Actually SAT scores are a relatively good predictor of college performance, which is why colleges require them. As in your case, they are by no means perfect. Which is why colleges also require high school grades. They are NOT now and have not been since about 1975, useful as an intelligence test - the test was changed, ending their usefullness for this purpose. That said, success in life is not measured by how many sheepskins you hang on the wall. I have several degrees personally, but the content of your character is what matters as far as I am concerned.
sorry, I couldn't resist!
They're a better measure (alone) than grades are (alone). Due to how many people take the test, percentile scores from one test can be compared to percentile scores on another test for people in different states, etc. It's standardized. Local politics, teacher's pets, parental involvment, mandatory grading curves, etc can all skew grades one way or another. Grades are nearly meaningless as far as I'm concerned.
I agree. All they mean is that you performed well on that test, on that day.
You're absolutly correct. I took the SAT's in the late 60's, combined score somewhere around 700. Now I have two Master's Degrees. The SAT measures your ability to take tests, the ASVAB measures your ability to learn something.