Ten Things That We Would Love: A College Student’s Wish List

The holidays are already around the corner, and the people cannot wait to give and to receive gifts. We can feel the chill from the winter air. However, college students might feel the chill coming from all the looming academic works. This season, instead of knitted sweaters and quilted sheets, why not give them something techie and helpful? From smart speakers to portable gaming systems, you have a myriad of gadgets to choose from for your special college gift.

Here are ten useful gadgets that might be on your student’s wish list.

1. Nixie Ramos Clock

Price: $399.99

This walnut colored, retro alarm clock might not be the cheapest in the market, but it ensures that your college student will never have any excuses for sleeping in.

The clock forces its user to face the morning because it needs a code punched in for it to shut off. In case the code won’t work, a wireless panel is placed somewhere far away from the bedside so you need to actually get up and walk away from your bed to shut off the alarm.

2. Apple AirPods

Price: $159.00

Your child needs a decent set of headphones and the Apple AirPods is one of the best picks. Why?

The headphones are widely compatible with iPhone and Android devices. In addition, they have Bluetooth connectivity, they are portable, compact, and have a long battery life.

3. Google Chromecast

Price: $35.00

There are other streaming devices available in the market, but Google Chromecast might be the best among all of them. It lets users cast what they are seeing in their smartphones directly to their TV.

The tool also has a “guest mode,” where users can allow their friends’ devices to connect to the Chromecast so they can share the content of their smartphones too.

4. Kindle Paperwhite

Price: $119.99

Giving a Kindle could never go wrong in any way. Not only it is comfortable to hold and read, the model also has a good backlight for nighttime reading, and an extremely long battery life. If your kid is an avid reader, then the Kindle Paperwhite might be one of the best gadgets you can give this holiday season.

5. Ruban Notebook Lock

Price: $8.99

There is nothing more horrifying for a modern student than having their laptop stolen. A quick way to avoid this situation is to have a security lock and cable to secure your valuable laptop by your side.

Ruban offers cheap yet sturdy notebook locks. They have coded locks with cables measuring up to 6.2ft. The lock can firmly keep your laptop in place unless you input your four-digit security code.

6. Motorola G5S Plus

Price: $239.99

If you have a child bound for studying abroad, then the Motorola GS5 Plus might be one of the best gadgets you can give.

The Motorola G5S Plus is a very versatile smartphone equipped with all the basics. The phone boasts of a 5.5-inch with 1080p display, fast charging capabilities, decent front and back cameras, and an all-metal unibody design.

7. Nintendo Switch

Price: $299.00

You cannot remove games from a student’s life. Sometimes, they only need a gaming console to help them cope up with their everyday stresses.

Nintendo Switch is iconic because it is portable. The console is capable of plugging into a TV as a regular console, or as a portable system by docking the controllers beside the console. It also has a built-in stand if you wish to play while traveling.

However, if you are thinking of giving a Switch for a gift, you need to pre-order quite early, as these units are so hot that they tend to get sold out quite quickly.

8. Olympus Dictaphone

Price: $32.00

A Dictaphone is one of the devices proven very useful for a student’s academic career. It eases the process of note taking; students can record class lectures so that they can concentrate more on the lessons rather than taking notes. A good Dictaphone model that we recommend is the Olympus VN-7200. The model is very durable, has a long battery life, and can deliver crisp and clear recordings.

9. Texas Instruments T1-84 Graphing Calculator

Price: $149.99

Without a doubt, students taking science and math related courses would really appreciate a graphing calculator. Though graphing calculators are not cheap, they are indispensable throughout the academic career.

Texas Instruments T1-84 Graphing Calculator comes with a variety of applications, functions, and formulas. It can save up to 10 functions and is capable of simultaneously analyzing multiple equations.

10. Sonos One

Price: $199.00

Sonos’ latest smart speaker, along with its great audio, features supports for Bluetooth and Amazon Alexa. Although the speaker may be a bit pricey, there are actually a lot of things to discover with this smart speaker.

The following blog post Ten Things That We Would Love: A College Student’s Wish List is courtesy of @Howtopayforcollegehq

A Student’s Guide on Applying for Student Loan Refinancing

Technically, refinancing is a way to extend your loan deadlines so you can easily pay them off. Refinancing pays off the old loan and renews the debt terms. It can be a useful tactic to pay debts fast, especially for students.

