umass amherst transfer essay

University of Massachusetts Amherst 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Action: Nov 5

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

University of Massachusetts Amherst 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 3 essays of 100 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why, Community

UMass Amherst’s supplement asks one question with two prompts: why here? It’s the most classic question around, and the 100 word limit really lightens the load. The key to this simple supplement is budgeting your information wisely to ensure that each essay you write is not only distinct, but reveals something totally new to admissions. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: a straightforward supplement is an indication that your answers should be impeccable!

Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst? (100 words)

It doesn’t get simpler than this: why here? Although the word limit is tight, the key to any successful Why essay is good old fashioned research. So set aside a little time to pore over the UMass website and figure out exactly what aspects of the school excite you most. You’ll want to keep your explanation top line, but personalize it with specific details about the clubs, departments, and other opportunities you hope to take advantage of. Consider the physical as well as social and scholarly aspects of the school. Maybe you like that it’s close to home. Or maybe you’re all about moving to a remote location very far away from where you currently live. If you’re a language buff, maybe that linguistics department is calling your name with a side of study abroad. But don’t go too crazy on the academics, you’ll have time to go deep on your scholarly interests in the next essay, and as we said, space is tight. What do your particular choices and interests say about you as a person? What do they say about UMass Amherst? How do you and UMass fit together?

At UMass Amherst, no two students are alike. Our communities and groups often define us and shape our individual worlds. Community can refer to various aspects, including shared geography, religion, race/ethnicity, income, ideology, and more. Please choose one of your communities or groups and describe its significance. Explain how, as a product of this community or group, you would enrich our campus. (100 words)

This is a classic Community Essay, through and through. Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person and how has that made your perspective unique? What traditions or aspects of your community would you like to share at UMass Amherst? What you address can be a larger cultural community or as specific as your community theater troupe. Address the role that your community plays in your life, then consider why your particular background or experience within this community will enrich UMass Amherst’s campus. How will it help inspire and/or inform others? What is important to you and how will your experiences in communities bring something of value to the community at UMass Amherst?

Please tell us why you chose the Majors you did? (100 words)

We told you to save the academics for later! Now you can get into it about why you love a certain subject. Most importantly, though, you will want to explain why you want to study it at UMass Amherst in particular. Where do your interests link up with the work of a particular professor or program? Maybe you still covet the rock collection you started in 5th grade and have your eye on UMass Amherst’s geology program. And maaaaybe you’ve been looking for a way to share your passion for mineral formations with the world, which is what makes the earth science teaching track absolutely ideal for you. Drill down to the details that sync up with your passions and interests. And if you’re undecided, that’s okay too! Immerse yourself in the course catalog and rejoice in your many options. Can you describe how you would explore different subject areas? What makes UMass Amherst the perfect place to discover your passion?

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University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst

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University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college essay.

Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst?

Diversity Essay

At UMass Amherst, no two students are alike. Our communities and groups often define us and shape our individual worlds. Community can refer to various aspects, including shared geography, religion, race/ethnicity, income, ideology, and more. Please choose one of your communities or groups and describe its significance. Explain how, as a product of this community or group, you would enrich our campus.

Why This Major Essay

Please tell us why you chose the Major(s) you did?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Admission & Financial Aid Information about the Writing Supplement

Section navigation, amherst college writing supplement options.

Below you'll find the prompts for the writing supplement in the 2024-25 application cycle (Fall 2025 entry term).

In addition to the main essays you must write as part of the Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or QuestBridge Application, Amherst requires a supplementary essay of all applicants.

There are three options for satisfying Amherst's supplementary writing requirement for the first-year application: Option A, Option B or Option C. Applicants may elect only one of those options. Before deciding, you should carefully read the descriptions of all three options (including specific conditions associated with Option B and Option C) to determine which is most appropriate for you. Please note that these descriptions are provided for convenience of preview only; your actual writing supplement should be submitted through the Common Application or Apply Coalition with Scoir online system (unless you are submitting the QuestBridge application only , in which case you will be instructed on how to email, mail or fax your supplement to our office).

