Question regarding College & SAT's?

Question

My son has a SAT score of: 1200. He wants to go into architectural engineering. He would be going to a 2 year program at a community college, then transferring to another college like Penn state. Should I spend $820. to get him SAT prep classes or would Pennstate more than likely look more at his 2 years at community college than his SAT score? THanks

Answer 1

When you take the SAT whatever college you go to first looks at this for admittance, so the community college will look at it and accept him without making him take an assessment test to get in.  When he is finished with the 2 year program at his community college Penn state will be looking at his grades at the community college, they will not give a flip about his SAT.  So I would definitely save the money and he will get in,  Penn State is pretty easy to get into with a 2 year degree from a community college.  To make things easier though if he maintains at least a 3.5 gpa that will be lots more favorable to him anywhere he goes.

Answer 2

Quick question. Did he make a 1200 on the math/reading combined or all 3 tests combined?  Because 1200 doesn't sound like a bad score. How is his grades? If he graduates from Community College you are typically guaranteed acceptance to any state university based on his AA degree. He won't need to take the SAT again and I doubt they look at those old scores at all. I definately would not spend $850 on a SAT Prep program. They really don't raise the scores significantly and few can even gurantee that you might even improve at all.

Hope that helps!