The time is coming. Between now and summer, meeting application deadlines, organizing payment plans, getting final transcripts and completing final assignments to raise grades a rank or two will consume seniors’ time.

However, there is valuable information for both graduating seniors and students who will return next year. It’s never too early to start preparing for and thinking about college.

In fact, every grade you make, every club activity you complete now affects how much you will stand out to the admission heads of every school you mail an application.

Every student will have at least one problem to clear to get to college, whether it’s deciding where to go, figuring how much tuition and fees will have to come out-of-pocket, making the grade, whether or not to work during college, trying to appear unique in a sea of thousands of applicants, and so on. For many graduates the largest of challenge is money. How will you ever pay for college?

There are many ways to make paying for school easier. The following are only a few methods that, over time, could shave hundreds, even thousands off tuition and cover expenses for all four years.

-Set a percent of your earnings aside every paycheck.

For those who have a job or plan to get one, a regular savings plan will help pay for school. Depositing 20 to 50 percent of earnings into a savings account will add up. Students may not earn much and therefore lack a large amount to contributed, but over a year or two, that money can ease the bill a considerable amount.

Senior Kateland Maddox, who signed a scholarship to run track and cross-country at South Plains Junior College, said that having a job will help with the remaining cost of attending.

“I’m going to have to get a job this summer, and my parents are making me pay it all by myself,” Maddox said. “I almost have it all paid for.”

Senior Christian Spring, who plans to attend Amarillo College, also works a job to cover his college expenses.

“Every week, I put money from my paycheck into my college fund,” Spring said. “I can pay for two years so far.”

-Apply for everything you can.

Every year, millions of dollars of financial aid go unclaimed nationwide. The rumor goes around that there is not enough money for everyone. If that much aid stagnates every year, then money is waiting for someone to step up and lay claim to their portion. Scholarships and other forms of aid are available and schools and agencies are willing to help figure how much each student can receive. The first step is applying.

Senior Maddison Sigler, who will attend Texas State in San Marcos, said scholarships helped her situation a great deal.

“I don’t qualify for government aid,” Sigler said. “Applying for lots of scholarships helped. I got $32,000 from Texas State.”

Senior Michael Stigler signed a track scholarship with the University of Kansas March 10.

“I don’t know how much total it is, but it’s a full-ride,” Stigler said. “I don’t have to pay for anything.”

-Prepare as early as possible.

Colleges have application deadlines for everything, not just attendance. Scholarships, grants and loans all have deadlines. In addition to mailing or emailing the forms in on time, students must plan ahead and take enough time to prepare the applications and supporting materials.

Sigler said students graduating in future years should save themselves frustration and send in the necessary information sooner rather than later.

“Apply for scholarships and don’t do anything last-minute,” Sigler said. “I did my application the night before and it was really stressful.”