With all the stress of tests and papers, there is little time for college students to worry about loan consolidation.

West Virginia University’s Financial Aid Office is eliminating the guesswork by offering three information sessions in conjunction with Education Loan Management, a national financial planning company.

The sessions are: Wednesday, March 22, at 10 a.m. in the Gluck Theater; Thursday, March 23, at noon in the Gluck; and Thursday, April 6, at noon in the Health Sciences Center Hostler Auditorium.

The purpose of the half-hour sessions is to simplify the process and help students determine whether consolidation is right for them, said Candi Frazier, associate director of financial aid.

Each session will provide basic information and explain how recent changes in government regulations may affect students’ability to consolidate their loans.

With the recent passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, loan consolidation will no longer be permitted for in-school borrowers after July 1,Frazier said.Consolidating prior to July 1 could save a significant amount of money for these borrowers.

Since interest rates are expected to increase, students who are graduating should also consider taking advantage of locking in the current consolidation rate, she added.