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Events This Month In Bethesda, Chevy Chase

By WTOP Staff

Spring is here and so is another week of March events.

If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form. Also, please check out the event calendar to see all that is going on.

Friday

John Bramblitt in Bethesda Film Fest
Imagination Stage (4908 Auburn Avenue)
Time: 8:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

The second annual Bethesda Film Fest will feature five short documentaries made by local filmmakers at a screening at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday March 21-22 2014 at Imagination Stage. Bethesda Film Fest is produced by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. The films selected for the screening include: Doing it for Me, Line of Sight, Smackdown for Charity, The Bottom Line, and When She Dances with Me. Tickets are available at www.bethesda.org for $10. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Saturday

H2O Summit Flyer 2014 bH2O Summit, Free Family-Friendly Event
Silver Spring Civic Center (8525 Fenton Street)
Time: 1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.

Join Little Falls Watershed Alliance and Rock Creek Conservancy on Saturday, March 22nd at the H2O Summit’s festival in the Silver Spring Civic Center, 8525 Fenton Street, Silver Spring. The event is FREE and fun for the entire family with hands-on activities, live music, mini-workshops and over 40 green exhibits. For more information please visit our website. Hope to see you there!

Bethesda Film Fest (Night Two)
Imagination Stage (4908 Auburn Avenue)
Time: 8:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.

Wednesday

Coffee Meet ‘n Greet for High School Parents
Westlake Corner Bakery (10327 Westlake Drive)
Time: 10:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.

This complimentary Coffee Talk will be hosted by Harriet Broder who will share the wisdom garnered from over 30 years of offering test preparation in the metro DC area. The particular focus of this informative discussion will be on both the SAT and the ACT, the SAT changes as well as some surprising tips for parents.

The primary areas for discussion will be:

*3 Test Prep Tips for Parents – heads up to parents of high school freshmen who will take the new SAT!
*Which is the Better Exam for Your Teen: SAT or ACT?
*The Best Time for Test Prep
*The Most Essential Component for Test-taking Success

Councilmember Roger Berliner (file photo)District 1 Town Hall Meeting With Councilmember Roger Berliner
Cabin John Middle School (10701 Gainsborough Road)
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.

You are cordially invited to join Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner (District 1-Bethesda, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Kensington, North Bethesda, Poolesville, Potomac, Somerset) at a District 1 Town Hall – “Conversations with Councilmember Berliner.”

Bring your concerns and comments to my attention, discuss local issues important to you, and get acquainted. Come ready to talk. I’m ready to listen.

Thursday

Chamber logoBCC Chamber of Commerce — Leadership Luncheon Series #3
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce (7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1204)
Time: 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.

Enjoy lunch while hearing from and having a casual group conversation with a local leader. The third session in this series features Susan Lacz, Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Ridgewells Catering.

Regular Admission $35 / Member Admission: $25

Grapeseed BistroGrapeseed Presents: Novelty Hill — Januik Wine Dinner
Grapeseed (4865 Cordell Avenue)
Time: 6:30 p.m. — 10:00 p.m.

5-course wine dinner for $95 inclusive of all service charges and taxes. Call (301) 986-9592 for reservations.

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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