Steps to take before signing student loan agreement (Bankrate.com)

[Justin] Draeger recommends evaluating loan benefits based on your projected payment behavior. If you’re the type of borrower who’s likely to pay each and every bill on time, check out benefits that will kick in during the lifetime of the loan, such as an interest rate reduction after a certain number of payments or your last few months free as a reward for making all of your payments.

“Benefits can amount to a couple of thousand dollars over the course of a loan, so it’s important for students to take the time to fully understand their loan product,” Draeger says. “Students and parents are often times exasperated by the time they get to the loan process, but rushing through is a costly mistake.”