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Morning Notes

By WTOP Staff

Flickr photo by jordanandlizsly

Carderock Rock Climber Charged With Manslaughter — A man who was rock climbing at the Carderock Recreation Area in December has been charged with manslaughter. U.S. Park Police allege he killed a climbing partner with a claw hammer. The man, 31-year-old David DiPaolo, was caught last week in New York and is awaiting extradition to Maryland. DiPaolo claimed he and the victim, 69-year-old Geoffrey Farrar of Arlington, got into a violent struggle. Carderock is one of the most popular climbing areas in the U.S. and is a part of federal government property in Potomac. [D.C. Crime Stories]

Chevy Chase Man Collects Pothole Victims — A pretty bad pothole on Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase has caused about a dozen hubcaps to fly off into the street. The man who lives near the pothole started collecting the hubcaps and hanging them on his fence, just in case the owners wanted to reclaim any. [ABC7]

Anderson, Wellington Reportedly Interested In Planning Board Chair — Planning Board Commissioner Casey Anderson and former Commissioner Meredith Wellington are both interested in replacing Francoise Carrier, who last week announced she will not seek a second four-year term as chair of the group. [Washington Post]

Brown To Testify On Health Exchange Woes — Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown will testify on Tuesday in hearings about Maryland’s glitchy health exchange website. Gubernatorial opponents have roundly criticized Brown for his role in implementing the system, though on Monday Brown said others should share the blame for website technical issues and low enrollment numbers. [Baltimore Sun]

Leggett To Talk School Construction Money — Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will be in Annapolis on Tuesday to talk about the county’s need for school construction funding from the state. Leggett will join the executives of Baltimore and Prince George’s County in a noon press conference. Montgomery County leaders are looking for state money to help a $750 million school construction program that would relieve over-capacity issues in MCPS. [Montgomery County]

Flickr photo by jordanandlizsly

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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