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Auburn, Alabama both open Top 10 for just 4th time

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama and Auburn are no strangers to going into seasons ranked in the Top 10 — just not at the same time.

The second-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 6 Tigers share that lofty preseason billing in the Associated Press poll for the first time since 1995 and only the fourth time ever in the storied rivalry.

It’s the Tigers’ highest preseason ranking since coming in No. 4 in 2006.

“We haven’t even talked about it,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “Last year nobody picked us to do anything, and so we don’t get wrapped up in that.”

The only other times the dual Top 10 rankings happened were in 1964 and 1975.

Both of those involved likely the most revered coaches in the respective programs’ history — Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ralph “Shug” Jordan, both Hall of Famers.

The high rankings aren’t a surprise. If the four-team playoff had been in place last season, the two might have met in a semifinal rematch of one of last season’s most thrilling games.

Auburn won 34-28 when Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown on the final play.

Coincidentally, Auburn struggled in ’64 and ’75 while Alabama lived up to the billing.

The Crimson Tide won a second national title under Bryant after opening at No. 6 in 1964. Jordan’s Auburn team went 6-4 after opening at No. 8.

Alabama captured an SEC championship after opening the ’75 season at No. 2. Auburn started out ranked seventh but fell to 4-6-1.

Both teams won eight games in 1995.

The Tide has much more experience at trying to live up to the Top 10 mantle, having opened ranked that high 32 times.

The Tigers have done it 15 times but have sometimes been at their best when little was expected.

Led by quarterback Nick Marshall, Auburn opened last season unranked and played for a national title. The 2010 national champs started out ranked 22nd while the 1957 team that won Auburn’s other national title wasn’t ranked.

Tommy Tuberville’s 2004 team went from 17th to second by season’s end.

Recent history indicates the No. 2 ranking is a good spot for Alabama. That’s where the Tide’s 2011 and 2012 national title teams opened. The 2009 team that brought Nick Saban’s first title to Tuscaloosa began at No. 5.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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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