Anyone had any luck doing this? I checked with SoFi but I'd actually be paying more because of a shorter loan term. I've got about 40K in unsubsidized federal loans at 6.5% that I'd really like to get lowered.

5/17/2016 1:51:41 PM

I just refinanced with SoFi and they lowered by rate closer to 4.0%. I'm almost done though (under $10k). I wanted to pay significantly more each month and get a lower interest rate and they met both those requirements.

Plus they do social events every few months. They booked a nice restaurant downtown and there was an open bar and 3 course meal. It was basically a networking event and they didn't even try to up sell or sell to new people. It was 3 SoFi people our age from the valley.

Next week they booked out an entire movie theater at Alamo Draft House and they're showing Empire Strikes Back and providing free food and drinks.

All these events are free and just require a deposit they refund once you show up. Pretty cool thing for a bank to do.

5/17/2016 2:36:25 PM

^ Seems to me if they can do that they can give me a lower rate.

5/17/2016 3:35:25 PM

Yeah not sure. I assume they provide rates based upon your credit and your income. I have >800 credit and a decent income. 6.5% is super high though for a student loan. Have you shopped around a little?

5/17/2016 3:54:56 PM

Yeah kinda, but really haven't seen anything that's helpful. Like I said SoFi had a lower rate but only 10 years so I'd be paying a whole lot more per month, which is what I'm trying to avoid

5/17/2016 5:30:28 PM

You must have a lot then? Most student loan terms are 10 years. Do you work for a non-profit? My girlfriend gets to write off her student loans after 10 years so she's paying the minimum haha.

5/17/2016 5:41:03 PM

I'm sure there are tons of people (aka ME) that spend their income on primarily on premium food / food services, booze and 'entertainment', but... regardless of what you choose to study if you can't reasonably afford to pay of your student loans in 10 years, then they SHOULD be forgiven/written off. What the fuck is the point of school otherwise?

[Edited on May 17, 2016 at 5:53 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2016 5:51:30 PM

Well school should be free in the first place.

5/17/2016 6:04:06 PM

About 40K, all grad school and almost all unsubsidized. Work for a for-profit company so no dice on forgiveness.

5/17/2016 6:57:31 PM

^^^ why should lenders forgive your debt of you got a worthless degree and don't work hard/smart?

5/18/2016 6:23:43 AM

I guess if we are still operating under the guise that usury isn't surfdom and surfdom isn't slavery then you are right...

5/18/2016 7:13:15 AM

5/18/2016 9:55:26 AM

send freedoms please

5/18/2016 11:20:49 AM

We're just putting bandaids on the problem at this point. If someone wants to go study art history at a great school then they should be able to do it for free. They shouldn't have to spend the rest of their lives paying off a loan to do this. They already have to live the rest of their lives trying to make decent money with their chosen degree. Compounding the issue with loan payments half their income isn't helping. We're literally sending Americans to Europe to get better degrees for practically nothing.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32821678

There's ton's of examples like this where it's often cheaper to go abroad to get a degree then try to get an equivalent degree in the states. It's sad that we call ourselves the greatest nation in the world but are exporting our students because we aren't providing affordable education for them here.

[Edited on May 18, 2016 at 11:31 AM. Reason : s]

5/18/2016 11:27:16 AM

Maybe i should SHUT THE FUCK UP and become a teacher???

5/23/2016 10:07:34 AM

I'll be damned if my taxes go to fund someone's art history degree. If I'm forced to help pay for someone's degree with public funds, then that degree better be something that will benefit society, like civil engineering or something, and put those bastards on public works projects.

I graduated in 05 and just finished paying off my unsub loans. Now I just have to get my subs paid off. My degree is in history, I'm doing IT work, and I'm not asking anyone to help pay my degree for me.

Everyone is missing a major plot point in this thread. Instead of complain about loans and banks, we need to look at our university system and the insane costs to go to college. There's no reason a degree from a public university should cost over 45k. That's absurd. With the money that many colleges pull in from sports, sports merchandise, licensing, etc, no one should have to pay that much to go to school.

5/23/2016 10:29:08 AM

Actually the major plot point that you're missing is that Art History is equally as as unimportant as your mundane IT shit (that I also spend 40+ hours a week doing).

5/23/2016 10:46:07 AM

TIL people actually believe the arts don't benefit society.

5/23/2016 11:25:20 AM

I didn't say that art doesn't benefit society. I said that art is equally as unimportant as IT shit.

