First-year students may submit applications for admission under either the Early Decision or Regular Decision options. Students who have completed college coursework as part of any program of early graduation from secondary school or other accelerated completion of secondary school are considered first-year applicants. Applicants otherwise eligible for transfer status (see below) may instead elect to apply for first-year 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.) We do not accept applications from individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. Nor do we accept transfer applications from students whose only college coursework was completed as part of any program of early graduation from secondary school.