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| Student Loan Debt Lowering |
 Rule #5: Voice Your Concerns Publicly
Try to make your thoughts about the student loan crisis known to others, especially your local representatives and members of Congress. Lawmakers are listening and know that student loans are a great problem. That's why in 2007 they voted to slash interest rates on federal Stafford loans from 6.8% to 3.4% over the course of five years. Keep in mind this issue. Let lawmakers know what it's like to be forced to take on student loans just to have a shot at a better quality of life. Impel politicians to increase grants to students, not loans. You can come into contact with your elected officials at both the state and the federal level.
Rule #6: Form or join student advocacy groups
It is a good idea to get help from organizations like the Project on Student Debt, the United States Student Association, an advocacy group for college students, as well as the local student Public Interest Research Group in your area. These can all be wonderful resources from which you can mobilize and join the fight against enormous student loan debt.
 Rule #7: Start your own business - or at least get a job!
Most students have to work to help foot their college bills. If you can be your own boss, and make lots of money in the process, why work for someone else? A good book on this topic is "Campus CEO" by Randal Pinkett, winner of season four of "The Apprentice." It tells how today's college students don't have to wait to have a career. You can set up a business now - even while you're in school - helping you earn money and avoid educational debt. You may at least consider a part-time job to reduce your need for college loans, if entrepreneurship is out of the question.
By reducing your dependency on loans, and being smart about managing the educational debt you may already have, you'll start off your post-college life on solid financial ground.
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