Do any private colleges not accept superscores?

Most private colleges do accept SAT and ACT superscores, but there are some notable exceptions. Georgetown University stands out as one of the most prominent private institutions that does not accept superscores for either the SAT or ACT. Instead, Georgetown considers your highest scores from a single test sitting.

While rare among private colleges, a few other selective institutions have specific policies about superscoring. Some schools may superscore the SAT but not the ACT, or vice versa. For example, Baylor University historically has only superscored the SAT, though policies can change from year to year. Carnegie Mellon University accepts superscores but places greater emphasis on individual test dates when making admissions decisions.

The best approach for your application strategy is to check each school's testing policy directly on their admissions website or contact their admissions office. Testing policies can change annually, and schools may have nuanced approaches to how they evaluate scores. Some institutions might technically accept superscores but prefer to see strong performance from a single sitting.

If you're applying to schools that don't accept superscores, focus on maximizing your performance for a single test date rather than trying to improve individual sections across multiple attempts. This strategy will ensure your scores meet the requirements for all schools on your list, regardless of their superscoring policies. Remember that many schools have also adopted test-optional policies, which might give you additional flexibility in your application strategy.