July 1 is the implementation date for sweeping reforms to repayment plans, student loan forgiveness and disbursement limits.

This Occupy Wall Street-affiliated chart, at right, flew around Facebook and Twitter this week as hundreds of people used it to share their frustrations about ballooning student debt in America.

Jen Smith is a personal finance expert specializing in student loans, paying off debt, and investing. When she's not writing she's the co-host of the award-winning Frugal Friends Podcast.

There's a strategy to getting the right student loans for graduate school. First, you'll want to tap federal student loans up ...