So you are having trouble making your monthly payments?
yes
You can contact your loan servicer and they can help you understand your options
any advice I could have used before getting the loan?
You should fully understand your loan agreement and the type of loan you are receiving
can I combine loans to get better payments?
Yes, you can combine your multiple federal student loans into a single Direct Consolidation Loan to simplify repayment.
what can I do to avoid default?
You need to fully understand your loan agreement and the types of loans you are receiving. Don't borrow more than you need or more than you expect to be able to repay.
what happens after I miss a payment or two?