If you are currently in a pinch with your debts and are looking for a way to deal with them, then this might be a solution to your problem. However, where do you start, and what do you need to do? Luckily, you can follow these steps when applying for student loan refinancing.

1. Do some window-shopping. Compare and contrast several offers available.

Applying for an offer does not mean that you need to dedicate yourself to just one. Several offers are available in the market; in fact, most banks, online lenders, and credit unions offer student loan refinancing options. You can browse different offers and bargains without risking your credit score. Compare to find out which is the best for you.

If you find something that you think is good, visit the lender’s site to see their rates. Though requirements might slightly differ for each lender, the general idea should likely be the same. Most would ask you your name and address, your degree and university, your total student loan debt and income, and even your monthly housing payment.

Your lender will run a soft credit inquiry using your given data. If your credentials meet the eligibility requirements, your lender will present a range of offers to you. Most offers have loans with repayment terms ranging from five to twenty years. They can also offer you variable and fixed interest rates. To note, variable interest rates are rates that vary over time. They also start with lower values, though rates can probably increase over time. Fixed interest rates, on the other hand, are “fixed” throughout and until your loan’s maturity date.

In addition, customer service largely contributes to a borrower’s choice. There are reviews available at Gadget Review that can give you an idea how each company works. If you think that this matter might also be important, you might want to include this to your background checks.

2. Choose.

By this time, you should already have a gist of which offers to take up. Borrowers commonly pick lenders with offers having the lowest interest rates. Thus, using a refinancing calculator might help you see how much you could save with each interest rate.

Usually, applying for a loan with variable interest rates is the best course of action if you think you can repay it fast. However, paying off loans with longer repayment terms can be troublesome since their interest rates can rise over time.

Debts with longer repayment terms also have their perks. You have lesser amounts to pay monthly, although it also means that you need to face a larger accumulated interest. If you really need most of your monthly income, this might be the best way to go.

3. Prepare and complete all necessary documents AND the application form.

Of course, completing and submitting requirements, most especially the application form, is necessary. In the process, you might need to upload documents and even request a consent for hard credit checks.

Along the application form, most lenders usually require borrowers to submit the following:

Proof of Citizenship
Valid ID Number
Proof of Income
All Official Loan Statements
Cosigner’s Credentials (ONLY IF you have a cosigner with you)

Nevertheless, they will notify you if you missed to submit anything. In addition, the company’s customer service could entertain any questions that you might have. Feel free to approach them for any clarifications, to ensure smooth processing, and to avoid unnecessary problems.

4. Don’t forget to pay your loans!

Submitting all the prerequisites does not relieve you of your responsibilities; you still need to pay your debts. Keep in mind that the company has to process your application before giving a full approval of refinancing your loan. The processing usually takes nearly a full month. Thus, you still need to pay off your loans during that time.

You can only stop paying if your lender says so. Read more about this at Gadget Review's website https://gadget-reviews.tumblr.com/

Once approved, your lender could recommend you to establish automatic withdrawals. Many lenders give discounts on interest rates if you pay automatically.

Bottom Line

Refinancing has its own advantages and downsides. Having one could actually help you finish paying your debts faster. Just remember: know the basics. This will help you get through this challenge without a scratch.

A Student’s Guide on Applying for Student Loan Refinancing is available on How to pay for college hq Promise

As Paperwork Goes Missing, Private Student Loan Debts May Be Wiped Away

A City College of New York graduate last year. At least $5 billion in private student loans are at the heart of a legal dispute. Credit Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people who took out private loans to pay for college but have not been able to keep up payments may get their debts wiped away because critical paperwork is missing.

The troubled loans, which total at least $5 billion, are at the center of a protracted legal dispute between the student borrowers and a group of creditors who have aggressively pursued them in court after they fell behind on payments.

Judges have already dismissed dozens of lawsuits against former students, essentially wiping out their debt, because documents proving who owns the loans are missing. A review of court records by The New York Times shows that many other collection cases are deeply flawed, with incomplete ownership records and mass-produced documentation.

Some of the problems playing out now in the $108 billion private student loan market are reminiscent of those that arose from the subprime mortgage crisis a decade ago, when billions of dollars in subprime mortgage loans were ruled uncollectible by courts because of missing or fake documentation. And like those troubled mortgages, private student loans — which come with higher interest rates and fewer consumer protections than federal loans — are often targeted at the most vulnerable borrowers, like those attending for-profit schools.

Read More: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/17/business/dealbook/student-loan-debt-collection.html
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