These articles have a point though. There are so many forbearance and deferment options out there, as well as income based repayment options, and in my experience, not enough borrowers know about it.
The IBR option through the Dept. of Education is great for folks that are burdened by student loan debt but don't make enough to handle the payments. I know it might not necessarily be an option if you're stuck with private loans, but it's worth looking into. And while there are certainly outside factors to consider before consolidating (interest rates, etc.), it's better than going into default – especially if you have the potential to lose your license over it.
That's my opinion anyway….
https://studentaid.ed.gov/repay-loans/consolidation
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