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.

"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.

"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?

"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 

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. 

Curious about Option B?  Learn more ....

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.

• Requirements
• Decision Dates
• Acceptance Rate
• GPA Requirements
• Additional Transfer Info for University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• Will you enjoy University of Massachusetts-Amherst as a transfer student?
• Final Verdict: How to transfer into University of Massachusetts-Amherst
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University of Massachusetts-Amherst Transfers: 2024 Requirements, Dates, GPAs & More

This is the complete guide for transferring to UMass Amherst. We suggest you read until the end - you can also use the below calculator to estimate your likelihood of being able to transfer to UMass Amherst.

This free college chances tool calculates your acceptance chances at any other U.S. college

Please note all chances are estimates based on test score and GPA averages.

Watch the UMass Amherst CampusReel

At UMass Amherst, 18.0% of the entire student body are transfer students, so you won’t be alone.

To read about regular admission requirements for University of Massachusetts-Amherst, click here

Can you transfer into University of Massachusetts-Amherst

What are the transfer requirements for UMass Amherst?

UMass Amherst requires a number of completed documents for consideration. The table below summarizes the most important pieces of information:

In addition to the above requirements, UMass Amherst also requires a minimum number of credits completed to apply to be a transfer student.

UMass Amherst requires a minimum of 120 credits.

What are University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s Transfer Deadlines?

Many universities accept transfer applications during each semester. For this reason, we break down UMass Amherst transfer deadline by fall, winter, spring and summer.

Waiting until the last minute to finalize your application could result in a silly mistake.

We recommend you complete your application at least 1 week before the required deadline.

In fact, take a full 2 day break from looking at anything related to your application and then come back to look for errors. I bet you’ll find a few 😉

When are decision dates for University of Massachusetts-Amherst transfer applicants?

If you applied to transfer to UMass Amherst on or before the reported deadlines then you should have your decision date by the notification dates in the below table.

Note this data is current as of 2019 and to the best of our knowledge this hasn’t changed.

What is University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s transfer acceptance rate?

In 2019, UMass Amherst received 3895 transfer applicants.

The school accepted 2004 students. Therefore, the transfer acceptance rate for UMass Amherst is 51.45%.

This indicates how hard it is to transfer into UMass Amherst. You can use the free calculator below to predict your chances of getting accepted.

Additionally, of the 2004 accepted transfer students, 1076 students enrolled - that means the yield was 53.69%.

UMass Amherst accepts 52 out of every 100 transfer applicants.

Watch a Student-led Virtual Tour of University of Massachusetts-Amherst

What are the University of Massachusetts-Amherst transfer GPA requirements?

UMass Amherst requires a minimum college GPA of 2.0 - this is on a 4.33 point scale.

In addition, UMass Amherst requires a minimum high school GPA of 2.0.

Additional Transfer Info for UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst has noted the additional policies: Students completing an approved Mass Transfer associate's degree program will be awarded a minimum of 60 semester hours and completion of general education requirements upon transfer to the university. Mass Transfer application deadline for Spring is Octo.

Will you enjoy transferring to UMass Amherst?

There are a lot of reasons to transfer to UMass Amherst.

Maybe your plan has always been to attend community college, and then move to a four year college to save money while completing your degree.

Maybe you had a bad experience at your first school - don’t worry this is more common than you think.

Or perhaps you’re drawn to Amherst...

Will you be able to find a place to find home and grow?

Regardless of your reason for transferring, you’re already enrolled at another college or university so you know that the most important element in your college experience is the people and community

Finding success at UMass Amherst is dependent on feeling comfortable - will you be able to find a place to find home and grow?

These are the questions that numbers and data cannot answer, but CampusReel can.

If you’re considering transferring to UMass Amherst then I highly recommend that you watch the school’s videos on CampusReel. These are real students with real stories.

Final Verdict: How to transfer into UMass Amherst

Let’s wrap up everything we’ve learned. If you still have questions about transferring, check out the UMass Amherst website for more info. UMass Amherst accepts 51.45% transfer applicants, which is competitive.

