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Seattle ready to see trio leave for US camp

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — The career arc for Brad Evans would have likely put him in consideration for the U.S. squad in 2010 when he was in his mid-20s.

Evans is one of the rarities, potentially competing for a first-time World Cup trip at age 29.

“I think everybody’s career takes different paths with everything. To say everybody is going to walk the same path isn’t fair,” Evans said. “For me everything happened at the right time. Maybe it was a little bit later. I’m just riding that roller coaster at this point.”

When U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann releases his 30-man preliminary training camp roster on Monday, the Seattle Sounders should be well represented. Clint Dempsey, off to a torrid star in Major League Soccer this season, is a given. Evans seems a highly likely selection for training camp after evolving into a key role as a defender during World Cup qualifying.

And Seattle could see a third player added to the training camp roster after the strong national team debut of 20-year-old defender DeAndre Yedlin earlier this year.

“It’s something you never want to deny a player. So for them to be able to participate and take advantage of that opportunity and make the World Cup team is something that we as a club are proud of, that myself as a coach is proud of, and I think all the players on our team are supportive of that,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said.

There’s no doubt that Dempsey will eventually find his way on the plane to Brazil, but there are plenty of questions about whether Evans, or Yedlin if he makes the camp, will be part of the team taken to South America.

What Evans has in his favor is versatility. His primary role with the national team has been playing as a right back, but he has the skills and experience to play on the opposite side or in the midfield should injuries become a factor.

Evans developing into a capable defender on the international level is another sign of his maturity. At one time, Evans admits he was adamant that he must be a central midfielder. That was the position Evans believed he was the best at and the thought of playing anywhere else was secondary.

The attitude changed when Seattle acquired midfielder Christian Tiffert before the 2012 season. That signing sparked Evans into realizing he needed to be willing to change. Since then, he’s played a little of everywhere for the Sounders and that ability to bounce between positions and understand what each spot requires helped with his quick rise up the ranks with the national team as well.

Yedlin wasn’t in discussions for the national team until he was included in Klinsmann’s January camp that included time in Brazil and a match against South Korea. That match was Yedlin’s first national team appearance and he followed up with an appearance as a reserve against Mexico in April.

Yedlin believes his experience in the January camp showed he could play at the international level. He’s focused on trying to be sound defensively with the Sounders this season.

And he’s hoping age doesn’t hinder his chances of being included in the camp.

“Honestly, I try not to think about my age too much being part of this group. Really right now to me it’s, ‘Am I at this level?'” Yedlin said. “Age is just a number. For me it would be amazing and be a great experience to be in this camp, but at any age it would be a great experience. That’s kind of what I’ve been focusing on.”

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
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