Question about a showcase. My son has a 3.6 GPA, but a HORRIBLE SAT score (800). Would I be wasting money to send hm to a showcase when he doesn't even have the SAT scores to get into most schools. My wife thinks not, but I am on the fence. Please give HONEST opinion.

Does he have time to take the SAT again? If so, he could take a Princeton SAT preparation course. It is very costly at $1000, but worthwhile as it guarantees you gain 200 points on the test or your money back.

I think he can gain the 200 points without the Princeton Test Prep---look at his GPA

I would make an appointment with the school counseling people to see what has happnened at the school.

The 3.6 era doesn't make sense with that SAT score. The 3.6 is suspect and I would have your son take the test, again.

I hope he's not including: gym; typing; ceramics; home ec; movie watching; etc., in his 3.6 gpa.

what is his act score or did he take it. and he still could go to JUCO. which is better for most baseball players.

Scout

Please explain why JUCO is better

The 3.6 GPA is in his core courses, and yes I have scheduled a meeting with the school conselor. This was his second SAT test, and this is a private school to boot. I have asked why are we paying the tuition if this is what we get in return. ACT was not very good either. I am againsy the showcase route, if most of the schools will toss his form based on his SAT scores alone.

NCAA qualifying is based on a combination of GPA & SAT scores. Refer to page 6 of the NCAA 2005-06 College-Bound Student-Athlete Guide. This SAT does not necessarily take away all options! IMO, depending on the showcase, I would not miss an opportunity to have him play in front of schools he is interested. Work to get the SAT scores up so he has more options, but don't close all the doors just yet!

Schools do not "teach to the SAT". The SAT is a standardized test that compares test takers and is meant to predict student readiness for college.

A meeting with the School Counselor is a good idea. There is a discrepancy between the GPA and the SAT and you need to figure out why. Are the grades inflated at your school? Or, does your son need some outside tutoring to improve his test-taking skills? Perhaps you need to take a look at his other STANDARDIZED tests and see how he compares to other students in the United States on those tests. I am sure that Florida is similar to Virginia and your son has probably been tested many times since entering kindergarten.

Go in with a good attitude and keep the School Counselor on your side....they are going to be very important to you in the college selection process!

If this will make you feel better.

You all know I always support good grades above baseball for entrance into college.

My son maintained a GPA over 4.0 for 4 years in HS in a difficult excelerated program. All honors classes which included algebra, geometry, physics and calculus. He never tested well on standardized tests.

He took the ACT once and the SAT once and they did not make sense compared to his GPA. I don't think anyone cared, he never took them over ,never needed them any higher but do know he was not eligible for academic money.
The only concern we had was that he might not be able (with the SAT score) to keep up with classes where most students had 1200 scores and above. He is not following the most difficult of degrees, but has maintained above 3.0 for every semester but one. He takes advantage of what is offered to him at school in the way of tutors and library and group study.
Your son is not far away for earning his state scholarship money (I do believe for bright futures one needs a 980 (?) with his GPA score for the minimum money awarded.

Sometimes for athletes, some things are overlooked.

I do know at UF, if you did not score a minimum on your math or english SAT, you needed to take a course before fall term. And I know of a few baseball players who had to take those classes.

Also, you never told us what his core courses were. If they are basic math and english 101, then the SAT/ACT score becomes more important.
If your son has good baseball skills, it is important he be seen. But he also needs to raise his SAT or ACT scores, if possible.

I think maybe he needs to concentrate on both and I follow the advice of RHP, do not give up hope.

JMO.

Thanks for all the advice. We will keep forging ahead. His core corses include honors english, honors history, and Math, and that is why we have been so blown away with his test scores. He even took a SAT prep course at the local JC before his last SAT test, and the score barely improved. He truly wants to play baseball in college, and without a doubt will attend college either way, but I want to know what the coaches will think of a player at a showcase if they discover his SAT/ACT scores. Will they steer away??? And yes the Bright futures is the 980 with his current GPA, plus he has already completed all his community service. Thanks again all!!!

Is there an undiagnosed learning disability? Maybe he should be tested for one? His grades and standardized test scores raises a red flag.

Don't panic! There are just some kids who for whatever reason do not do well with standardized tests.

Take the tests again in the fall. SAT or ACT, whichever one he feels more comfortable and confident with.

At any rate, do prepare for the tests. Give yourself a couple of months to work through one of the prep books. Be sure to take the practice exams and then review the results to see where there are strengths and weakness. Make sure that your son is well rested and well nourished on test day.

Take it again - preferably with another prep course - and see baseballtodays comments!