To have a shot at transferring into UMass Amherst, you should have a current GPA of at least 3.9 - ideally you’re GPA will be around 4.06. In addition, you will need to submit standardized test scores.

The below tables show the SAT and ACT breakdown of UMass Amherst students.

University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s average SAT score is 1230. To be a competitive applicant for University of Massachusetts-Amherst your SAT score should come close to the average - for the ACT you should be aiming for the equivalent.

What are the possible risks of transferring

Related Schools for Transfering

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University of Massachusetts Amherst

Academic Programs

• Architecture
• Art & Design
• Communication
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Public health
• Social Science
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Co-op/Internship Opportunities
• Disability Services
• Intramural/Club Sports
• LGBTQIA Services
• Military/Veteran Services
• On-Campus Housing
• ROTC Program
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

We search for students who will bring their unique strengths and diverse talents to the UMass Amherst campus. We conduct an individualized review of applications; with careful consideration of a student’s academic achievements, personal qualities, and motivation. UMass uses a holistic approach that reviews the entire application, so we have a full understanding of an application’s potential as a successful UMass student. Application as a first-year student is open to graduating high school students, high school graduates, or a GED/HiSET recipient who has attempted fewer than 12 college credits.

As one of the top public research universities in the nation, UMass Amherst seeks to enroll exceptional applicants of all backgrounds and welcomes transfer students to its campus. We accept approximately 2,000 transfer students each year. To be considered a transfer you must be a high school graduate or GED/HiSET recipient who has attempted more than 12 college credits and is applying to a four-year undergraduate degree program at UMass Amherst.

Additional Information

"The way I look at it, is that the campus is large, which means that there's so many opportunities to create little, small communities for yourself within it. I really think that it's very hard to make a small campus feel larger. You can always make a large campus feel smaller." Carmella, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Admissions office

243 Whitmore Admin Building, 181 Presidents Drive Amherst , MA 01003 , United States of America

[email protected]

Phone number

(413) 545-0222

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.umass.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions

Financial aid website

www.umass.edu/umfa/

Undocumented or DACA students

www.umass.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/connect/information-policies/daca-applicants

For transfer students

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How to Get Into UMass Amherst: Admissions Stats + Tips

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How hard is it to get into umass amherst, average academic profile of accepted umass amherst students, what is umass amherst looking for.

• How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. Founded as an agricultural college in 1863, UMass’s first class was made up of just 34 students. Today, UMass Amherst offers 110 undergraduate majors ranging from Afro-American Studies to Turfgrass Management and is home to 23,500 undergraduates. Of those undergrads, over 14,000 of them live in one of UMass Amherst’s 52 residence halls—giving the university one of the largest on-campus housing systems in the nation. 

Gaining admission to UMass Amherst is not guaranteed. The university received 40,315 applications for its Class of 2025 and admitted just 26,335 students, giving the school a 65% overall acceptance rate. UMass Amherst has an Early Action admissions process through which 21,168 students applied and 15,740 were accepted, resulting in an Early Action acceptance rate of 74% . 

While UMass Amherst’s acceptance rate is low, your chances of admissions are contingent upon the strength of your profile. CollegeVine can add clarity to your chances at UMass Amherst. Our free admissions calculator uses factors like your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of acceptance, as well as to provide tips to improve your profile!

The average high school GPA of UMass’s Class of 2025 was 3.93 and slightly over 50% of them graduated high school with a 4.0. 

The middle 50% SAT score of UMass Amherst’s Class of 2025 is 1210-1370 and the middle 50% ACT score is 27-32 .  

Students accepted to UMass Amherst generally graduated at, or near, the top of their class— 34% of the university’s Class of 2025 graduated in the top tenth of their high school. 

UMass is a state-run institution and state residency factors into admissions decisions. In-state students made up 77% of undergraduate enrollment in Fall 2021. That said, both in-state and out-of-state applicants to UMass Amherst’s Class of 2025 had an identical acceptance rate of 65% . The disparity between the number of in-state and out-of-state students is a result of yield. About one in four accepted in-state students chose to matriculate while only about one in ten out-of-state students decided to do so. 

