Hello. I co-sigend a student loan for a friend about 5 years ago. I am now 26 and trying to get into medical school. I just found out that my friend is behind on payments and Sallie Mae is going to send it to the Credit Bureau. I have a very good credit rating despite the fact that I do not have a fulltime job. (I am, however, a fulltime student and will be for many more years). I have tried to plead with her parents to refinance the loan with my friend so they can become her new co-signers, however, they refuse. What actions can I take to get my name off of this loan? As I look back at 21, I was very naive, although I made a very uneduacated decision in signing her loan papers, I was, and still am, an adult. This is the argument I get from my friend and her parents; meaning I must suffer the consequences of my decision. I feel that Sallie Mae may have illegally allowed me to co-sign her loan in the first place, but I may be wrong. At the time I was a full time student with no real job, I did have work study which barely paid me $200 a month. Knowing this, they allowed me to become liable for a loan in excess of almost $20,000. I am concerned for my future becuase what if I must take out loans for school in the private sector and am denied becaue I have reached my credit capacity or because my credit rating is shot. I do have debts on my own, which I am taking full responsiblity for and paying the payments on time. However, if I cannot get funding or if my credit rating is shot, my life is ruined. I have no way of supporting myself right now outside of studying hard and making it into medical school, which I will work just as hard to finish. I make money here and there, but nothing steay. After this cross road in my life of completing my educational pursuits I will be secure and can handle situations like this, but until then what can I do to protect myself and fix this situation I am in? How can I legally get off of the loan? Thank you for your time.