How many paragraphs should a college essay have?

You don't need to follow the classic five-paragraph essay format at all for your Common App personal statement. Admissions officers care far more about your voice, the flow of your story, and what you share about yourself than the exact number of paragraphs.

Most strong college essays have somewhere between 3 and 6 paragraphs, but there's no strict rule. Breaking your essay into paragraphs is important for readability—big blocks of text are tough to get through, and paragraphs let you shift focus or tone naturally. For example, you might start with a short intro to hook the reader, have a couple of body paragraphs to dig into your story, and end with a reflective conclusion. Sometimes people even use a single-sentence paragraph for dramatic effect, like highlighting a turning point or realization.

Lots of published sample essays don't look like school papers at all. Here’s one structure that works for many students: Paragraph 1 (opening scene or hook), Paragraphs 2-4 (development of the story, lessons learned), and Paragraph 5 (reflection and closing thoughts). But sometimes a story flows best spread across more or fewer paragraphs—it all depends on where your natural transitions fall.

Don't stress too much about paragraph number. Instead, focus on ensuring each paragraph covers a clear idea or moment and that your essay as a whole reveals something personal and meaningful about you. For example, if you're writing about a summer job, one paragraph could focus on the first day jitters, another on a challenge you faced, and a final one on your growth by the end of the summer. As long as your transitions are smooth and your essay is easy to read, you're on the right track.

If possible, have someone else read your essay out loud to see if there are any places where the narrative feels cramped or rushed. Sometimes, even just adding a space for a new paragraph can make your story easier to follow. Ultimately, content and voice matter most, so let your story dictate where the breaks should be.