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Big 12 almost fully into Phase 2 _ conference play

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

Kliff Kingsbury makes sure his Texas Tech players know that their entire season is still ahead of them.

Texas coach Charlie Strong talks to his Longhorns about “Phase 2,” which is Big 12 play.

The preliminaries are almost done in the Big 12, with the Red Raiders and Longhorns among seven teams that have already completed their non-conference schedules only three Saturdays into September. There will be only one more regular-season game after this week that will not count in the league’s standings.

“Whether 3-0 or 0-3, you’ve now got everything in front of you that you want to accomplish,” Kingsbury said Monday on the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference.

The Red Raiders (2-1) play their conference opener Thursday night at 24th-ranked Oklahoma State (2-1), a young team that some are reconsidering as a possible Big 12 contender this season after a pair of convincing victories that followed a close season-opening loss against defending national champion and top-ranked Florida State.

“Well, it’s hard for us to even look past practice and the next game. We’re certainly not mature enough, experienced enough to think about anything other than our next game,” Gundy said. “There’s been years when we were very experienced and very, very talented and that gave us the opportunity to think different. But not this season. … We’ll know a lot more in a month, once we get through four or five games in Big 12 play.”

A week after six teams didn’t play and there were only three games combined in the Big 12, there are three conference matchups. Plus, No. 25 Kansas State (vs. UTEP) and TCU (at SMU) play their final non-conference games, with the Horned Frogs the only team without a conference game before October.

Iowa State (1-2) becomes to the first Big 12 team this season to play two conference games when it hosts seventh-ranked Baylor (3-0) on Saturday.

The Cyclones also have the Big 12’s only non-conference game after September, their Oct. 11 homecoming game against Toledo.

Texas (1-2) is coming off a bye week after a 20-17 loss to then-No. 12 UCLA, when the Longhorns led with 5 minutes left. The Longhorns are the only team that will play eight consecutive Big 12 games over as many weeks without a break, starting Saturday with their conference opener at Kansas (2-1). That means two months before an open date leading into their regular-season finale Thanksgiving night.

“It’s always still about us, which is assignment and fundamentals and technique and going out and competing and playing with a sense of urgency. We still have a lot of games in front of us and we’ve just got to continue to get better and better,” Strong said. “We’re into Phase 2 and now everything counts, and that’s the way you look at it. Every game counts from here on out.”

After fourth-ranked Oklahoma (4-0) won 45-33 at West Virginia (2-2) on Saturday night in the league opener for both teams, the Sooners and Mountaineers are the only Big 12 teams not playing this week.

“The tone, it’s a little different in that you know they’re all conference games,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Monday. “On the other hand, it’s pretty similar in that we go about the week and our preparation doesn’t change. The only thing is maybe you’re more familiar with the personnel you’re playing against, and the style, the team.”

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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