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Student loan payments can be tough for some new graduates to manage. It's a stressful time in your life. You are just starting a career or still looking for a job and trying to manage life as an adult. But there are many long-term consequences to defaulting on a student loan, so you want to avoid it at all costs. These consequences impact your credit which can leave lasting marks that affect your ability to buy a house, a car, or even get a job.

If you are having trouble meeting your student loan payment, don't stress! Know there are some strategies that can help you manage payments and help you avoid state-based or private student loan default. 

1. Don't ignore your lender. 

This is the worst thing you can do. Your lender isn't out to get you! They are simply doing their jobs, which is to contact you and either get you paying or find another option to keep you from becoming delinquent. You may be eligible for a program that can delay or reduce your payments. Just talk to them and ask! At RISLA, we offer deferment options for those in school or deployed in the military, income based repayment for students and cosigners, forbearance for economic hardship, and forgiveness programs for permanent disability. These benefits aren't automatically applied to your account, so if you need them, ask! 

Yikes! It is almost time to start sending in your college applications and you've likely narrowed down your list a lot by now. Ideally, you want to apply to six to eight schools, so if you have more than that on your list, you still have some decisions to make.

College planning is stressful. It's hard to decide where to apply, you want to make sure your application is just perfect, and you may even have to meet face-to-face with a college representative for an admissions interview. 

Not all colleges require an interview for admissions, but it is often a good idea to schedule one even if it is optional. You may be nervous, but an interview gives you an opportunity to show the college your personality, and let's you tell them first hand why you think you are a good fit for the college. 

How do you know if a college is a good fit for you? Of course, a lot of students out there just "get a feeling" but we mean how do you realllllly know? College is an enormous investment, so you don't want to pick a school on a whim! 

It's college application season, which means it is time to start requesting letters of recommendation for college. You may feel nervous about doing this, but just keep in mind the people who you are asking have done this before. Keep these tips in mind when making your requests: