Do I have to include a title for my college essay?
I'm working on my Common App personal statement right now and I've noticed that some example essays have a title at the top, while others just start right into the essay. Does anyone know if colleges expect you to put a title for your essay, or is it totally optional? I really want to follow the rules because I don't want something simple like that to ruin my application.
Also, if I do decide to use a title, does it count toward the word limit? Hoping someone who applied this year or last year can tell me what they did. My essay is about my experience living in two different countries, if that makes a difference. Any advice would be great!
Also, if I do decide to use a title, does it count toward the word limit? Hoping someone who applied this year or last year can tell me what they did. My essay is about my experience living in two different countries, if that makes a difference. Any advice would be great!
4 months ago
•
45 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
You do not have to include a title for your Common App personal statement. In fact, most applicants just start right into their essays without a title, and admissions officers don't expect or require one. The Common App essay submission box does not specifically prompt you for a title—it’s just one big text field, so you can choose what feels best for your narrative.
If you do want to include a title, it’s totally optional and up to you. Some students feel a title adds flair or sets the tone, while others prefer to use every word toward telling their story. There is no advantage or disadvantage to using a title, so it's mostly a stylistic choice.
Keep in mind: if you include a title, it does count towards the 650-word limit. For example, if your essay is exactly 650 words and you add the title “Bridges Between Worlds,” your essay would be over the limit and you'd need to trim a word. If your essay is a bit under the maximum, adding a 2-5 word title likely won’t cause a problem.
For an essay on living in two countries, a short, evocative title like “Crossing Borders” or “Between Places” could work if you think it adds meaning, but it isn’t necessary. Many essays are powerful without a formal title. For reference, plenty of successful applicants—especially those applying just last year—skipped the title altogether and still got in!
Bottom line: you won’t hurt your application by omitting a title, and including one is just a personal preference. Focus on making your first few lines captivating, since that’s what will most quickly draw a reader into your experience.
If you do want to include a title, it’s totally optional and up to you. Some students feel a title adds flair or sets the tone, while others prefer to use every word toward telling their story. There is no advantage or disadvantage to using a title, so it's mostly a stylistic choice.
Keep in mind: if you include a title, it does count towards the 650-word limit. For example, if your essay is exactly 650 words and you add the title “Bridges Between Worlds,” your essay would be over the limit and you'd need to trim a word. If your essay is a bit under the maximum, adding a 2-5 word title likely won’t cause a problem.
For an essay on living in two countries, a short, evocative title like “Crossing Borders” or “Between Places” could work if you think it adds meaning, but it isn’t necessary. Many essays are powerful without a formal title. For reference, plenty of successful applicants—especially those applying just last year—skipped the title altogether and still got in!
Bottom line: you won’t hurt your application by omitting a title, and including one is just a personal preference. Focus on making your first few lines captivating, since that’s what will most quickly draw a reader into your experience.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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