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Virginia Tech-UNC highlights Week 6 in ACC season

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A look at things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference during Week 6 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Virginia Tech at North Carolina. Both teams were discussed as potential favorites in the muddled Coastal Division yet the loser will sit at 0-2 in the league after this one. The Hokies (3-2) won at Ohio State in Week 2 but followed that with losses at home to East Carolina and Georgia Tech. As for the Tar Heels (2-2), they’ve given up 120 points in the past two games, losses at ECU and Clemson. “We’re going to have to play better,” UNC coach Larry Fedora said, “there’s no doubt about it.”

BEST MATCHUP: Pittsburgh running back James Conner vs. Virginia’s run defense. Conner has been a one-man offense for the Panthers, ranking third nationally by averaging a league-best 158.2 yards rushing per game to go with nine rushing scores. The improved Cavaliers, meanwhile, rank 10th nationally against the run by allowing 86.6 yards per game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Those days when Wake Forest routinely led the ACC in rushing seem like a lifetime ago. The Demon Deacons rank last among 128 bowl subdivision schools, averaging 29.2 yards rushing per game. They’ve played four FBS opponents and three of them have held Dave Clawson’s team to negative yards rushing. Of the 10 offensive linemen on the depth chart, seven are either freshmen or sophomores. “When you have a true freshman and you have sophomores going against fifth-year seniors and fourth-year juniors … you’re going to lose the strength matchup,” Clawson said.

LONG SHOT: North Carolina State gave No. 1 Florida State fits last week. Now Dave Doeren’s team travels to Clemson, which opened as a 13 1/2-point favorite in an Atlantic Division matchup of teams jockeying for position behind the Seminoles. The Wolfpack’s offense is averaging about 100 yards more per game behind Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett at quarterback and ranks second in the league by averaging 40.4 points per game. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said N.C. State is “playing at a high level with a ton of confidence” coming into Death Valley. “We’ll have to play very well, that’s for sure,” he said.

IMPACT PLAYER: Georgia Tech redshirt sophomore Justin Thomas ranks second among all bowl subdivision quarterbacks in rushing yards per game heading into Saturday’s matchup with Miami. Thomas is averaging 110.8 yards on the ground, including 6.8 yards per carry, and ran for 165 yards at Virginia Tech. He also has thrown for seven touchdowns with one interception.

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Compiled by AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard and Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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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