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The U.S. World Cup exit is not the end

By Noah Frank

WASHINGTON — The ride is over, for now.

After two weeks of snowballing hysteria, from John Brooks’ last-minute goal to steal a late win over Ghana to Tim Howard’s dazzling display to carry them into extra time against Belgium, the U.S. Men’s National Team did what they have done for the past decade: play heart-in-your-throat, sweaty-palm games to the very death.

Unfortunately, the death was theirs at the 120th minute against Belgium Tuesday afternoon. Outplayed most of the day, they pushed the game to extra time before conceding two goals, then stealing one back to give hope once more. A frantic flurry over the game’s final 10 minutes proved not enough, with a couple of golden chances slipping away.

But this World Cup run has helped soccer make a bigger “s” mark on the nation than ever before. In Chicago, 28,000 fans packed Soldier Field to watch the game on the big screen. Watch parties around D.C. drew thousands of fans, including an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 at Freedom Plaza.

Columnist John Feinstein claims that no Americans will care about soccer now that the U.S. is out. He may be right that American interest in this World Cup will die out, but his open dismissal of World Cup fever as a symptom of the game’s growth seems short-sighted.

Major League Soccer continues to flourish, slowly but steadily, with nearly 160 percent more people attending games than in 2003. Part of that is expansion (the league has blossomed from nine to 19 franchises, with four more set to come online in the next few years), but average attendance is also up 20 percent per arena from a decade ago.

Five MLS stadiums averaged better than 20,000 fans per game in 2012. Despite playing in decrepit RFK, D.C. United still pulled nearly 14,000. The league average — 18,807 — was higher than both the NHL (17,455) and the NBA (17,407).

Americans love a sport in which they feel comfortable investing their energy. For many years, soccer at the World Cup level was not such a sport for the U.S. It’s hard to believe, but this was the first time the U.S. Men’s National Team advanced to the knockout stage in consecutive World Cups. Ever.

That makes this a time unlike any other in American soccer history. Never has the U.S. been this good, and so it makes sense that never have people been this interested. With 19-year-old Julian Green — considered by many the best young player on the team — providing the glimpse of the future with his immediate impact, scoring the lone American goal in extra time, the future looks bright already.

And if you’re still interested in how the World Cup will play out, if the first two rounds have been any indication it could be one of the greatest of all time.

Five of the eight games in the round of 16 went into extra time. Three of the top five teams in the world, and five of the top 11, remain alive in the tournament. The quarterfinals promise potential intra-continental classics between Germany and France as well as Colombia and Brazil.

So whether you have a stake in the result or not, you might as well stay tuned. Besides, it’s never too early to start scouting for 2018.

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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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