State residency is just one of many factors considered when considering an applicant for admission to UMass Amherst. UMass Amherst reviews every application and while it places considerable weight on academic performance, it’s also searching for students who are driven, talented, and unique.

How UMass Amherst Evaluates Applications

According to their 2020-2021 Common Data Set, UMass Amherst considers the following factors “very important” :

• Course rigor

These factors are “important” :

• Class rank 
• Extracurricular activities
• First generation 
• Work experience
• Applicant interest 

These are “considered” :

• Test scores 
• State residency 
• Racial/ethnic status 
• Volunteer work

And these are “not considered” :

• Geographic location 
• Religious affiliation

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into UMass Amherst 

1. achieve at least a 3.93 gpa while taking the most challenging classes available.

GPA and course rigor are the only two factors that UMass Amherst considers “very important” to admissions. A little more than half of UMass’s Class of 2025 graduated with a 4.0 and their average high school GPA is a robust 3.93 . 

The first step toward becoming a competitive applicant is to earn all, or mostly all, As. Competitive colleges like UMass Amherst use a tool known as the Academic Index —your entire academic performance summarized by a single numerical score—to expedite admissions decisions. If your Academic Index doesn’t meet UMass Amherst’s standards, it’s likely they will not give your application serious consideration. 

If your GPA is sub-standard but you’re early in your high school career, there’s time to improve it—check out our tips to increase your GPA . If you’re a junior or senior, raising your GPA is more of a challenge. A better way to increase your Academic Index is to earn high test scores. 

Great grades are not enough to stand out at a selective school such as UMass Amherst, you’ll need to earn them in challenging classes. After all, UMass views course rigor as “very important.” It’s common for students applying to competitive colleges to have completed anywhere from five to upward of 12 AP classes in high school . 

2. Write engaging essays

Almost every applicant to UMass Amherst will have an outstanding academic profile which makes it vital for you to find other ways to stand out—like essays. Essays provide a chance to show a college the facets of you that don’t come across in other parts of the application and make the case for why you belong on campus. 

UMass Amherst applicants are required to respond to one of the Common Application’s essay prompts and two short-answer questions specific to UMass Amherst. An attention-grabbing college essay is written in your unique voice and illustrates how you fit at a school and how they’ll benefit from you being on campus. For UMass Amherst-specific essay advice, check out our article, “ How to Write the UMass Amherst Essays 2021-2022 .”

3. Cultivate strong extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities are “important” to UMass Amherst admissions and so are the talent, character, and work experience you demonstrate through them.

How can you tell how much weight a college will give an extracurricular activity? The four tiers of extracurriculars provide useful insight into how colleges value your activities outside of the classroom, with Tier 1 representing the rarest achievements and Tier 4 representing the most common.

A good rule of thumb is that the greater the achievement, the more leadership demonstrated, and the rarer the activity, the higher a college will value it. For example, a college like UMass will find the candidacy of an applicant who won a prestigious national award, like winning the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest, stronger than one who wrote for their high school newspaper.  While you probably don’t need a Tier 1 (national-level) activity for UMass, having Tier 2 or 3 (regional- and school-level) activities will demonstrate your drive.

4. Get a really great recommendation

UMass Amherst requires you to submit at least one academic letter of recommendation (typically written by your school counselor) with your application, which is considered “important” to admissions decisions. 

UMass Amherst allows students to submit two optional recommendations and most students will provide at least one additional recommendation. Optional recommendations can come from anyone, whether they’re a teacher, your boss, or a mentor. If you’re planning on asking a teacher, understand that they’re not compensated for writing recommendations and there are some steps you can take to ensure the most persuasive recommendation possible. Our article,  9 Rules For Requesting Letters of Recommendation from teachers, provides a good guide to the process. 

5. Apply Early Action

UMass Amherst views applicant interest as “important” to admissions and one of the best ways to demonstrate your interest is to apply early. UMass Amherst has an Early Action admissions process and applicants who apply Early Action are accepted at a higher rate (74%) than those who apply Regular Decision (65%). Early Action is non-binding and Early Action applicants are under no obligation to attend UMass Amherst if accepted. 

