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Clemson-Florida State headlines Week 4 in ACC

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A look at things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference during Week 4 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 22 Clemson at No. 1 Florida State. Last year’s showcase matchup of top-five teams in Death Valley quickly turned into a show of Seminoles’ dominance on their way to winning the national championship. Saturday’s rematch lacks the same hype with FSU (2-0) opening as a 19 1/2-point favorite in a key Atlantic Division matchup, but that was before the school suspended Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston for the first half as punishment for making an obscene public comment on campus this week. What must Clemson (1-1) do to avoid a replay of last year’s 51-14 debacle? “Well, we’ve got a lot we’ve got to do better,” coach Dabo Swinney said, “that’s for sure.”

BEST MATCHUP: Virginia Tech’s run defense vs. Georgia Tech’s option attack. The Hokies struggled to stop East Carolina’s Shane Carden and the Pirates pass-heavy offense in a loss last week. Now Bud Foster’s defense tries to regroup with an offense that will keep the ball primarily on the ground, though Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said his team must find some big plays in the passing game, too. “We’re going to try to do what we do,” Johnson said. “We’ll take our shots throwing the ball when we think we’ve got a shot.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The “Triangle” schools of Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State are unbeaten at 8-0. That marks the first time those teams were unbeaten after Week 3 in the ACC season since going 7-0 in 1994, according to STATS. The Blue Devils and Wolfpack are both 3-0, while the Tar Heels are 2-0 and coming off a bye week.

LONG SHOT: Duke could be due for a hiccup against a Tulane team that entered the week as a 17-point underdog. The Green Wave have intercepted five passes in three games and could test Duke QB Anthony Boone, who has yet to be picked off in 106 attempts this season. And there’s always the chance the Blue Devils could look past Tulane and ahead to next week’s ACC opener at Miami.

IMPACT PLAYER: Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy has provided an immediate jolt for the Eagles (2-1). The graduate transfer from Florida ran for a career-high 191 yards in last week’s upset of USC and ranks eighth nationally with 401 yards rushing heading into this week’s game against Maine. “He’s competed really hard in every game,” BC coach Steve Addazio said. “He’s a guy that carries his team. He’s a leader.”

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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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