From what I have seen, even people with near perfect SAT scores may not get accepted to their dream colleges. Although SATs may not be the only factor for college decisions it may be an important benchmark for most. If you or your child may want to go to an Ivy League, depending on the school, the student may want to consider preparing for the exam, probably through prep books and possibly a tutor. Yet, tutors can be quite expensive, especially in cities.

For an Ivy League school, the minimum SAT score should be around 2080. This score may get a student in IF they have superior grades (3.7+ GPA), have taken many AP courses (at least 4), strong extracurricuar activities (debate, academic activities, varisity sports, volunteering etc.), and leadership positions in clubs or in school. A good variety also shows a well-rounded student.

For schools like Cornell, Dartmouth, and U. Penn., the average SAT score for accepted students is probably around the 2100 range. For more competitive schools (Brown and Columbia), the average SAT scores may be in the 2200 range. And finally for hardest schools to get into (Princeton, Yale and Harvard), students may need a high 2200 minimum to be considered. These are just some benchmarks that can change any time. All other factors mentioned above are usually much more important than the SAT scores, but SAT scores are still considered. Even with a low SAT score, a student should still apply to their dream schools because anything could happen.
Students may also choose to take the ACT test as an alternative or as a supplement.