New York CNN —Long before you take your high schooler on college campus tours, consider this: Shopping for college shouldn’t be any different than shopping for a home. Getting into that top 25% cohort is based on SAT or ACT scores, and having a high, unweighted GPA based on a rigorous high school curriculum. Other ways to reduce college costs before applyingWhile your children are in high school they can take other steps to reduce the total cost of their education. If their high school doesn’t offer them, there is a program called Freshman Year for Free offered by the Modern States Education Alliance. Getting the minimum AP scores a college requires to earn a college credit will lower how much you ultimately have to spend on tuition.

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Persons: New York CNN — Long, ”, Beth Walker, Walker, doesn’t, pare, Mike McKinnon, won’t, Todd Fothergill, Fothergill, you’re, ” Fothergill, ” Walker, Said Walker, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, shouldn’t, “, College, ”, National Institute of Certified College Planners, Ivy League, Loan, Students, Stafford, American, Tax, of Education College, College Board, Free, Modern States Education Alliance Locations: New York