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(click to skip ahead)Though UMass Amherst technically is short for University of Massachusetts, Amherst, given that they value a student-centered community and are devoted to diversity (not to mention their #26 ranking for public universities across the U.S.), you could also think of it as meaning “U Matter Amherst.”
In addition to its strong community and academics, bonus: The school is also considered #1 in the country for dining—which is kinda awesome.
Below, we’ll talk you through how to write the UMass Amherst supplemental essays, with examples and tips + analysis for how to write yours.
If you want to get a clearer sense of all that the UMass Amherst is looking for, you can explore an extensive, by-the-numbers look at its offerings, from enrollment and tuition statistics to student life and financial aid information, on its Common Data Set. And for insights into how the university envisions itself and its role, and how it wants to grow and evolve, read its strategic plan. Reading through these will give you a strong idea of what UMass Amherst values.
What are the UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay Prompts?
Prompt 1
Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst? (100 words)
Prompt 2
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)
Prompt 3
Please tell us why you chose the Major(s) you did? (100 words)
How to Write Each Supplemental Essay Prompt for UMass Amherst
How to Write UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay Prompt #1
Prompt 1: Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst? (100 words)
This prompt is a standard “Why us?” essay, only it’s super short at just 100 words.
We recommend checking out our complete guide on how to write the “Why us?” essay and paying close attention to the “Why Cornell” and “Why Penn” examples, which are our favorites.
And the “Why Tufts” essay is a nice example of how you can write a shorter version of the “Why us?”
Here’s the abbreviated version of how to write the “Why us?” essay:
Spend 1 hour (at least) researching 5-7 reasons why UMass Amherst might be a great fit for you (ideally, 3-5 of the reasons will be unique to the school and connect back to you).
Per the last part of the prompt, make sure you’re focusing on opportunities you can only (or mostly only) find at this specific college (and not, say, the city/area in general).
Make a copy of this Why Us Research Chart to map out your college research (see it below as well).
Create an outline for your essay based on either Approach 1, 2 (recommended), or 3 in the full guide above.
Write a first draft!
Five Common Mistakes Students Make on “Why Us?” Essays
As you go through our tips above to write your essay, there are six things to keep in mind that you shouldn’t include in a “Why us” essay:
Mistake #1: Writing about the school's size, location, reputation, weather, or ranking
Mistake #2: Simply using emotional language to demonstrate fit
Mistake #3: Screwing up the mascot, stadium, team colors or names of any important people or places on campus
Mistake #4: Parroting the brochures or website language
Mistake #5: Describing traditions the school is well known for
Mistake #6: Thinking of this as only a "why them" essay (as mentioned above)
Here’s a nice example essay, with analysis, to illustrate how you can approach this prompt.
Example:
The resources and learning opportunities available at UMass—from research centers to makerspace in the MIE Innovation Lab, the Senior Design Project, and ME design elective (Theory, Modeling Principles & Applications)—will help me make my optical machine a reality.
The opportunity to help communities overseas become more independent through the Sustainability Projects Abroad program provides a perfect opportunity to continue my philanthropy work.
Finally, having travelled extensively, I understand the impact of diversity on innovation and creativity and I’m excited that UMass Engineering offers a close-knit college within a larger campus, providing diversity in people and opportunities.
Tips + Analysis
Focus more on content than “beautiful” language. With only 100 words, you don’t have much space to be lyrical and poetic about why UMass Amherst is the perfect fit for you. So instead, demonstrate that UMass Amherst is the perfect school for you by “showing” them, naming specific resources, classes, and opportunities that fit your values and interests, just like how this student did. You’ll notice that with their 100 words, they’re able to mention research centers, makerspace, projects, a class, an abroad program, and what they love about the atmosphere at UMass engineering. While everyone has the same 100 words to work with, it matters more about what you do with those 100 words to make them stretch as far as possible.
Refer back to your activities (list). For shorter essays, it’s difficult to include extensive backstory or an anecdote. However, you can try to think of your application holistically—the admissions officers will also have your personal statement, activities list, additional info, letters of rec, etc. So, instead of trying to explain, for example, your philanthropy work, you can just mention the activity if it’s already named elsewhere, and connect it to the Why Us aspect of the essay (e.g. how they’ll help you continue that philanthropy work, programs you might want to start yourself, etc.).
