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NC State hopes better leadership means more wins

By WTOP Staff

JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State figures it’s found a few more leaders this year.

The Wolfpack hope they lead them to more wins.

It’s finally game week again for N.C. State, which has spent the past nine months putting all those losses during coach Dave Doeren’s miserable first season in the past.

All that matters now is getting ready for a Georgia Southern team making its FBS debut this weekend.

Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill said Monday that he’s “not saying we didn’t have good leaders” in 2013 but “we had a new coaching staff and guys didn’t know which way to go.”

After last year’s 3-9 finish, Doeren said “the best way to get a taste out of your mouth is to go out and play.”

N.C. State lost all eight of its Atlantic Coast Conference games during its first winless league season since 1959. The Wolfpack enter this season on an eight-game losing streak and nearly 11 full months have passed since their last win — a 48-14 victory over Central Michigan on Sept. 28.

“It all goes back to leadership,” McGill said. “I’m not saying the group of guys we had last year didn’t have as much passion for the game, because if I said that, I’d be lying. The passion and the willingness to play the game is the same. Our leaders stepped up this year, demanding more of ourselves and our teammates, and that’s the difference.”

The Wolfpack say an example has come from their third transfer quarterback in two years: Jacoby Brissett, formerly of Florida.

Saturday’s visit from Georgia Southern marks his first game action since 2012, when he was beaten out by Jeff Driskell, and Brissett joked that he would “just make sure I don’t mess up the first snap.”

Doeren is eager to see what his quarterback — and the rest of his teammates — have retained from the offseason.

There weren’t any surprises on the depth chart Doeren released Monday. The established names in key spots are featured prominently, and now it’s time for them to prove they aren’t that same group that stumbled down the stretch in 2013.

“The first game, a lot depends on what your kids know about your system and how they can adapt on the fly to things you can’t show them,” Doeren said. “I think you’ll see two teams that both have a chip on their shoulder. I know our team does, for sure. … It’s been a while since we’ve finished a game and felt good about the end result, and all the work you do is about the end result.”

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Follow Joedy McCreary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joedyap

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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