Do you have to cite sources in your college application essay?
I'm working on my Common App essay and I have a spot where I want to reference a quote from a famous person that kind of sums up something I believe. I've heard mixed things about whether you should actually include citations (like MLA or APA style) in your college essays.
Is it considered weird or unnecessary to add a real citation at the end of the essay? Or would colleges see that as being honest about where you got the info and maybe even appreciate it? I want to do things right but also don't want my essay to look awkward or too academic. If anyone has advice or has done this before, that would be helpful.
Is it considered weird or unnecessary to add a real citation at the end of the essay? Or would colleges see that as being honest about where you got the info and maybe even appreciate it? I want to do things right but also don't want my essay to look awkward or too academic. If anyone has advice or has done this before, that would be helpful.
6 months ago
•
113 views
Roger Lopez
• 6 months ago
Advisor
You don't need to include formal citations like MLA or APA in your college application essay. These essays are meant to showcase your voice, personality, and experiences, not to be academic research papers. It's totally common, though, to reference a quote, statistic, or short phrase from someone else.
If you want to include a quote from a famous person, you can simply introduce it in the body of your essay. For example, you might write, "As Maya Angelou once said, 'We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.' This reminds me to..." This type of attribution is completely sufficient and expected in an application essay.
Formal parenthetical citations or footnotes will make your essay seem stiff and out of place. Admissions officers are looking for authenticity and storytelling, so stick to clear, conversational attributions.
The exception might be if you reference a specific, lesser-known fact or statistic that isn’t widely available, and you feel it’s important to acknowledge the source. In that rare case, mentioning where you found it in parentheses (ex: according to the World Health Organization) is fine, but never formal citations.
A good rule of thumb: if it feels like you're writing for your English teacher—too formal or too academic—it's likely too much. Just say where your quote comes from, and focus on weaving it naturally into your story. This approach feels authentic and keeps the reader engaged.
Many applicants include a quote to set the tone of their essay or to illustrate a personal philosophy, so you're in good company. The best way is to let the quote support your story, rather than make your essay about the quote itself.
If you want to include a quote from a famous person, you can simply introduce it in the body of your essay. For example, you might write, "As Maya Angelou once said, 'We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.' This reminds me to..." This type of attribution is completely sufficient and expected in an application essay.
Formal parenthetical citations or footnotes will make your essay seem stiff and out of place. Admissions officers are looking for authenticity and storytelling, so stick to clear, conversational attributions.
The exception might be if you reference a specific, lesser-known fact or statistic that isn’t widely available, and you feel it’s important to acknowledge the source. In that rare case, mentioning where you found it in parentheses (ex: according to the World Health Organization) is fine, but never formal citations.
A good rule of thumb: if it feels like you're writing for your English teacher—too formal or too academic—it's likely too much. Just say where your quote comes from, and focus on weaving it naturally into your story. This approach feels authentic and keeps the reader engaged.
Many applicants include a quote to set the tone of their essay or to illustrate a personal philosophy, so you're in good company. The best way is to let the quote support your story, rather than make your essay about the quote itself.
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Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years