Amherst College

Essay prompts (5)

1. academic interest2026-27350 words

   Applies to: All first-year applicants — Option A, Prompt 1 (applicants elect only ONE of Option A, B, or C)

   Choose one of the following quotations, and respond to the question posed, in an essay of not more than 350 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay. "Hope and curiosity — these are qualities that are the foundation of what Amherst College means, of everything that we do here. Curiosity is at the core of a liberal arts education — a spirit of inquiry that shapes not only what our students do in the classroom, but also how they learn from and about each other." — Michael A. Elliott, 20th President of Amherst College, address at Amherst College's 203rd Commencement What does curiosity mean to you? How do you experience curiosity in your own life?

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2. identity2026-27350 words

   Applies to: All first-year applicants — Option A, Prompt 2 (applicants elect only ONE of Option A, B, or C). This is the same prompt as the A2A Writing Supplement essay.

   Choose one of the following quotations, and respond to the question posed, in an essay of not more than 350 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay. "We seek an Amherst made stronger because it includes those whose experiences can enhance our understanding of our nation and our world. We do so in the faith that our humanity is an identity forged from diversity, and that our different perspectives enrich our inquiry, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our community, and prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world." — from the Trustee Statement on Diversity and Community In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?

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3. community2026-27350 words

   Applies to: All first-year applicants — Option A, Prompt 3 (applicants elect only ONE of Option A, B, or C)

   Choose one of the following quotations, and respond to the question posed, in an essay of not more than 350 words. It is not necessary to research, read, or refer to the texts from which these quotations are taken; we are looking for original, personal responses to these short excerpts. Remember that your essay should be personal in nature and not simply an argumentative essay. "We are working together to build a community that makes room for both true disagreement and true connection, one that practices the kind of recognition and robust negotiation that the everyday life of democracy requires, and one that explicitly prepares our students to work for the greater good in their professional and personal endeavors." — Presidential Priorities: Serving the Greater Good Tell us about a time that you engaged with a viewpoint different from your own. How did you enter that engagement, and what did you learn about yourself from it?

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4. portfolio2026-27

   Applies to: All first-year applicants — Option B, a graded analytical paper submitted instead of an Option A essay (not available to applicants who submitted an analytical essay for the Common App / Apply Coalition with Scoir "essay topic of your choice" prompt)

   Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should not submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay. Also, if you have submitted an analytical essay in response to the "essay topic of your choice" prompt in the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir writing section, you should not select Option B.

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5. other2026-27

   Applies to: Applicants to Amherst's Access to Amherst (A2A) program only — Option C

   If you are/were an applicant to Amherst's Access to Amherst (A2A) program, you may use your A2A Writing Supplement essay in satisfaction of our supplementary essay requirement. If you would like to do so, please select Option C. However, if you would prefer not to use your A2A Writing Supplement for this purpose and you want to submit a different piece of writing, select either Option A or Option B. Option A, Prompt 2 is the same prompt as the A2A Writing Supplement essay; if you would like to submit an updated version of your A2A Writing Supplement essay, please choose Option A, Prompt 2. Please note that Option C is available only to applicants to Amherst's A2A program. Non-A2A applicants must choose either Option A or Option B.

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