What is the correct format for the heading on a college essay?

You actually do not need a heading for your Common App personal statement. When you copy and paste or upload your essay into the Common App portal, your name and identifying information are already included elsewhere in your application. Admissions readers know whose essay they're reading, so adding a separate heading (such as your name, date, high school, etc.) is unnecessary. In fact, including extra lines for a heading can eat up valuable word count and disrupt the clean, professional look the Common App form is designed for.

For supplemental essays submitted directly through a college portal, the instructions are often the same: just paste your response in the designated text box, without additional headings or titles, unless the college specifically requests otherwise. If you’re uploading a file (which is rare for current Common App essays), it’s acceptable to put your name in the header just in case, but this is usually not needed.

If you want to double-check, skim the specific instructions for each essay or portal you’re using. Most colleges will specify if they want a certain format. For example, if a college asks for a 'document upload' and wants your name and application ID at the top, they'll let you know. But for most online essay buttons and text boxes, keep it clean and straightforward.

Here’s an example of how to start your personal statement: Just start typing your story or introduction at the top of the text box. No need for “John Doe – Central High School – College Essay” or anything similar. If you want to include a title for artistic flair, that’s fine, but it’s optional and should be brief.

Focusing on clear, organized writing is much more important than detailed formatting. The reviewers are interested in your voice and personality, not your heading style. So unless the prompt says otherwise, skip the heading and put your energy into the content!