6. Aim for a 1370 SAT and 32 ACT

Test scores are only “considered” in admissions decisions at UMass Amherst, however, they can prove instructive in your odds of acceptance. The middle 50% SAT/ACT scores of UMass Amherst’s Class of 2025 are 1210-1370/27-32 —the closer you score to the top of the range, the better your odds are of getting into UMass Amherst. 

UMass Amherst is test-optional through Fall 2023, and the university will review applications with and without standardized test scores. CollegeVine recommends taking either the SAT or ACT if you can do so safely and submitting your scores if they are at or above the 25th percentile of accepted students—1210 SAT and 27 ACT. Students who submit test scores are accepted at higher rates than those who do not. You can get recommendations on whether or not to apply test-optional using our free chancing engine . 

UMass Amherst superscores both the SAT and ACT, which makes sitting for one of the exams between two and three times a sound strategy to maximize your score. To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources:

• How to Get a Perfect 1600 Score on the SAT
• How to Get a Perfect 36 Score on the ACT
• More SAT Info and Tips
• More ACT Info and Tips

How to Apply to UMass Amherst

Application Requirements

UMass Amherst accepts the Common Application. Other application requirements include: 

• Transcript 
• Letter of recommendation 
• Writing supplement 
• Portfolio or audition (some majors like Architecture, Art, Music, and Dance require an audition or portfolio)  
• Select a major (applicants are required to select an intended major)
• Test scores (optional)
• Additional letters of recommendation (optional)

Learn more about UMass Amherst 

Interested in learning more about UMass Amherst? Check out this other informative article: What is the Five College Consortium?

Want to know your chances at UMass Amherst? Calculate your chances for free right now .

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Transfer student essay

<p>The Umass website says to include a brief written statement with your application. However, the only essay slot(s) on the application are to say why you are transferring, and a personal statement.</p>

<p>Is the brief written statement, the person statement that they are talking about? Or do I actually have to write an essay(on anything) and mail it in separately?</p>

<p>What I sent was a transfer statment and the personal essay. In the transfer statement, it asks you why you want to come to the school and why you want to leave your current college/university. I also sent in the essay, which consisted of background info on myself, personal accomplishments, etc. Hopefully this helps. If you go on the on-line application it states the question for the transfer statement. Hope this helps…</p>

<p>I applied as a transfer as well but I’m a bit confused by your comments. I didn’t bother with the online application (didn’t want to risk being affected by so-called artificial computer GPA / rankings / SAT cut-offs). As far as I understood it from the paper application and I mean I did read all the other online materials (apart from the section of the UMASS website devoted to actually applying online), a transfer statement isn’t actually necesary.</p>

<p>All they really want (at least how I understood it) was this:</p>

<p>1.) Official copy of your high school transcripts and SAT or test scores (this was optional though if you were transfering with more than 27 credits though)</p>

<p>2.) Official copy of any and all of your college transcripts</p>

<p>3.) Letters of Recomendations (I sent two from professors. I’m not sure but they might only have required one.)</p>

<p>4.) Personal Statement (an essay with this topic: In 500 words or less, describe any personal circumstances or acdaemic experiecnes (positive or negative) that you feel are important for us to know about you.)</p>

<p>5.) A completed (paper) application form (all 4 pages)</p>

<p>6.) An activity sheet (I sent in a bluffed up resume / activity sheet)</p>

<p>7.) (optional) Request for admission to the Honors College (this wasn’t stated as required anywhere online but when I called and asked a transfer consouler about it at the office of undergraduate admissions they said it would be a great thing to include. This was another around 400 word essay.)</p>

<p>8.) Application Fee ($50 out-of-state, $40 in-state, $60 international)</p>

<p>I mean in any event, I did call today (the office of undergraduate admissions) and asked if my application was complete and they told me they had recieved it and it was. (This was without any specific transfer statement, although my personal statement did mostly focus on my experience at Stevens (my old school) and why I was now transfering and what I learn and where I wanted to take my life and yadayadayada.) But I mean I guess I’m a bit confused. Is this statement required?</p>

<p>No … you are all set. I work in transfer admissions at UMA … want to send me your name in a private message and I will follow up for you?</p>

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Application Information for Future Isenberg Students

Admissions into the Isenberg School of Management is administered through the University of Massachusetts Amherst  Undergraduate Admissions Office . Read below to find specific information related to enrolling in Isenberg.

