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Wojciechowski assessing new digs at Marquette

By WTOP Staff

ANDREW WAGNER
Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Nearly two months to the day since being introduced as the new coach at Marquette, Steve Wojciechowski has yet to conduct a formal practice or prepare a game plan.

He hasn’t even found a house yet for himself, his wife and their two sons.

That, though, while come in time. For now, Wojciechowski is still getting acclimated to his new job and, more importantly, his new team. NCAA rules allow coaches eight weeks of contact with their players during the summer and Wojciechowski plans to make the most of that time.

“Our focus this session is developing the individual player,” Wojciechowski said Thursday. “I’ve always found the best way to develop a relationship with a player is working with him on the court.”

Wojciechowski, 37, inherits a team that fell flat last year, its first in the new-look Big East. The preseason favorite to win the league title, the Golden Eagles went 17-15 and did not play in the postseason, snapping an eight-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances. Out went Buzz Williams and in came Wojo, the former star at Duke and a longtime assistant on Mike Krzyzewski’s staff.

Wojciechowski had to re-sell some of his players on Marquette. But Malek Harris, a 6-7 forward out of Chicago, and Ahmed Hill reopened their recruiting after Wojciechowski was hired, with Hill opting to join Williams at Virginia Tech, where he’ll be joined by seven-footer Satchel Pierce, who originally signed with Marquette last November.

Canadian forward Marial Shayok also signed with Marquette but will play instead for Tony Bennett’s Virginia Cavaliers.

The losses haven’t discouraged Wojciechowski.

“Losing kids, especially kids who never stepped foot on campus and don’t have a feel for what Marquette is . that’s not unique to Marquette,” Wojciechowski said. “For me, it was reaching out to them and developing a relationship. I only want guys at Marquette who want to be at Marquette. If I have to twist your arm or promise you stuff to want to put that jersey on, I don’t think that’s the right fit.”

He dismissed a column that called Marquette one of the worst jobs in the country.

“I think it’s laughable,” he said. “Marquette is an incredibly special place. I’m at a university where I can offer kids the best of all worlds. You come to Marquette and you’ll get a degree that means something no matter where you go in the world and a community that supportive of the students here and especially the student-athletes here and you have a chance to play elite-level basketball. When you talk about big-time programs, Marquette fits every criteria.”

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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