Just graduated back in August from Temple U. I had no clue about student loans, grants, and scholarships and all that shyt when I first went to school when I was 18. I would have waited to goto school, but that's another story. So in trying to pay for school, with no help from family, I just applied for a bunch of federal loans, which covered the majority of my tuition...fast forward 5 years later, and I've racked up $45k in debt, and FASFA is on my back about paying them back to the tune of $500 a month, which I simply can't pay right now.

I been been sifting thru several options to pay my loans back, but I really know jack shit when it comes to all of this. I've considered consolidating, so I have one monthly payment that covers all of my loans, but what are the drawbacks to this...I know there are some drawbacks, but what?