[Edited on May 23, 2016 at 11:48 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2016 11:40:26 AM

I was refering to:

Quote :

"I'll be damned if my taxes go to fund someone's art history degree. If I'm forced to help pay for someone's degree with public funds, then that degree better be something that will benefit society,"

Saying the arts don't benefit society and the American public shouldn't support them is a bold claim to make in 2016.

Quote :

"I said that art is equally as unimportant as IT shit."

Unimportant to who? So TIL IT and the arts are both unimportant.

[Edited on May 23, 2016 at 11:44 AM. Reason : s]

5/23/2016 11:43:10 AM

My argument stems from the fact that I don't believe society or culture are necessarily 'important' or 'good' things. They just are. I think you literally can't be qualitative about it.

Quote :

" Unimportant to who? "

Unimportant in general

5/23/2016 11:52:12 AM

I'm not saying that art is unimportant to society. I guess what I'm getting at is that an art history degree, and others like it, are unimportant enough to the market to sustain a career that can pay for the college costs that it incurred.

5/23/2016 12:24:22 PM

and what I am saying is that in 200 years there will be an IT history degree that rjrumfel's grandson will be talking shit about on UNC web

5/23/2016 12:25:20 PM

Quote :

"My argument stems from the fact that I don't believe society or culture are necessarily 'important' or 'good' things."

Now I'm confused. How can society or culture not be important or good things? Aren't those two things the MOST important things? I would say one of the biggest reasons to live is to strive for a good society with a good culture. My entire livelihood is centered around the society I live in and the culture in which I choose to become part of. From the beer I drink to the activities I choose to participate in my community. These are all aspects of the culture of my area which were allowed by the society I live in.

Or am I entirely missing something?

5/23/2016 12:39:44 PM

Quote :

"TIL people actually believe the arts don't benefit society"

Why do you believe that degrees are needed for art to be created?

5/23/2016 12:40:36 PM

Did I ever say that? I was separating the two. I believe art benefits culture and society. You don't need a degree to produce art. However I do believe that allowing someone who has potential to be a great artist to go to school and not have to worry about paying for it the rest of their lives would immensely help our society produce more great artists. Without a doubt there are people out there who don't have the luxury to pursue the arts because they have to provide for themselves or a family. There are many countries where you aren't forced to be in debt the rest of your life if you want to go to school for music for example.

Saying you don't need an art degree to pursue arts is great and all until you understand that a true artist may need to commit their entire life to the pursuit of their art and if they have to work 10 hour days to just support themselves outside of their art then it's almost impossible. Again I'm not saying someone can't become a great artist without a degree but it's much harder. I grew up in the arts community and many of my friends went to school for arts and I can tell you the ones who were able to pursue their art in school are much more successful than the ones who weren't.

5/23/2016 1:20:58 PM

While I appreciate a good discussion, I really just want to lower my interest rate. Anyone tried anywhere besides SoFi?

5/23/2016 7:36:55 PM

I have My great lakes. They are awesome and around 4%. However I owe 73K so F ME!!!

5/24/2016 9:57:03 PM

Just got back from a sofi event. They rented out Alamo drafthouse for Empire Strikes Back, dinner and booze. For members they also have a free investment wealth option now.

5/25/2016 12:20:53 AM

Does anyone know what neodata was trying to say with ^^^^ post?

[Edited on May 25, 2016 at 1:49 AM. Reason : It's all over the place.]

5/25/2016 1:49:14 AM

No, I really tried to reply but I didn't understand lol. I also have great lakes and my rate is pretty low I think 4% or so as well. Glad I don't have 73k though. Is that all undergrad

[Edited on May 25, 2016 at 8:10 AM. Reason : ]

5/25/2016 8:10:01 AM

I was elaborating on this question and went a little overboard as I usually do:

Quote :

"Why do you believe that degrees are needed for art to be created?"

5/25/2016 9:59:34 AM

Oh I see it was based on rjrumfel's dumb "BUT MAH TAX DOLLARS" post. Carry on

5/25/2016 10:06:33 AM

Growing up the number of times I've heard: "but you don't need an arts degree to make art!" has been more than you'd think. Sure you don't but being able to practice your art in a university type environment without worrying about income, food, housing and being in a supporting community helps a ton. The opportunities you're given through the resources of a university are pretty vast.

5/25/2016 10:16:56 AM

The opportunities you purchase through the resources of a university are pretty vast.

5/25/2016 11:14:19 AM

No I believe it's a basic right that we should be able to provide quality education to anyone who wants it in America.

5/25/2016 11:19:39 AM