN
Washington

I wanted to pay off my debt so I could purchase my first house, which I am doing this month

Hi, my name is Young and I graduated from College Park, University of Maryland with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in English. I ended up moving to Arizona where I got involved with the Securities Industry. Currently I hold my series 7, 66, and 24 licenses.

I set up realistic financial goals for myself. I wanted to pay off my debt so I could purchase my first house, which I am doing this month. I set myself up with a budget which I stuck to for the past 2-3 years. It was a relief to get this school loan paid off. I live in Phoenix and work as a Marketing Coordinator.

Sincerely, Young E

I consider my law school education to be one of my most valuable assets and one of the smartest things I have ever done

Dear Sallie Mae,

I recently paid off my laws school loans I had with Sallie Mae. I was then asked by you to share my story of how my education helped me to meet my goals, and how I effectively paid off my student loans.

I graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. I practiced law for a couple of years and then became a stay-at-home mom. Even though I do not work outside the home anymore, my law background has helped me in many of my volunteer projects. I consider my law school education to be one of my most valuable assets and one of the smartest things I have ever done.

I started paying off my law schools loan in January 1998. I made each payment while I was working, and continued to do so even when I stopped working, and our family income dropped by over half. I was determined to honor my commitment to the loan company to pay off my law school loan, even though I was not working anymore. I had given my word to them, and that was important to me.

To make those payments, I put off buying things I could not afford or bought something less expensive, and put the money in my savings account instead. This is referred to as "delayed gratification." It is something we see lacking in the news these days: saying "NO" to something you can’t afford, as well as saving for a rainy day. Because, as I found out, the rainy days always come, only sometimes the rain is not a gentle rainfall, but buckets of rain and hurricane-force winds instead. So, I learned the valuable lesson of having money in the bank for life’s unexpected emergencies. By doing so, I also discovered that delayed gratification is not only good for the pocketbook, but good for your soul and self-esteem as well. Because, when I say "No" to something I do not really need, I am reminded how I am not defined by my wants and needs, but by something greater.

Sincerely,
Patricia H.
Fairfax, VA

These increases and spending carefully helped me reach my goal of paying off my student loans before my 25th birthday

Sorry it took me so long to respond... Quite busy at the job that allowed me to pay off my student loans! I chose to attend college at Carnegie Mellon University and major in Communication Design and minor in Business Administration. The skills I learned from both programs and the work ethic I developed there helped me obtain internship over the course of my four years there. I spent two summers interning in New York City and absolutely fell in love with the area. Once I graduated, I wanted to move there both because I loved the area and because there was a lot more opportunities there than in Pittsburgh in the fields and career paths I was interested in.

After a job search that seemed to go on forever, my dream came true when I landed a job as a junior designer at macys.com and moved up to New York City. Through hard work at this position, I have since been promoted to "designer" and received an additional raise. These increases and spending carefully helped me reach my goal of paying off my student loans before my 25th birthday.

Some of the best tips I can give on saving money to pay off my loans include packing my lunch instead of buying it, not racking up any credit card debt, ordering just water when I go out to bars, and knocking off one loan at a time once you save up enough money to do so. (It's a lot easier to reach your larger goal of paying off all your loans if you take it in steps so you feel that with each bit you're getting closer to that goal.)

Now that I am free from debt, I have been able to invest money in a CD and concentrate on achieving my next goals of increasing my 401(k) and eventually buying an apartment. I've also been freed financially to do some good for others while enjoying my passion for traveling. (Last year I traveled to Rwanda to help with a camp at an orphanage and this year I will be leading a group to New Orleans to help with Habitat for Humanity.)

To all those entering college now, I would just want to say that I know college may seem expensive now, but with a lot of hard work, it can help you land a job that you actually look forward to going to everyday and might even allow you to pay off that debt sooner than you think is possible! Good luck!

Deana J.
Hoboken, New Jersey

If you need student loans to obtain your higher education, do it — but do it responsibly

When I got pregnant in high school, I thought that my dreams of higher education were over. My first daughter was born when I was 18, and by age 19, I added another daughter to the mix. College was not on my mind (but trying to make ends meet was!). That said, I always loved to learn and would check books out of the local library on a weekly basis.

On a whim one day, I spoke with a counselor at the financial aid office of my local community college. I learned that I was eligible for student loans and other financial aid. With this information in hand, I signed up for a few classes, thinking I could squeeze them in around my full time job in order to keep doing what I loved: learning.

I never stopped. Seven years later, I obtained my law degree. It has been ten years since I graduated from law school, and I am lucky to be working in a field that I love. My daughters — so young when I first started school — are now graduating from high school and in college themselves. I tell them that if you need student loans to obtain your higher education, do it — but do it responsibly. With my education financed through student loans many doors will be opened that otherwise would not have been.

Never stop learning.

Kirsten

Thanks to Sallie Mae ... we were able to get a loan and send my granddaughter for a year of tutoring

Hello my name is Lois and I live in northeastern Connecticut. My educational experience through Sallie Mae was not for me actually, but for my 13 year old granddaughter. She had always been an A/B student. But last year, we noticed that she was really struggling to even pass her classes. 7th grade just seemed to be so different and she was overwhelmed by the sudden increase in responsibility and work.

Thanks to Sallie Mae, however, we were able to get a loan and send my granddaughter for a year of tutoring. She is now back on track and doing excellent in school! It would not have been possible without a student loan from Sallie Mae.

How did I pay it off? Basically I set goals in advance. The second we signed up for the loan we came up with a plan as to how we wanted to pay and how much a month we could afford and we stuck with it! Also, we paid more than the minimum payment whenever possible. This helped to pay off not just the interest but the principal as well. Before we knew it, the loan was paid off!

Lois B.

The best and easiest way for me to repay was to set it up as an automatic deduction from my savings account

My parents and scholarships paid for my college. However as a teacher, I was not able to provide as much assistance to my daughter's education as my parents had to mine so I got a Parents PLUS loan while she was in college. It was tough because I was working on an advanced degree at the same time and paying my tuition as well as hers. The best and easiest way for me to repay was to set it up as an automatic deduction from my savings account where I direct deposited my paycheck. That way some of each check stayed in the savings and some paid the bill.

Each year I got a tax credit on the 1040 tax form for the interest paid for student loans so I felt that letting it pay itself out automatically was the way to go. Compared to charge cards and other loans this one definitely got the most for my money.

E. W.