The recent student loan scandal has shocked college students, many who signed student loan contracts believing that financial aid officers were there to help them (not get kickbacks for themselves). A recent NPR episode explains:

"In a developing student loan scandal, Johns Hopkins University has placed a financial aid official on leave after it was disclosed that she received fees from Student Loan Express, a company that has been accused of giving incentives to a number of financial aid officers around the country.

New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the conflicts of interest are widespread through the student loan industry."

Sadly, the lesson here is to avoid putting your financial future in the hands of anyone else - even school officials. If you want to get the best Student Loans for your situation, research programs on your own.