What should the heading of my college essay look like?

For the Common App personal statement, you don't need a heading at the top. The application portal automatically records your name and information, so you should just start with the text of your essay. Don't include your name, the prompt, or a word count in the main essay box. The formatting is kept simple for readability and consistency across all applicants.

If you’re writing in a separate document before pasting it in, it’s fine to keep a heading, title, or notes for your personal reference while drafting, but remember to delete any headings before submitting. The same rule applies to most school-specific supplements in the Common App—the school already knows who you are, so only the essay content is necessary.

There are rare cases where a specific college may request certain formatting for supplemental essays, especially for unique programs or scholarships. For those, always follow the instructions provided by the individual college. If a specific format is needed, it will be clearly stated, like "Please include your name and date at the top," but this is unusual. An example: Georgia Tech’s supplement only asks for the essay text, but MIT sometimes requests that you include the specific prompt above your answer, so double-check instructions on each portal or email.

A good rule of thumb: Focus on clear, easy-to-read formatting (single spacing is acceptable, 12-point Times New Roman or Arial if pasting from a Word doc temporarily), but strip away any extra information when submitting your essay on the Common App. Admissions officers are mostly focused on the story and your voice!

If it helps, many students just skip right to their opening line. For example, you might begin with: "Every Saturday morning at 7 a.m., my grandmother and I..." and it will be perfectly acceptable without a heading. Good luck with your essay drafts—keeping things simple is the expectation unless told otherwise!