The most accurate AI grader for Amherst essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Amherst College and the rest of the T20.
Amherst essay prompts for 2026-27
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Amherst prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Amherst may have updated them since, so check Amherst College admissions before you submit.
Prompt 1 — Curiosity
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?
350 words max · Required
A2A Writing Supplement
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 the supplementary essay requirement. If you would like to do so, please select Option C. Option C is available only to applicants to Amherst's A2A program.
Required
Graded Analytical Paper
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.
Required
Academic Exploration / Why Amherst
Amherst College’s open curriculum requires students to design their own academic path. What academic areas are you curious about or passionate about, and how might you explore them at Amherst? (Please respond in 300 words or fewer.)
300 words max · Required
Identity / Community Contribution
Amherst College brings together students from many different backgrounds and perspectives. What aspects of your background, identity, or experiences have shaped who you are, and what might you bring to the Amherst community? (Please respond in 300 words or fewer.)
300 words max · Required
All Amherst supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Amherst essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Amherst readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Amherst readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
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Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Amherst College admissions.