I am supporting a friend's kid who's going to med school now, so I understand. The student loan rates are obscene, and that's just the private lenders. (Who apparently aren't going to be allowed to lend students money any more? I don't know ... I haven't read that bit of the bill.) The interest rate on the Sallie Mae student loan was going to be 12.75% *adjustable*. Unbelievable. AND I got turned down as a cosigner by several banks even though my credit score is nearly perfect. Money sure is hard to come by these days.