What’s most important to you? Something important to consider, especially for short essays, is how you want to highlight the most important information. There could’ve been 50 more reasons why this student wanted to apply to UMass Amherst, but they included 3 main, most important points for why UMass Amherst would be a great fit for their interests and goals. Beyond writing about things like location (something to avoid, unless the prompt asks for it), consider why you’re interested in a specific university to begin with and how their resources can help you achieve your goals.
And here’s another example, written for Dartmouth’s short why us:
As someone who aspires to become an economist fighting climate change, I believe Dartmouth will be the best place to start. I look forward to model policy-making projects in Environmental Problem Analysis and Policy Formulation (ENV 50), but also applying these experiences to the Sustainability Task Force, where I hope to explore renewable solutions to contribute to Dartmouth’s 50% renewable energy target by 2025. But when I’m not at the Irving Institute for Energy and Society or on an Energy Immersion Trip, I hope to dig into new dishes with Spoon members or write preposterous (yet meaningful) articles for Jack-O-Lantern. (100 words)
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Tips + Analysis:
Be direct. With just 100 words, there’s little room for verbal bubble wrap. Just the goods. If you know what you want to study/be/do, consider clearly naming your dream or aspiration in the first sentence. This writer tells us that she aspires to be a climate change-fighting economist (cool) and alludes to a future major or double major (bonus). If you don’t know what you want to do/study/major in, don’t worry, just focus on the tips below.
List specific classes. This shows that you’ve done your research (and for one of the most research-intensive universities in the United States, maybe even the world, this matters). Listing specific, pertinent classes is the first rite of passage to make it into the “Why us?” essay hall of fame. This student takes it a step further, showing us how she’ll apply the knowledge she’s gained from “Environmental Problem Analysis and Policy Formulation (ENV 50)” to the “Sustainability Task Force,” where she’ll contribute to a university-wide goal (“50% renewable energy target by 2025”). Gold stars for days.
Imagine yourself at the college: Rather than writing, “I hope to participate in the Irving Institute for Energy and Society,” this student uses the present tense (“I’m”) as if she is already at the school. Paint a picture of yourself on campus: What are you doing? How are you engaged with the college’s community in and out of the classroom? Imagination is a powerful tool. Help the reader see you there.
Show a side of yourself that you haven’t elsewhere in your application. We know you’re smart and motivated by research and academics. But, what else? Remember that these super-short essays are the speed dating of college essays. In the last line, we learn that this student is not just a future climate change-fighting economist, but also a foodie and a writer who plans to write “preposterous” and “meaningful” articles for the school magazine. What’s not to love?
How to Write UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay Prompt #2
Prompt 2: 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 super short community-focused “How will you contribute” prompt.
For a full guide to “contribute” prompts, head here. Here’s a shorter version:
In this essay prompt, the college wants to understand how you’ll contribute to their community, and they want to do so via understanding how you’ve been shaped by community before.
Let's break down the key components of the prompt to guide your approach.
Which of your life experiences have had the most impact on your personal development? This essay offers the opportunity to delve into specific experiences that have shaped your perspective on life, education, and more. In particular, notice the broad way they define community (“including shared geography, religion, race/ethnicity, income, ideology, and more.”).
How will you contribute? Make sure your answer to this question is clear. How have these experiences positioned you to make an impact at this specific college? What do you bring to the school and community (in ways that maybe others don’t)? While it doesn’t have to be truly unique, it’s great to aim in that direction: the best response will highlight a contribution that only you (or maybe you plus a few other applicants) would think to make.
Again, one important aspect with this prompt is its focus on your contribution to the college’s community.
Another detail to note is their encouragement to show where you come from—through the people, places, or things that have shaped who you are today. This is your chance to connect your unique upbringing, in a very broad sense of the word, with what has helped make you unstoppable. So take it.
(Side note: head here for a full guide to “community” essays.)
Here’s how to brainstorm possible essays:
Step 1: Brainstorm (all about you).