Expand Section High School and Transfer Students

High school students applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst who want to be considered for the Isenberg School should list their intended major on their Common Application to the University. Please review the  First-Year Admissions Requirements  to assist in the application process. 

Transfer students applying to the University of Massachusetts Amherst who want to be considered for the Isenberg School should list their intended major on their Common Application to the University. Please utilize these  Admissions Requirements  to assist in the application process. Prospective students can also use the UMass Amherst Community College Connection, which is especially designed for community college graduates who participated in a Joint Admissions or MassTransfer program at a Massachusetts community college.

Expand Section Current UMass Students

A current UMass Amherst student who is interested in applying to a degree program within Isenberg needs to read the following information and attend an information session. Applications are required for all programs.

More information on the application process can be found here.

Expand Section Current Isenberg Students

Information for Isenberg students on how to declare a major can be found  here .

Isenberg Tours

Thank you for your interest in the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Isenberg Tours are offered with a student ambassador Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10AM-5PM and Wednesdays from 1PM-5PM. Tours are not available on weekends or holidays when the campus is closed.

Virtual Tour of Isenberg

Admissions deadlines.

Fall term: April 15

Spring term: October 1

MassTransfer Associates Degree Applicants:  March 1

Associates Degree Applicants:  March 15

Fall term: Applications are posted on Nov. 1 and due by Dec. 1 

Decisions will be emailed by mid to late January* 

Spring term: Applications are posted Apr. 1 and due by May 1 

Decisions will be emailed by mid to late June*  *Please check your inbox and spam folders for your application decision

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Chances of being accepted as a transfer?

What’s up guys, I’m currently a second semester freshman at Bridgewater State looking to transfer in this fall. I currently have a 3.54 GPA and I’m looking to major in Philosophy. What would you say my chances are of getting in? Thanks for the help.

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Admission & Financial Aid Transfer Applicants

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A mherst seeks, above all, to enroll exceptional students of strong and vibrant intellectual promise who have the demonstrated qualities of mind and character that will enable them to thrive in our dynamic academic and social environment and to take full advantage of the remarkable resources our community offers. A successful Amherst student is someone who will embrace the academic freedom provided by our open curriculum, engage with our talented and accomplished professors, and contribute significantly to a student population whose diversity of both background and perspective fosters a process of mutual education within and beyond the classroom curriculum.

Students who are interested in applying to Amherst as transfer students should first be familiar with our available admission options, our application requirements, our deadlines, and our approach to reviewing and evaluating applications for admission. Keep reading....  It's all here!

Eligibility and Guidelines for Transfer Admission

A student may apply for transfer admission to Amherst after completing the equivalent of 32 semester hours of transferable liberal arts coursework at another college or university. (Courses in progress at the time of application are included in determining transferable credit.) To be competitive, you should have at least an A- average in your college courses. We do not accept applications from individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. Nor do we accept transfer applications from students who have completed college coursework as part of any program of dual enrollment, early graduation from secondary school or other accelerated completion of secondary school. (Such students should apply as first-year applicants.)

For more important information on transfer eligibility and transfer of credit, please see our Transfer Eligibility page.

Transfer Admission Options and Application Deadlines

Transfer applicants may apply for enrollment starting in either the fall or the spring semester. 

• Transfer applications for spring enrollment must be submitted by the November 1 deadline; notice of our decision will be issued by mid-December. 
• Transfer applications for fall enrollment must be submitted by the March 3 deadline; notice of our decision will be issued by mid-April.   

