Amherst College Regular Decision Supplement to the QB App 2026

This supplement is to be completed by QuestBridge students who have submitted only the QuestBridge Application and not the Common Application or the Coalition Application.

Applicant Information

First Name*

Middle Name

Last Name*

Birthdate*

QuestBridge ID*

Email Address*

Mailing Address*

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Test-Optional Choice

Amherst College has formalized the test-optional policy for all applicants. At their own discretion, applicants may choose to submit SAT and/or ACT scores for consideration as part of the application review process, but SAT/ACT test scores are not required for admission.

Applicants who choose to have their standardized test scores considered in the review of their application may submit either self-reported or officially reported SAT/ACT scores at the application review and admission stage. Among those applicants who choose to submit self-reported scores, only those who are subsequently admitted and decide to attend Amherst will be required to submit official score reports confirming self-reported scores. For more information on the submission of SAT/ACT scores, see our Information about Standardized Testing.

As an applicant to Amherst, you must respond to the question below, indicating whether you do or do not want your SAT and/or ACT scores to be considered as part of the application review process. To provide as much flexibility as possible within the constraints of our overall admission process and timeline, however, we are also providing applicants with an opportunity to make a subsequent, one-time change to their initial test-optional choice through submission of another form available on their Application Status Portal (a secure online site personalized for each Amherst applicant). Regular Decision applicants must notify us of that change by Wednesday, January 10. Applicants are permitted to change their initial test-optional choice once and no change in testing plan choice will be permitted after January 10.

Do you want your standardized testing (SAT and/or ACT) to be considered in the evaluation of your application?*

Yes

What test scores do you want to be considered?*

Consider my SAT test scores only.

Consider my ACT test scores only.

Consider both my SAT and ACT test scores.

Gender Identity Information (Optional)

Pronouns

She/her

He/him

They/them

Another set of pronouns

Prefer not to respond

Please specify another set of pronouns:

Do you identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community? If you wish to share this information, please complete the following question.

If you wish to share more about your LBGTQ+ affiliation, please use the space below. (Maximum: 75 words)

Religious Preference

Information about religious preference is used in our admission process to understand each applicant's full context, as part of our whole-person review process. Your responses will not be used for a discriminatory purpose.

If you wish to share information about your religious preference, please complete the following field. (To select more than one religious preference, hold down your "CTRL" key while clicking on desired choices.)

Religious Preference

Additional Information

At Amherst we know that identity is more than checkboxes. If you would like to share more about your identity, background, family, culture or community, please tell us more here. (Maximum: 175 words)

Have you applied to Amherst College in any previous year?*

Yes

If yes, what year?

Have any relatives ever attended Amherst College? (This information is for data purposes only and will not affect the admission decision.)

Yes

Name

Graduating Class

Relationship

Required Supplemental Writing

In addition to the essays you are writing as part of the QuestBridge application, Amherst requires a supplemental writing submission from all applicants. There are three options for satisfying Amherst's supplementary writing requirement: Option A, Option B or Option C. You may select only one of these options. Before deciding, carefully read the descriptions of all three options.

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
"Amherst College is committed to learning through close colloquy and to expanding the realm of knowledge through scholarly research and artistic creation at the highest level. Its graduates link learning with leadership—in service to the College, to their communities, and to the world beyond." – from the Mission of Amherst College
Prompt 1 Question: What do you see as the benefits of linking learning with leadership and/or service? In your response, please share with us a time where you have seen that benefit through your own experience.

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
"Strong commitment to the freedom of inquiry lies at the heart of Amherst College’s mission to create a home in which the liberal arts may flourish. As a small residential liberal arts college that prides itself on the ability, curiosity, and diversity of its students, Amherst seeks to create a respectful environment in which members of its community feel emboldened to pursue their intellectual and creative passions." – from the Amherst College Statement of Academic and Expressive Freedom
Prompt 3 Question: Tell us about an intellectual or creative passion you have pursued; what did you learn about yourself through that pursuit?

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.

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.

After reading the above descriptions of Option A, Option B and Option C, please indicate which writing option you have selected for completion:

Option A

Option B

Option C

Instructions for Submission of Supplemental Writing

If you have selected Option A (essay) or Option B (paper), you must submit your supplemental writing by the Regular Decision deadline of January 3, in one of the following ways: upload below, scan and email, fax, or mail.

Upload:

Scan & Email: Scan your document and send as an attachment by email to admission@amherst.edu with a subject line that includes your full name and the notation "QB-RD Supplemental Writing." Be sure to put your name and date of birth at the top of your document so that we can accurately match it to your application.

Fax: Fax your document to (413) 542-2040. Be sure to put your name and date of birth at the top of your document so that we can accurately match it to your application.

Mail: Mail your document to Office of Admission, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst MA 01002-5000. Be sure to put your name and date of birth at the top of your document so that we can accurately match it to your application.

Optional Research Supplement

Have you engaged in research in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences or humanities that was undertaken independently of your high school curriculum?

Yes

Please provide a brief description of the research project (50-75 words maximum):

Where, when and under whose mentorship did you conduct this research? (Provide mentor's name, title and institutional affiliation.)

If your research has been submitted for national consideration (e.g., Concord Review, Regeneron STS) and/or accepted for professional publication, please provide additional details here.

Optional Arts Supplement

Students who have talents or accomplishments in the areas of music, dance, theater or visual arts may submit supplementary arts materials for review by Amherst faculty for consideration as part of the admission process. Arts supplements should be submitted online through the designated section of your Application Status Portal, a secure online site personalized for each Amherst applicant. For more information on arts supplement requirements and submission, please review our Special Information for Arts Supplements webpage.

Are you considering submitting an arts supplement to Amherst?

Yes.

No.

Possibly, I'm not sure yet.

Regular Decision Supplement Submission

When you are ready to submit your completed Regular Decision Supplement, use the "Submit" button below.

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