Thanks so much for your help! Just wanted to get some clarification from you…
You wrote me: “Folks who borrowed Stafford loans back when rates were variable, should consider
consolidation to lock in currently low rates (in school: 1.87%, out of
school 2.47%).”
I talked to Sallie Mae today and they said that they’re not sure when the rates were variable and that the rate I have now is what it will stay at. Is that true? How do I find out if the rates were variable or not? We took the loans out in 2007-2009. They’re stafford and grad plus, etc.

Also, consolidating FFEL grad plus loans from 8.5 to 8.25, as you mentioned, isn’t considered private consolidation is it? Because we don’t want to do private consolidation. Thank you!

Loans borrowed after July 1, 2006 are at fixed rates.  So yes, yours would be fixed in that case.

You’re right to be wary of private consolidation.  If you consolidate FFEL GradPLUS loans into a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan, you are NOT borrowing a private consolidation loan, you are getting a federal loan, so you’re good.