Due to fluctuations in our transfer enrollment, accepted transfer candidates may not defer their enrollment.

Transfer Application Requirements

Required application materials  .

Transfer applicants must submit the following materials by the appropriate deadline  --   November 1 for spring enrollment or March 3 for fall enrollment:

• Common Application for Transfer Students OR Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir →  Learn more about our application options .
• $75 Application Fee (non-refundable) or Fee Waiver (requested through Common Application, Apply Coalition with Scoir, or Amherst's Quick Pass )
• College Report - Common Application   OR Transfer Report - Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir
• College Transcripts (from all post-secondary institutions at which you have completed college coursework)
• Transfer Mid-Term Report - Common Application  OR Curriculum Report - Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir (if applicable)
• Two College Instructor Evaluations  Note: Amherst requires that both recommendations be from a college instructor who has taught you. We do not accept recommendations from academic advisors who have not also taught you in an academic class.
• Essay #1: Tell us about your educational journey. Within your essay, please address your reasons for transferring, as well as any objectives you hope to achieve. (250-650 words)
• Essay #2: Describe the life experiences, personal circumstances and notable challenges that have most affected you as a student, community member and person. How have these factors influenced who you are today? (250-650 words)
• Secondary School Transcript  Note: Amherst does not require the secondary school "Final Report" form, only the secondary school transcript.
• TOEFL, DET or IELTS Results (if needed for International Student Applicants ) Note: Amherst accepts self-reported test scores and official score reports for English proficiency tests from applicants.

Optional Standardized Testing Results  

Standardized tests (SAT and/or ACT) are not required for transfer admission. At their own discretion, applicants may elect to have standardized test scores taken into consideration as part of the admission review process. For additional details, please review our Standardized Testing Policy . 

Optional Application Materials  

Students with exceptional accomplishments in specific areas may wish to submit additional information for consideration. This optional material is neither required nor necessary and should be submitted only if the applicant has achieved at an exceptionally high level.

• Analytical Essay  Applicants who would like to submit a sample of their analytical writing prepared for an academic course may upload a recent essay or paper.
• Arts   Students with talents or accomplishments in the arts -- music, theater, dance, and visual art -- may submit related material for review by Amherst faculty. For additional details on art supplements, please review our Special Information for Arts Supplement Submission .
• Athletics   Students who wish to participate in varsity athletics may indicate that interest in the appropriate section of the Common Application and may consult the About Amherst Athletics webpage for information about varsity teams and contact with athletic coaches. Prospective student-athletes should review the NESCAC Statement of Common Admission Practices.

Special Circumstances?

Are you a community college student or an American veteran? Be sure to check out our special information pages for community college transfer students and U.S. veterans .

Are you an international student?   Be sure to check out our special information pages for international student applicants .

Are you an undocumented student?   Be sure to check out our special information pages for undocumented and DACA-designated applicants .

Are you a homeschooled student? Be sure to check out our special information page for homeschooled applicants . 

Transfer Application Review and Evaluation

Amherst takes great care to review every application thoroughly. Each application is read by at least two admission deans before being presented to the Admission Committee for discussion. In evaluating your application, we pay closest attention to your:

• college and secondary school transcripts;
• instructor recommendations;
• quality of writing as demonstrated in your essays, writing supplement, and recommendations;
• extra- and co-curricular involvements, talents, and leadership.

We give the greatest weight to your academic transcript. The rigor of the courses you've taken, the quality of your grades and the consistency with which you've worked over time give us the clearest indication of how well you will do at Amherst. Recommendations, the quality of your writing, and extra- and co-curricular accomplishments also help us draw fine distinctions among very talented applicants.

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You are here, masstransfer at massbay | request info.

MassTransfer offers Massachusetts community college students guaranteed admission and a discounted rate for bachelor’s degree programs from any Massachusetts public university, including UMass-Amherst.

