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Surprise Bundesliga leader Paderborn off to Bayern

By WTOP Staff

NESHA STARCEVIC
AP Sports Writer

MUNICH (AP) — The featured Bundesliga match will take place in Munich, and that is no surprise.

What is surprising is that it involves Paderborn, the promoted club that is playing in the top tier for the first time.

Four matches into the season, Paderborn leads three other clubs on goal difference. One of them is defending champion Bayern Munich, which hosts Paderborn on Tuesday.

Paderborn is coming off a 2-0 home win over Hannover, while Bayern had to settle for a 0-0 draw in Hamburg.

Here are some things to know about the Bundesliga matches on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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INVERTED LOOK

A casual observer is likely to rub his eyes in disbelief after looking at the Bundesliga standings four matches into the season. At the top, in order, Paderborn, Mainz, Hoffenheim. At the bottom, Schalke, Hamburger SV and Stuttgart.

It is unlikely to remain like that for long, but promoted Paderborn is making its debut in the Bundesliga a memorable one. Now comes a trip to Bayern Munich, which is in fourth, also with eight points.

“We are not traveling to Munich to take photos with World Cup champions,” Paderborn coach Andre Breitenreiter said. “We want to achieve a good result.”

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LEWANDOWSKI’S DROUGHT

Bayern Munich is living up to coach Pep Guardiola’s pre-season prediction that the defending champions will struggle in the first half of the season.

Bayern is winless on the road and came away with only one point from a visit to crisis-ridden Hamburg.

One reason for Bayern’s pale performances is that striker Robert Lewandowski is taking time to adjust to his new teammates. Lewandowski came to Bayern from Dortmund as the Bundesliga’s top scorer but he has found the net only once in seven competitive matches this season.

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said he is not concerned and is sure Lewandowski will become effective.

“He has a lot of qualities, especially in the penalty area,” Lahm said.

Lewandowski has been long on effort but short on efficiency. His teammates say he has not been given enough useful passes. Defender Jerome Boateng said Lewandowski “needs time,” like the whole team.

Guardiola’s constant rotations may not be helping.

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HAMBURG’S REVIVAL?

Hamburg played like a rejuvenated team under coach Josef “Joe” Zinnbauer and earned a point against Bayern in a 0-0 draw.

Zinnbauer replaced Mirko Slomka last week after a sputtering start, coming from Hamburg’s under-23 side.

Unknown as coach, Zinnbauer had a modest playing career. But he was a millionaire already in his early 20s, while playing in amateur leagues. Zinnbauer had been a disco and restaurant owner, dealt in real estate, acted as a player agent and had a financial services company. He was known as the owner of flashy sports cars, which he now finds embarrassing.

“He radiates an incredible energy and motivation,” Hamburg CEO Dietmar Beiersdorfer said.

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STUTTGART’S PLUNGE

Armin Veh left a secure position as coach of Eintracht Frankfurt to return to Stuttgart, the club he led to the Bundesliga title in 2007.

Veh is not saying it, but he may be regretting the move.

Stuttgart is last in the league with one draw and three losses, including a 2-0 defeat at home to Hoffenheim. Stuttgart fought against relegation last season and seems to be heading in the same direction again.

“I am not going let myself go crazy. I’ve never been relegated in my life and that’s how it’s going to stay,” Veh said after Saturday’s loss.

Stuttgart director Fredi Bobic, himself under fire, said there won’t be any discussions about the coach.

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DORTMUND’S DOLDRUMS

Dortmund has gotten off to a good start in the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Arsenal. But in the Bundesliga, Juergen Klopp’s side if off to its worst start since the 2009-10 season.

Dortmund is in mid-table with two wins and two defeats.

Dortmund has struggled after good Champions League matches — it lost four times following Champions League matches last season and three times the season before.

“It should not be a problem, we’ve been playing in this rhythm every year,” Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender said. “We always try to take the momentum from the Champions League into Bundesliga matches.”

Klopp’s team has the chance to gain ground when it hosts Stuttgart on Wednesday.

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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