Help! How do I survive paying off my student loans as a broke UCLA Film major?

[CampusApplicant]

On top of my classes in Screenwriting and Cinematography, I try to keep my head above water with intramural sports . But lately, homesickness has been hitting hard . My biggest headache right now? Student loans! The struggle is real as a broke UCLA Film major in LA. Building industry connections and a killer portfolio is tough when you're watching every penny in this pricey city .

How do I make it work without drowning in debt? Any advice on balancing the Hollywood dream with student loan payments? Help a fellow Bruin out!

 

[Aurora]

Let's get tactical about your loans. The absolute first thing you need to do is visit UCLA's Debt Management Services . They are literally there for this. If you have federal loans, you can apply for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan. This caps your monthly payment based on your (probably very low) income. For example, the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) plan caps payments at 10% of your discretionary income . It can bring your payments down to $0 while you're a student or just starting out, and it stops interest from spiraling out of control. Go talk to them!