I consolidated with the Federal Government. Now that interest rates have moved up, I doubt that rates that low are available. However, it's still worth looking into, because you might be able to get a fixed rate lower than 8%. Also, if you set up automatic payments from a bank account, you may get a 0.25% rate rebate. Call up the student-loan people at your former school and ask them about consolidation and the rate rebate for automatic payments.
Another thing you can do is apply for one or more low-interest credit cards. Some cards offer 0% for a year on purchases or balance transfers. So, if you know that you will be able to pay off $4K in loans over the next year, you can get a low-interest credit card and transfer $4K to that. Just make sure you pay off the $4K you transfer to the credit card or, alternatively, transfer that balance to another low-interest credit card. However, beware of balance transfer fees. Most are 3%, but some will transfer with no fee.
I currently have $40K in debt at a 0% rate spread across three credit cards (rbsnb.com, citi, and chase). Last September, Citi actually mailed me a $15K "balance-transfer" check. There was no balance-transfer fee, a 0% interest rate until this September, and no restrictions on what I could do with the money. It was basically free money for a year. I used the check to buy a 9-month CD at 3.5%. So this July, I will be about $400 richer on the back of Citi. Once the CD matures, I will collect my $400 in interest and send the $15K back to Citi. Or, if I can find another credit card issuer willing to take on the balance at a 0% rate, I will transfer and buy another CD.
Of course, you have to make sure to make all the monthly minimum payments on time and to pay off your balance or transfer when the 0% introductory offer ends. This is probably too much trouble for some people, but I like the idea of the credit card companies paying me to borrow money from them.