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Dry, cool air to greet trick-or-treaters this Halloween

By Lauryn Ricketts

WASHINGTON – Big weather changes are on the way to the D.C. region as the warm weather comes to a halt and a cold front passes through.

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Clouds will move back in overhead Wednesday and there will be chances of rain showers as the front moves from the west to the east during the daytime hours. High pressure will build back in briefly on Wednesday but the damage is already done. We expect some sunshine on Thursday but not enough to warm us up. Temperatures will near the 60s on Thursday.

Then here comes the big change: Another frontal system – a strong cold front – will approach the region Friday into Saturday. This will unleash some of the coldest air that we have seen since March!

With that being said, we will have to continue to watch the movement of the cold front. But I do believe that we may be able to get Trick-or-Treating in on Friday night with a dry forecast – especially if you can get out early enough.

The sun will set just after 6 p.m. on Friday with increasing clouds and temperatures in the 50s for most of our region. The timing will get a little tricky on this, but for the most part, rain showers slide in after about 8 p.m. The rain will move from our western suburbs to the eastern portion of the listening area through the late evening hours and into the overnight hours.

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As that front passes through the WTOP listening area, winds will gradually increase through the overnight hours and there could even be some light snow showers by Saturday morning in the west!

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Saturday is going to be a very chilly day. Again, this will be some of the coldest air that we have experienced since the end of March 2014. (In April, we had five days in the 50s but the temperatures never dipped into the 40s.) I am forecasting temps will reach the upper 40s Saturday.

Unfortunately with the windy conditions, we could have wind chills in the 30s on Saturday! Anyone traveling to a college football game Saturday (including Maryland at Penn State, Virginia Tech or even the Navy night game closer to home at FedEx Field) should expect similar conditions and will need to bundle up.

However, the bright side of all of this is that we get to set our clocks back Saturday night as Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. So we’ll all get one extra hour of sleep to shake off the cold air that is coming our way!

Of course keep it here, and I will continue to update the Halloween forecast all week!

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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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