Do the “If You Really, Really Knew Me” Exercise. Focus on aspects that connect (in some broad way) to a community that has shaped you.
Step 2: Research the college (learn all about them).
Make a copy of the “Why us” Essay Chart 2.0, research the school you’re writing your essay for, and fill in the first two columns.
Once you’ve done these exercises, you’ll have a better sense of:
YOU: A bunch of different talents/skills/identities/qualities that you’ll bring to a college campus, and
THEM: A variety of programs/courses/clubs/affinity groups that your college offers.
Step 3: Connect you … to them (i.e., the college you’re applying to).
Here’s a nice example essay written for a similar prompt from Colgate University (though it’s double the word count you have for UMass Amherst):
Example:
Aside from my inherent love for bagels, my Jewish background has led me to become more embedded in my community, joining Jewish activists and building a website on Holocaust education.
In the 1930s, 36 members of my family were lost to the Holocaust, and that fact has led me to carry on the memory of my ancestors through tradition—with my Bar Mitzvah—as well as with an educational lens—teaching others about the Holocaust and about specific stories of survivors.
Feeling disconnected from Jewish activism, I decided to become an educator on the Student Leadership Board of the Seattle-based Holocaust Center for Humanity last year. Each week, we met to discuss present-day instances of oppression and discrimination across the world, and finished the year by building a website to share the story of a Holocaust survivor.
Being on the board connected me to a network of other passionate Jewish activists, and helped me to channel the pride for my culture and ancestors into visual media that reaches many viewers. At Colgate, I hope to find myself surrounded not only by like-minded Jewish students, but by a diverse group of people with whom I can learn and make connections. (196 words)
Tips + Analysis
Highlight a core identity. In the example essay, the applicant highlights their Jewish heritage and the profound impact it has had on their life choices and commitments. This is a great way to approach this prompt—think of communities/identities that you claim, pick one that the college isn’t seeing elsewhere, and show how that aspect of you + your experiences will allow you to contribute to the school’s community. If the writer were adapting this response for UMass Amherst’s prompt, the applicant could strengthen it even further by, in paragraph 3, highlighting some of the values they learned in their role as educator, and elaborating in the fourth paragraph about how they might implement or contribute those values at UMass Amherst.
Provide concrete examples of impact. Just as the sample essay vividly narrates the applicant's journey in Jewish activism, you’ll want to offer specific instances that exemplify the impact your background has had on your decisions and pursuits. Whether through personal experiences, engagements, or projects, share specific moments where your background has led you to initiate meaningful actions. In short, show us.
Connect to the college's community. While not required, you have the option of adding some detail at the end of your essay regarding how you want to continue contributing to these kinds of communities. How can you do that? Address how your background, values, and commitments align with the school’s vision and how you intend to extend these connections on campus to foster learning and shared growth. For example, perhaps you plan on joining (or creating?) relevant student clubs, volunteering at a local museum, or finding innovative ways to connect with students who share a similar background.
And here’s another example, written for Yale, that would work well for this prompt:
Example:
“Well, they seem like normal people, I guess.” Putting down his phone, my dad conceded.
How much this moment means to me is difficult to describe.
As a volunteer at the Beijing LGBT Center, I’d shot and edited a video entitled “I Don’t Want to Work in the Closet”, exposing the discrimination queer Chinese employees face in workplaces. Aiming to raise funds for the center and create reverberation among employers, I scrutinized every detail in my video, from the subtitle fonts to the background music. Reorganizing the clips, I created an emotional arc providing a call for action. The video was eventually published on Chinese social media. As the number of views rose and supportive comments emerged, I was proud to have made an impact.
But I didn’t feel the weight of my contribution until I showed the video to my dad, who, despite his love for me, was unaware of my queer identity, largely disdained my work at the center and (as far as I know) the entire LGBT population.
Now, my dad’s comment let me know the video had altered his perception, even if just slightly. Using my directing and video-editing skills, I was able to help humanize the Chinese queer population. My dad is far from being supportive of the LGBT movement, as are many other Chinese people, but fostering a willingness to accept differences was already a significant step.
