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Yedlin returns to Seattle, European interest rises

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — DeAndre Yedlin confidently raced up and down the field for the United States against one of the top teams in the world, showing off skills that were recognized in Seattle and Major League Soccer but not so well known internationally.

And as he watched Yedlin’s performance against Belgium with pride, Seattle coach Sigi Schmid couldn’t help but feel that playing so well in the World Cup could bring an end to Yedlin’s time with the Sounders sooner rather than later.

“When you look at it, he’s a guy that’s about to turn 21 and how many 21-year-old right backs have three World Cup games under their belt?” Schmid said. “That’s a very exclusive market. It’s something that we are proud of.”

Yedlin rejoined the Sounders on Monday with a much higher profile than he had when the U.S. gathered for World Cup training camp nearly two months ago in Northern California and there was no certainty he would be on the plane to Brazil.

Yedlin is expected to be available for both of Seattle’s matches this week against rival Portland — in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday and then in MLS play Sunday.

He returned to a flurry of attention after the U.S. was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16 and amid reports that a deal is already in place for Yedlin to make the move to Europe.

Yedlin did not comment directly on reports coming from Italy about a pending deal that would see the 20-year-old defender move to AS Roma in 2015 after completing this season with Seattle. Yedlin said playing in Europe has always been a goal, but he quickly highlighted the improved talent of the MLS.

Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer issued a statement saying if a deal with a foreign team is finalized the team will announce it.

“I’m kind of letting my representatives handle that right now,” Yedlin said. “They’ll obviously get back to me on that information but for right now I’m just focused on Seattle.”

Schmid sounded almost resigned that eventually Yedlin will leave Seattle and get his shot at playing in one of the top leagues in the world.

“At the end of the day you want to do what is best for the players and help the players continue to grow and advance,” Schmid said. “We’re a club that wants to win and wants to succeed and I also think success is also predicated on when you do what is best for the players, you’re going to have success.”

Yedlin was a surprise selection by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann for the final 23-man roster that made the trip to Brazil. The roles Yedlin ended up playing were even more of a surprise. He came on as a late substitute playing in the midfield against Portugal and Germany in the group stage.

But it was his performance against Belgium that grabbed the spotlight. Coming on in the 32nd minute after defender Fabian Johnson was injured, Yedlin was a consistent offensive threat on the outside. But he also used his speed to remain solid on defense.

“It was a little nerve-wracking. I was obviously not really expecting that,” Yedlin said. “But I think it helped I wasn’t ready for it because I didn’t have time to think, I just had to go on and play. It was good. Once I got comfortable I felt good, felt relaxed.”

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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