2026–27 application cycle
Amherst College supplemental essays
Every writing prompt on the Amherst College application, with word limits. All of it taken from the application itself. 6 prompts.
- Prompt 1Required350 words max
On curiosity
"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?
- Prompt 2Required350 words max
Your unique experiences
"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?
How to approach it
Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.
- Prompt 3Required350 words max
A different viewpoint
"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." From 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?
How to approach it
Here, specific beats important. A small, true community described from the inside beats a broad label. Write it as someone who was there, not as an observer. End on what you carry into a campus, not on a moral.
- Prompt 4Required175 words max
An activity that mattered
Please briefly elaborate on an extracurricular activity or work experience of particular significance to you.
How to approach it
This one works best zoomed all the way in. One meeting, one build, one shift, told in detail. The reader already saw your activities list. Show them what it felt like to do the work.
- Prompt 5Optional175 words max
Anything else
If you would like to share more about yourself that is not captured elsewhere in your application, please tell us more here.
How to approach it
This space is for context, not a bonus essay. Use it if something needs explaining. A grade dip, or a commitment that limited your activities. Say it plainly in a few sentences. Otherwise leave it empty. Empty reads better than padding.
- Prompt 6Optional75 words max
Your research project
If you have engaged in significant research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum, please provide a brief description of the research project.
How to approach it
Resist the abstract here. Name the question you worked on. Say what you actually did day to day. Add one moment where it got hard or surprising. Then say what you want to find out next. Curiosity with a track record is the whole pitch.
Common questions
What do students ask about these essays?
How many essays does Amherst College require?
Amherst College lists 6 writing supplements for the 2026–27 cycle, and 4 of them are required. That’s on top of the main personal statement.
How long are the Amherst College supplemental essays?
Word limits across the listed prompts add up to about 1,475 words. Budget real time for them. Supplements are where admissions sees your real interest in Amherst College.
Do the Amherst College supplemental essays matter?
Yes, and more so at the hardest schools to get into. Grades and scores put you in the pool. Supplements are one of the few places you control what the reader learns about you. A generic why-us essay is one of the most common mistakes students make.
What Spike does with this
Get help planning Amherst College essays.
Spike helps you tie each prompt to something you’ve actually lived. It helps you outline and revise, and it won’t write the essay for you.
The full counselor launches in November.