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Revolution introduce World Cup star Jermaine Jones

By WTOP Staff

JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Revolution signed U.S. World Cup star Jermaine Jones as much for what he will mean to the team off the field as on it.

Although the addition of the former Bundesliga midfielder could help propel the Revolution into the playoffs, the MLS team is also hoping that his star power rubs off on his new teammates. Coach Jay Heaps said after introducing Jones on Tuesday that he’s already seen some benefits.

“When he walked in the door, there was an instant respect,” Heap said. “The players are looking for leadership, and that’s what he brought.”

The Revolution missed the postseason last season and this year are in sixth place, one point out of the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite a post-World Cup vacation, Jones intends to be available for the Revolution game in Toronto on Saturday.

“I would be lying if I said I was 100 percent,” Jones said. “I will do everything I can do to help this team. Maybe I don’t start from beginning. Who knows, maybe I will start on bench.”

It’s unlikely that the Revolution brought Jones in as a designated player to watch him sit on the bench for long.

The son of an American serviceman and German mother, Jones played every minute of the four American games at this year’s World Cup, scoring a goal in the 2-2 draw against Portugal in the opening round. After Brazil, he took some time to consider his options.

Heap said that as soon as he heard Jones might be available, he was interested.

“We’ve been looking for a player like this,” he said. “The minute you hear that a player of Jermaine’s caliber is out there, we jumped at the opp. … He was exactly the player we wanted.”

Jones, who said he had been considering MLS even before the World Cup, made it official with the league and then waited to find out where he was assigned. To sort out competing claims by the Revolution and Chicago Fire, the league held a blind draw Sunday, and New England was chosen.

“Fortunately for us, our name came up, and we’re really excited about it,” Revolution President Brian Bilello said. “You’ve seen him at the World Cup this year. On the field we know he’s going to be tremendous for our club.”

The Revolution have long operated in the shadow of the NFL’s New England Patriots, sharing owners and a stadium but not the same record of success as the three-time Super Bowl champions. General manager Mike Burns said the signing was significant, but not a signal that the team would change its approach.

“We’ll continue to operate the way we’ve always operated,” he said.

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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