Skip to main content

10 things to know for Thursday

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday:

1. AUSTRALIA CHECKING 2 OBJECTS IN SEARCH FOR PLANE

Australia’s prime minister cautions that locating these objects in the Indian Ocean will be difficult and they may not be related to the missing Malaysian jetliner.

2. UKRAINE PULLING TROOPS FROM CRIMEA

Bowing to the Russian takeover, Kiev says it’s preparing to bring home as many as 25,000 soldiers and their families.

2. FBI PROBING PILOT’S DELETED FILES

American investigators join Malaysian authorities in examining the flight simulator found in the captain’s home.

3. WHAT YELLEN IS TELLING INVESTORS

With the job market still weak, she says the Fed intends to keep short-term interest rates near zero for a “considerable” time.

4. NYC INMATE ‘BASICALLY BAKED TO DEATH’

A mentally ill homeless man was found dead in a Rikers Island jail cell that had overheated to at least 100 degrees.

5. ‘WE ARE THE ONES WHO DID IT’

Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law testifies that the al-Qaida leader took credit for the 9/11 attacks hours afterward when the two met in a cave in Afghanistan.

6. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING STATINS

New guidelines say nearly half of Americans ages 40-75 should be taking the drugs to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

7. TOYOTA AGREES TO $1.2B SETTLEMENT

US Attorney General Holder says the penalty – for hiding information about defects in Toyota and Lexus vehicles – is the largest of its kind ever imposed on an auto company.

8. WHO’S TAKING CLOSER LOOK AT OREGON CAT ATTACK

Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s “My Cat from Hell,” is heading to Portland soon. He says cats don’t become ferocious felines that turn on their families for no reason.

9. ROBERT STRAUSS DIES AT 95

The powerbroker and former head of the Democratic Party was an intimate of President Jimmy Carter. But he also later advised Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

10. WHY IT’S NOT QUITE TIME TO ‘PLAY BALL!’

Groundskeepers all over baseball are scrambling to help ballparks recover from months of snow and freezing temperatures.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote