Is there anything the student can do to help pay for college? The most obvious idea would seem to be for the student to get a job. However, earning more than a certain dollar amount will decrease a student's aid faster than the earnings can be deposited in the student's bank account. After $2,436, every dollar a college freshman earns and saves can decrease his aid eligibility by 85 cents. Of course, if his family is not eligible for aid, the student should be out there earning as much as possible; but if his family stands a chance of qualifying for aid, the student's time would be better spent (at least under the current ridiculous law) by making the most of his educational opportunities.

Here are some very tangible ways a student can help pay for college. And no, we haven't been paid off by high-school teachers!

Study Like Crazy

Good grades make a student desirable to the colleges. Yes, this will help you get in, but good grades also translate directly into dollars and cents. Every tenth of a point a student raises her high school GPA can increase the chances of her receiving a merit-based scholarship, thereby saving her thousands of dollars in student loans she won't have to pay back later.

Even at the Ivy League schools, where students are supposedly awarded aid based only on their "need," applicants with high academic achievement get preferential packaging -- award packages with a higher percentage of grants and a lower percentage of loans.

If a student's dream is to attend an expensive private college, it isn't going too far to expect the student to contribute to help make that dream a reality. Parents are about to invest a sizable portion of all the money they have ever been able to save. It seems only fair that the student should be prepared to invest in his own future as well. And the single most productive way a student can invest in his future is by doing as well as possible during high school.

Be Prepared for the SAT

Nothing can change a student's fortune faster than a big increase on the SAT. Look at it this way: It takes four years to accumulate your grades from high school. It takes six weeks to take a prep course. The latest study by FAIRTEST, published in The New York Times, showed that students who took prep courses had an average improvement of over 100 points. Every ten points a student can raise his score on the SAT can save his family thousands of dollars by increasing his desirability in the eyes of the FAOs, and hence, increasing the size of the aid packages they offer him. This is too important to leave to chance.

Take AP Courses

Many high schools offer advanced placement (AP) courses. By passing an advanced placement test at the end of the year, a student can earn college credits without paying college tuition. Not all schools accept AP credits, but many do, again enabling a student to save his family literally thousands of dollars. Some students are able to skip the entire freshman year in this way, thus cutting the entire cost of their college education by one quarter. Consult with the colleges you are interested in to see if they accept AP credits, and with your high school to see which AP courses are offered and how to sign up.

Condense Your College Education

You have to be a little crazy to try this, but motivated students can possibly complete a four-year education in three years. The family may not realize big savings on the tuition itself (since some schools charge by the credit) but there will be savings on room and board, and the student will be able to get out into the work force that much sooner.

A more reasonable goal might be to reduce time in college by half a year. By attending summer school (which is often less expensive than the regular terms), a student can reduce her time on campus by one full semester. Even at half a year, this strategy may take its toll on the student. So you need to be careful. Academics are only one part of the college experience, and by accelerating the process, a student may lose out on some of the opportunities and friendships that make the college years meaningful.

Defer Admission

Many schools allow students to defer admission for a year. If your family is financially strapped, use this year to earn money. You should always remember that at least under current law, student earnings above a certain dollar amount will reduce aid eligibility -- thus for many students, this strategy could backfire. However, if the college the student really wishes to attend decides the family is not eligible for aid and the family cannot shoulder the entire cost of college, this might be the only way the student could make up the difference. Be extremely careful in making a decision like this. If there is no reasonable plan for how you can meet the entire four years' worth of college bills, it may not make sense to begin the first year at a particular school.

Go to School Part-Time

Some schools allow students to attend college part-time so that they can earn money while they are in school. Points to be aware of: