What are the formatting requirements for college essays?
I'm about to start writing my Common App essay and I've been seeing a lot of mixed advice when it comes to formatting. Some people say double-spaced is a must, others say single-spaced, and I'm not even sure if font matters much to admissions.
Does anyone know if there's a universal standard for formatting college essays? Like, should I use Times New Roman, or is Arial okay? And what about paragraph indents or line spacing? I really want my essay to look professional and not get thrown out because of something silly. If it helps, I plan on applying to a mix of state schools and more selective private colleges. Would appreciate any insight or tips!
Does anyone know if there's a universal standard for formatting college essays? Like, should I use Times New Roman, or is Arial okay? And what about paragraph indents or line spacing? I really want my essay to look professional and not get thrown out because of something silly. If it helps, I plan on applying to a mix of state schools and more selective private colleges. Would appreciate any insight or tips!
1 week ago
•
15 views
Roger Lopez
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Great question! Formatting your college essays correctly definitely helps make a good impression, but the good news is that most schools—including those using the Common App—aren’t as strict about formatting as you might think. Here’s what you need to know:
For the Common App personal statement, you’ll copy and paste your essay into a text box in the application. This means much of your formatting (font, size, and even some indents) will be standardized automatically, so you don’t need to worry too much about those details.
The Common App text box automatically uses single spacing, and it ignores most font and font size changes. You don’t need (and actually can’t use) double spacing or fancy fonts. As long as your paragraphs are clearly separated—usually by an extra line between each—you’re all set. Traditional fonts like Times New Roman or Arial are fine if you need to upload a document for a scholarship or for a school’s own portal, but for the Common App essay itself, you don’t have to select a font at all.
A couple of tips:
- Use standard paragraph breaks (one line of space between paragraphs) instead of indents, since indents may not show up after you copy and paste.
- Keep your essay within the 250–650 word limit for the Common App.
- Avoid special formatting—bold, italics, or underlining—unless a particular program or school specifically requests it.
- If you’re uploading a document (some school supplements require this), stick to 12-point Times New Roman or Arial, one-inch margins, and double-spacing. Label with your name and the essay prompt at the top just in case.
An example of professional, clean formatting for an uploaded essay would be:
Jane Doe
Supplemental Essay #1
[Skip a line]
Essay text here, double-spaced with no indents, and an extra space between paragraphs.
But again, for most applications (including the personal statement), you’ll be pasting into a form that strips out extra formatting. Your focus should be on clarity and readability, not on playing with fonts or space.
If you’re ever unsure, check each college’s application instructions or their admissions website—some schools (especially a few private colleges) post their own formatting requirements, but these are rare. If they don’t specify, stick to the basics as outlined above and you’re golden!
For the Common App personal statement, you’ll copy and paste your essay into a text box in the application. This means much of your formatting (font, size, and even some indents) will be standardized automatically, so you don’t need to worry too much about those details.
The Common App text box automatically uses single spacing, and it ignores most font and font size changes. You don’t need (and actually can’t use) double spacing or fancy fonts. As long as your paragraphs are clearly separated—usually by an extra line between each—you’re all set. Traditional fonts like Times New Roman or Arial are fine if you need to upload a document for a scholarship or for a school’s own portal, but for the Common App essay itself, you don’t have to select a font at all.
A couple of tips:
- Use standard paragraph breaks (one line of space between paragraphs) instead of indents, since indents may not show up after you copy and paste.
- Keep your essay within the 250–650 word limit for the Common App.
- Avoid special formatting—bold, italics, or underlining—unless a particular program or school specifically requests it.
- If you’re uploading a document (some school supplements require this), stick to 12-point Times New Roman or Arial, one-inch margins, and double-spacing. Label with your name and the essay prompt at the top just in case.
An example of professional, clean formatting for an uploaded essay would be:
Jane Doe
Supplemental Essay #1
[Skip a line]
Essay text here, double-spaced with no indents, and an extra space between paragraphs.
But again, for most applications (including the personal statement), you’ll be pasting into a form that strips out extra formatting. Your focus should be on clarity and readability, not on playing with fonts or space.
If you’re ever unsure, check each college’s application instructions or their admissions website—some schools (especially a few private colleges) post their own formatting requirements, but these are rare. If they don’t specify, stick to the basics as outlined above and you’re golden!
Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years