What is the correct header format for a college application essay?
I'm finishing up my Common App essay and I'm confused about whether there is a specific way we’re supposed to format the header. Some people say to just put your name and the essay prompt, while others say not to have a header at all.
Do colleges expect us to use a certain font or font size, and do we need to include our name, high school, or the word count in the header of our essay? My English teacher told us one thing, but when I checked the Common App website, it wasn’t that clear to me. I don’t want to mess up over something small like this!
If anyone could share what they did or what’s generally recommended, it would really help. Also, if certain schools have different guidelines, do you change your essay format for each one?
Do colleges expect us to use a certain font or font size, and do we need to include our name, high school, or the word count in the header of our essay? My English teacher told us one thing, but when I checked the Common App website, it wasn’t that clear to me. I don’t want to mess up over something small like this!
If anyone could share what they did or what’s generally recommended, it would really help. Also, if certain schools have different guidelines, do you change your essay format for each one?
1 week ago
•
15 views
Lydia Schooler
• 1 week ago
Advisor
For the Common App personal statement and most college application essays, you generally do not need a formal header.
The Common Application essay submission box automatically attaches your application details, so most colleges just want you to paste your essay text without any extra formatting at the top. There’s no need to include your name, high school, prompt title, or word count in a header unless a college specifically asks for it.
Regarding formatting, use a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in 12-point size. Double-spacing can help with readability, but when you paste your essay into the text box, some of your formatting may be removed anyway. The main advice is to keep things simple and professional—don’t use funky fonts, underlining, or colored text.
If you upload your essay as a PDF or Word document for a school with its own application, check their guidelines. Some may ask for a specific header or format, in which case, follow those directions closely. An example of a simple header if required might be: "Jane Doe | Smith High School | Common App Essay | 649 words" placed at the top left of the document.
However, for the Common App and its supplements, the best practice is usually to have no header at all. Just start right with the title (if you want one—most students choose to skip the title and begin the essay itself) and the body of your essay.
In summary: no header is needed for the Common App unless otherwise requested, use plain text, and always check each college’s requirements if you’re submitting essays elsewhere. Keeping it clean and simple will ensure your application looks just the way admissions offices expect.
The Common Application essay submission box automatically attaches your application details, so most colleges just want you to paste your essay text without any extra formatting at the top. There’s no need to include your name, high school, prompt title, or word count in a header unless a college specifically asks for it.
Regarding formatting, use a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri in 12-point size. Double-spacing can help with readability, but when you paste your essay into the text box, some of your formatting may be removed anyway. The main advice is to keep things simple and professional—don’t use funky fonts, underlining, or colored text.
If you upload your essay as a PDF or Word document for a school with its own application, check their guidelines. Some may ask for a specific header or format, in which case, follow those directions closely. An example of a simple header if required might be: "Jane Doe | Smith High School | Common App Essay | 649 words" placed at the top left of the document.
However, for the Common App and its supplements, the best practice is usually to have no header at all. Just start right with the title (if you want one—most students choose to skip the title and begin the essay itself) and the body of your essay.
In summary: no header is needed for the Common App unless otherwise requested, use plain text, and always check each college’s requirements if you’re submitting essays elsewhere. Keeping it clean and simple will ensure your application looks just the way admissions offices expect.