Before I attended BAM (Be A Mammoth), I had already experienced Amherst once through A2A (Access to Amherst), one of Amherst’s fly-in programs for prospective students. A2A gave me my first glimpse of the campus — I remember walking past Johnson Chapel, sitting in the dorm common rooms, and daydreaming about what life at Amherst could look like. But back then, nothing was guaranteed. I hadn’t even submitted my application yet, and while I loved the campus, I still wasn’t sure if I would ever actually get to call it home.
When I returned for BAM, everything changed. I was officially an admitted student, committed to Amherst, and I was lucky enough to receive travel funding to visit. It felt like a full-circle moment. I didn’t have to stand there imagining myself at Amherst anymore — I was a Mammoth. Walking those same paths again but with the knowledge that I would soon be a first-year student made the experience so much more exciting and personal.
One of the most impactful parts of BAM was meeting other QuestBridge matches who, like me, had just been admitted. Some of them are still my closest friends today. We bonded quickly, sharing stories about our hometowns, our application journeys, and our hopes for the next four years. To this day, we still laugh about how we all met at BAM and how we’ve stuck together ever since.
But BAM isn’t just about admiring the campus — it’s about experiencing it. If you’re reading this as a future BAM attendee, here’s some advice:
My BAM Tips
Go to info sessions, even if you think you already know about Amherst.
Hearing directly from admissions officers, professors, and students hits differently when you know you’re actually coming here. You’ll pick up little things that might help you prepare for your first year.
Sit in on a class — seriously, don’t skip this.
This was one of the most helpful parts of BAM for me. Being in a real class environment gave me a feel for the discussion-based learning at Amherst and how welcoming the professors are. It made me excited (and less nervous) about starting classes in the fall.
Talk to people!
Whether they’re fellow BAM students, current Amherst students, or faculty, don’t be afraid to ask questions and make connections. Some of the people I talked to at BAM ended up becoming my friends and mentors once I officially started school.
Explore beyond the Planned Schedule
If you have free time, walk around campus, peek into buildings, or just sit on the quad and take it all in. That quiet moment helped me picture my day-to-day life here.
A little extra something:
fun fact, ALL the people you see in these pictures ended up choosing Amherst!
