LockeOak

No change.

Well, on the bright side today I received $100 for a grant proposal I wrote a couple of weeks ago. Of course, I asked for $250. (Yes, funding is to the point where I have to write extremely small grant requests for glassware, plastic tubing, etc.) Let's hope the streak continues.

Plant Biology, $20k/year before student and health fees at a public university. After subtracting all fees it's about $18k/year, first year I had a research assistantship the second year a teaching assistantship, same amount. After taxes it's around $16.5k. My significant other at an Ivy league school (immunology) gets $26k everything except taxes accounted for. Geography seems to matter a fair bit.

Yes, federal student loans can be deferred during grad school (it's NOT automatic of course, you have to do a little bit of paperwork). If they're subsidized they will not generate interest while they're in deferment. Private loans I'm guessing will depend on the lender. I didn't consolidate mine. I have ~$20k in undergraduate loans, mostly subsidized Stafford loans handled by Sallie Mae. They're at a 3.61% interest rate, but again most are not generating interest right now. My strategy has been just to pay $50 a month into my loans, which eats up the interest and a little bit into the principal. Definitely pay enough to cover the interest if you can, any money spent on student loan interest payments is tax deductable.