What is the right way to format a header for my college application essay?

For the Common App and Coalition App essays, the good news is that you usually don't need to worry about a formal header. When you copy and paste your essay into the application text box (which is how both platforms are set up), the application itself attaches your essay to your file with your name, so admissions officers will know it belongs to you.

In most cases, you can—and should—just start your essay on the first line, without adding your name, date, high school, or word count. This keeps things clean and ensures you use your character/word count for content that matters. The only time you might use a heading is if a school’s specific supplement instructions *explicitly* ask for it, which is rare. For standard Common App and Coalition essays, a heading isn't expected or necessary.

A helpful example: if you're submitting a 650-word essay for the Common App, you would paste your essay like this:

"Growing up, I was always the kid with too many library books in their backpack..."

No heading, no identifying information, just straight into your story. Admissions officers will read your essay in the context of your application, so there's no risk of confusion. If you're submitting an essay as an actual document attachment (which is uncommon but can happen for arts supplements or certain programs), then a simple header—your name, the essay prompt or type, and maybe your Common App ID—at the top left is fine, like:

Jane Doe
Common Application Personal Statement
Prompt #2

But again, this is only for those rare cases.

Bottom line: for the Common App and Coalition App main essays and most supplements, skip the header. If a school wants something different, their individual application instructions will make it clear. When in doubt, start writing your essay right from the top line of the text box!