Do I need to include a section and date on my college essay when submitting it?
I'm trying to finalize my college application essays and I keep seeing different advice about how to format them. Some people say you should put your name, section, and the date at the top of the page (like for school essays), but others say not to bother since everything is online now. Is it considered more professional to add these things, or would colleges rather see a clean document with just the essay itself?
I usually use MLA format for my English assignments, but I don't want to mess up the submission for something as important as college apps. Does it actually matter if you include a "section" or a date, or do most people just write their essay with nothing extra? I know some portals like Common App may reformat submissions anyway, so I don't know what matters in this case. Anyone recently submit and can clarify what you did?
I usually use MLA format for my English assignments, but I don't want to mess up the submission for something as important as college apps. Does it actually matter if you include a "section" or a date, or do most people just write their essay with nothing extra? I know some portals like Common App may reformat submissions anyway, so I don't know what matters in this case. Anyone recently submit and can clarify what you did?
3 months ago
•
39 views
Camille L.
• 3 months ago
Advisor
You don't need to include a section, date, or even your name at the top of your college essay when submitting it through most college application platforms. The vast majority of online application portals—like the Common App, Coalition App, or school-specific portals—do not require formatting like MLA or APA. In fact, their essay upload boxes are designed to accept just the body of your essay and will attach your personal information automatically based on your account.
Most schools and admissions officers prefer to see a clean document. Adding headers, footers, section headings, or dates can make your essay look cluttered, and sometimes the formatting won't transfer correctly in the text box anyway. It’s actually common for text boxes to strip out special formatting, indents, and even double-spacing, so pasting only the text of your essay with clear paragraphs is best. For example, if you paste in an essay with a header, it could appear as random text above your essay, which isn’t professional and could even distract the reader.
The only exception would be if a college specifically instructs you to format your essay a certain way or to upload it as a PDF or Word document with your name or other details. If you’re unsure, double-check the specific college’s essay instructions. But for the vast majority of cases, just paste the essay content itself.
For reassurance, students who've applied recently almost always submit just the essay text. For example, one applicant submitted all her essays through Common App last cycle without any name, date, or header, and had no issues. The system automatically identified her work.
Just focus on making sure your paragraphs are clear and your essay is well-polished. There’s no need to worry about MLA or any school-style formatting for this purpose.
Most schools and admissions officers prefer to see a clean document. Adding headers, footers, section headings, or dates can make your essay look cluttered, and sometimes the formatting won't transfer correctly in the text box anyway. It’s actually common for text boxes to strip out special formatting, indents, and even double-spacing, so pasting only the text of your essay with clear paragraphs is best. For example, if you paste in an essay with a header, it could appear as random text above your essay, which isn’t professional and could even distract the reader.
The only exception would be if a college specifically instructs you to format your essay a certain way or to upload it as a PDF or Word document with your name or other details. If you’re unsure, double-check the specific college’s essay instructions. But for the vast majority of cases, just paste the essay content itself.
For reassurance, students who've applied recently almost always submit just the essay text. For example, one applicant submitted all her essays through Common App last cycle without any name, date, or header, and had no issues. The system automatically identified her work.
Just focus on making sure your paragraphs are clear and your essay is well-polished. There’s no need to worry about MLA or any school-style formatting for this purpose.
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Camille L.
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