I produce videos to magnify the underrepresented voice of my LGBTQ community because, to me, diversity matters.
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How to Write UMass Amherst Supplemental Essay Prompt #3
Prompt 3: Please tell us why you chose the Major(s) you did? (100 words)
This is a standard (but pretty short) “Why Major” prompt. For a larger guide to the “Why Major” essay, click here. Below is a condensed version.
One possible approach: Think of this as a quick origin story.
Step #1: Imagine a mini-movie of the moments that led you to your interest, and create a simple, bullet-point outline.
Step #2: Put your moments (aka the “scenes” of your mini-movie) in chronological order, as it’ll help you see how your interests developed. It also makes it easier to write transitions.
Step #3: You’ll likely want to include a specific thesis that explicitly states your central argument—in this case, what you want to study and why. This thesis can come at the beginning, middle, or end of your essay.
Step #4: Write a draft.
Once you have those pieces, you have a few structural options:
Opening
A. A quick hook that thematically sets up where you’ll take us and, ideally, shows an aspect of your intellect/personality (If you do this, it can be stylistically effective to bookend—to end the essay by linking back to what you opened with.)
B. An initial moment that sparked your interest
C. Your thesis
Body (but to clarify, this essay can be a single paragraph if you choose)
The moments of your mini-movie, illustrating both the development of your interest and some of your core values
Ending
One option: Go narrower—perhaps link to specific aspects of the school that will help you continue on your path toward a future goal.
Another option: Go wider—name the road you hope to follow (for example, career path, organizations you’d like to work with, the greater value/implications of studying what you want to).
And last, a quick tip: Be sure this essay is consistent with your personal statement if you’ve mentioned aspects of your major/career there.
Here’s a nice example essay, with analysis, to illustrate how you can approach this prompt.
Example:
As a kid I devised ways to catch fishing worms, as an athlete I designed new soccer drills, and in high school I used a formalized innovation strategy to design and develop products. I’m now in the early stages of designing a portable optical machine to produce durable eyeglass frames. In short, I’ve been an inventor and problem-solver my whole life.
Studying Mechanical Engineering, and having access to UMass’ world-class resources and faculty, will help me develop the competencies I need to grow as an engineer and further my mission of tackling challenges to help people live productive, independent lives.
Tips + Analysis
Take a holistic approach. At CEG, we encourage you to show as many different sides of yourself as possible through different components of the application, from your personal statement to your supplemental essays. When looking at a particular school’s set of supplemental essays, you can envision them a bit like a puzzle—information in one essay can inform another. The example above for this Why Major essay is written by the same student who wrote the example for the Why Us essay in section 1 above. Notice that, in the Why Major essay, we get a bit more background to the optical machine that’s mentioned in the Why Us essay. This is a great strategy, especially for shorter essays. You can essentially treat the Why Major and Why Us as two parts of a single story—the Why Major shows the origin of your interests, and the Why Us shows how you and the college will partner together to continue upleveling your skills and understanding.
Tap into what makes you tick. For this applicant, they were able to make a connection between many different experiences throughout their life; what connected them all together was their identity as an innovator and problem-solver. You may have a similar backstory to this student—you might uncover an identity or two that you’ve demonstrated in many different settings, and that’s what inspires you to study your major of choice. But if you don’t have something similar, you can still help us see the ideas and topics that drive you—perhaps there was a particular moment when you became really excited about a topic within your major of choice. Neither option is better than the other; what matters is that we can see what makes you tick.
Include some school-specific references. If you have more to say about what the university has to offer in your area of choice than you could fit in the Why Us is to include a few more school-specific references in your Why Major essay. For example, if there’s a professor you’d really love to conduct research with, or if there’s a specific club that will allow you to expand your knowledge on your major of choice, that’s something you could throw into the mix.
Special thanks to Elica for contributing to this post.
Elica (she/her) is a college essay specialist who has a love of language in all forms; she has degrees in linguistics, has taught academic writing at the university level, and has been coaching students on their college and graduate school admissions essays for over 7 years. When she’s not working with students or writing, Elica can be found reading, printmaking, and exploring nature.
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