College Navigator: Amherst College
Admissions Angle's official application guide to Amherst
Amherst College is a prestigious private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821, Amherst is renowned for its rigorous academic programs, small class sizes, and commitment to fostering intellectual growth and critical thinking.
The picturesque campus, featuring a blend of historic and modern buildings, provides a vibrant and inspiring setting for academic and extracurricular activities. Amherst's location in the scenic Pioneer Valley offers students access to a rich array of cultural, recreational, and academic resources, including collaboration with the other members of the Five College Consortium: Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
With a diverse and talented student body, a faculty of dedicated scholars and mentors, and a strong emphasis on social responsibility and community engagement, Amherst College prepares its students to be thoughtful and informed leaders. The college's commitment to academic excellence, inclusivity, and the liberal arts tradition defines the Amherst experience.
Overview
US News Ranking: 2
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Deadline: Jan. 3rd
Application Fee: $75
Tuition: $70,480
Average cost after aid: $25,035
Should I submit my test score?
Test optional: yes
39% of students submit SAT scores | 22% of students submit ACT scores
SAT 25th-75th percentile range: 1500-1560
ACT 25th-75th percentile range: 33-35
If your SAT is at least 1500 and your ACT is at least 33, we recommend you submit your test scores. As you can see, most applicants submit SAT scores over ACT scores. There is no value in submitting one over the other; there is, however, value in knowing which test is right for you.
Student life:
Top majors: mathematics, econometrics economics, research and experimental psychology, computer science, political science and government
Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
Minority enrollment: 50%
Amherst offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The college’s open curriculum allows students to design their own educational paths, encouraging exploration and interdisciplinary study. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, Amherst provides a personalized and engaging learning environment.
The student-to-faculty ratio is low at 7:1, meaning there is good opportunity for face time with a professor.
With a minority enrollment of 50%, Amherst offers good diversity.
Admissions Factors:
Required supplemental essays: 1 or 2
Interview: not considered
Demonstrated interest: not considered
Alumnae relation: not considered
Students choose ONE OPTION (A, B, or C) from the following:
Option A: 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.
Prompt 1: “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
Prompt 1 Question: What does curiosity mean to you? How do you experience curiosity in your own life?
Prompt 2: “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
Prompt 2 Question: In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?
Prompt 3: “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
Prompt 3 Question: 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?
Option B: Please 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. If you have submitted an analytical essay in response to the "essay topic of your choice" prompt in the Common Application writing section, you should NOT select Option B.
Option C: If you are/were an applicant to Amherst's Access to Amherst (A2A) program, you may use your A2A application essay in satisfaction of our Writing Supplement requirement. If you would like to do so, please select Option C. However, if you would prefer not to use your A2A essay for this purpose and you want to submit a different writing supplement, select either Option A or Option B. Option A, Prompt 2 is the same prompt as the A2A application essay; if you would like to submit an updated version of your A2A application essay, please choose Option A.
[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.]