The personal statement is an important element of your readmission application. We ask that students reflect on slightly different questions depending on whether they have been on voluntary leave, medical leave, or academic dismissal. Please carefully review the questions and respond to each one individually in your personal statement.  

To submit your personal statement, email your completed personal statement in Microsoft Word or PDF format to: osa-studentenrollment@amherst.edu

MEDICAL LEAVE: Personal Statement Questions

  1. Provide a summary of what led to your medical leave. What on-campus and/or off-campus resources did you access prior to your leave in order to attempt to address the challenges you faced? What was most helpful during that time? 
  2. Describe the actions you have taken during your time away to address the medical challenges that led to your leave. Please include relevant information on medical treatment you have engaged in. 
  3. Students returning from medical leave report that it is helpful to create a plan about how they will respond to challenges that may arise upon return. By making a specific and realistic plan, students increase their ability to act during a time of difficulty. It is also useful for friends, family, and/or campus resources to be aware of the plan so they can offer support in carrying it out.
    1. With that said, please imagine you are back on campus and that you are experiencing a challenge similar to that which led to your medical leave.
      1. What cues would tell you that you needed support?
      2. What steps would you take to care for yourself?
      3. What person(s) or resource(s) would you reach out to?
      4. What would help you follow through with these steps, even if they felt difficult? 
  4. Discuss your academic goals upon resuming your studies (e.g. progress toward major, intent to study abroad, intent to write thesis, etc). What assistance is necessary from your Class Dean and Academic Advisor to accomplish these goals? From academic support resources? 
  5. Overall, what is your self-assessment of your current academic, social, and personal functioning?

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL: Personal Statement Questions

  1. Provide a summary of what led to your academic dismissal. What on-campus and/or off-campus resources did you access prior to your leave in order to attempt to address the challenges you faced?
  2. Provide a summary of how you occupied yourself during your time away, including any academic courses you took for credit. 
  3. Students returning from academic dismissal report that it is helpful to create a plan about how they will respond to challenges that may arise upon return. By making a specific and realistic plan, students increase their ability to act during a time of difficulty. It is also useful for friends, family, and/or campus resources to be aware of the plan so we can offer support in carrying it out. With this said, please imagine you are back on campus and that you are experiencing challenges similar to that which led to your academic dismissal.
    1. What cues would tell you that you needed support?
    2. What steps would you take to address the challenge(s)?
    3. What person(s) or resource(s) would you reach out to?
    4. What would help you follow through with these steps, even if they felt difficult? 
  4. Discuss your academic goals upon resuming your studies (e.g. progress toward major, intent to study abroad, intent to write thesis, etc). What assistance is necessary from your Class Dean and Academic Advisor to accomplish these goals?
  5. Overall, what is your self-assessment of your current academic, social, and personal functioning? 

RETURNING FROM TRANSFER: Personal Statement Questions

  1. Provide a brief description of the reasons you decided to transfer, a summary of your time away from Amherst, and the factors that have led you to apply for readmission.
  2. Discuss your academic goals upon returning to campus or studying remotely (e.g. progress toward major, intent to study abroad, intent to write thesis, etc). What assistance is necessary from your Class Dean and Academic Advisor to accomplish these goals?