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Pac-12 winding down non-conference schedule

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

Things to watch in Week 3 of Pac-12 play, including the first big test for two teams:

GAME OF THE WEEK: California (2-0) at Arizona (3-0). The Bears are off to a roaring start, already doubling their win total from last season. The Wildcats have had a few hiccups, yet finished the non-conference season undefeated under coach Rich Rodriguez again. Next comes the real test for both teams. Improving upon a 1-11 season a year ago wasn’t asking much, but the Bears are definitely playing better in their second season under Sonny Dykes. Cal opened the season with a solid win over Northwestern and had a did-what-you’re-supposed-to rout of Sacramento State before last week’s bye. The problem this week will be trying to stop Arizona’s offense. The Wildcats again are churning out yards in big bunches, but haven’t played the toughest of schedules so far. Arizona had trouble with Cal last season, holding off the Bears 33-28 in Berkeley.

BEST MATCHUP: Oregon (3-0) at Washington State (1-2). This one should be fun to watch, even if the second-ranked Ducks are more than three-touchdown favorites. That’s because of the two offenses. Oregon’s is annually one of the most explosive in college football and this season has been no different. Led by Heisman Trophy front-runner Marcus Mariota, the Ducks are top-10 in scoring and yards after blowing past their first three opponents. The Cougars have one of the nation’s best passing attacks, led by one of its best quarterbacks, Connor Halliday. He led the FBS in passing yards last season and is atop the standings again this year, throwing for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns. Oregon’s defense has given up a few big plays this season, so this could be a shootout, at least for a little while.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Pac-12 teams lead the power 5 conferences by averaging 500.7 total yards per game. The SEC is second at 474.8. … The two desert schools lead the conference in rushing: Arizona State with 304.3 yards per game and Arizona at 268.3. … Utah is at Michigan this weekend for the first time since knocking off the Wolverines 25-23 in the Big House in 2008. The Utes went 13-0 that season, capped by a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. … Washington is tied for first nationally with 15.0 sacks, Baylor and Virginia Tech.

IMPACT PLAYER: Oregon State QB Sean Mannion. He needs 186 yards passing against San Diego State to move into third on the Pac-12’s career list ahead of Derek Anderson, who threw for 11,249 yards for the Beavers from 2001-04. Mannion also is tied with USC’s Carson Palmer for 11th on the conference’s all-time touchdowns list with 72 and can move into the top 10 by throwing two TD passes against the Aztecs.

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Compiled by AP College Football Writer John Marshall.

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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