• Guaranteed admission to a bachelor’s degree program at any University of Massachusetts campus or any Massachusetts state university following the completion of an eligible associate degree program at MassBay with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Waived admission fee; no written essay required.
• 60 or more credits that will transfer to a public university in Massachusetts at the lower MassBay rate.
• With a 3.0 GPA, students receive a 100% tuition waiver from UMass-Amherst and UMass-Lowell and a 33% discount on tuition from all other Massachusetts public universities.
• Tuition rate freezes at its current level the year students enroll at MassBay.

Request info about the MassTransfer for Degree Programs.

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Personal Statements

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The personal statement is an essay of varying length that may be requested when you are applying to a graduate or professional school, for an internship, or for a grant/fellowship.  With the statement, you are representing your best self: your academic background; your work experience; a narrative of your past, present, and future interests; and your personal commitment to the program or organization at in question.  The statement needs to demonstrate that you are well-informed about the program and that your background and interests match well with the program's mission.

Planning Ahead

• Familiarize yourself with the program or organization to which you are applying, and contact a program representative with any questions you may have.  Be sure to identify particular features of the program or organization that interest you most.
• Take time to do some reflection.  Identify your goals, find meaning in your past experiences, and take stock of your investment in the program or organization to which you are applying.  The more familiar you are with these, the better equipped you will be to write about them and represent them accurately.
• Give yourself plenty of time to write multiple drafts (the more, the better!).  Seek feedback from advisors, professors, those familiar with the program or organization to which you are applying, and even those who have simply written a personal statement in the past.
• Bring the application and your statement draft to the Writing Center for feedback.
• After revising the draft for content, edit your draft for grammar and mechanics, conciseness, “flow”, and style.

What to Include in a Personal Statement

• When, how, and why did you become interested in this area of study or work?   Be specific! Here, you want to distinguish yourself.  You want to demonstrate how well you know your interests.
• What you hope to gain Tailor your statement to your readers and be prepared to name specific features about the program or organization including people, courses, or available resources. How will this specific program help you further your personal or professional goals?
• What you have to  offer Consider how your knowledge and experience makes you a valuable addition to the program.
• Community Service and Other Extracurricular Activities
• Leadership Positions
• Internship and Work Experiences
• What are your accomplishments, particularly ones that make you stand out as a successful candidate?  Elaborate on major accomplishments mentioned briefly in other parts of the application and/or take this opportunity to write about accomplishments not yet mentioned. Describe accomplishments that best illustrate your strengths.
• Have you had any profound experiences or obstacles that affect your application?  Only mention controversial topics if they are critical to your application.
• What are some of your goals or future plans going into this area of study or work?  Show that you have a sense of direction and purpose by giving your reader an idea of your long-term goals and how acceptance into the program or organization to which you are applying will help you accomplish them.

Things to Avoid

• Try not to go overboard with when including biographical narrative.  The focus is more on the ways in which your experiences have shaped your interests, goals, and thinking, rather than on the events themselves.
• Try not to “preach” to your reader.  If you have strong sentiments or opinions pertaining to a particular issue or interest, express them in such a way that they do not come across as overly fanatical or extreme.
• Where possible, try not to mention things covered elsewhere in your application.  If you feel that something previously listed in your application merits elaboration, carefully evaluate how to include it without its inclusion being redundant.
• In trying to bring your “voice” into the personal statement, try to keep away from doing anything too extravagant or “gimmicky”.  While the objective is to give the reader a sense of who you are, being too flashy may give them the impression that you are trying more too hard to appear a fitting candidate, rather than simply explaining what makes you so.

Additional Resources on Personal Statements

• Stelzer, Richard.  How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School.  3rd ed. Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides 1997.
• Steward, Mark Alan.  Perfect Personal Statements.  2nd ed.  Lawrenceville, NJ: Thompson/Peterson's, 2002.
• “Writing the Personal Statement.”  Purdue Online Writing Lab.  Purdue University, 25 Apr. 2010.  Web. 30 July 2010.  < https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/job_search_writing/preparing_an_application/writing_the_personal_statement/index.html >

[Compiled by Natasha Azank, Michelle Deal, Jessica Oulette, and Stefana Soitos. Revised by Sean Coffill Nov. 19, 2010.]