What is the proper format for a college admissions essay?

As a Yale graduate and college admissions advisor with over 8 years of experience helping students gain admission to top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, I can tell you that colleges care far more about the quality and content of your writing than about formatting specifics—especially for the Common App. That said, it’s still worth making sure your essay is presented clearly and readably.

Here are the key points you should follow:

Title: You do not need to include one. Most students skip it unless it truly adds context or creativity to the essay. Admissions officers typically dive straight into your story.

Font and Size: Paste your essay directly into the Common App text box—it automatically sets the font and size (usually a basic, readable font like Arial or Times New Roman at 12pt). If you’re uploading through another platform, stick to a standard 12pt font like Times New Roman or Arial, single-spaced, with 1-inch margins.

Spacing: The Common App essay text box is single-spaced, which is what admissions officers expect. Don’t force double-spacing.

Paragraphs: Use regular paragraph breaks to make your essay easy to read. If the text box strips indents, just hit “Enter” twice to create space between paragraphs.

Length: You’re limited to 650 words for the Common App personal statement—stay within that limit.

Example format when pasted into the Common App:

Growing up on a farm outside Columbus, I learned to see the value in early mornings. My daily routine—feeding the chickens before sunrise—was exhausting, but it sparked a fascination with animal science that later became my main academic interest…

Keep things clean and simple. If you want to see how yours will look, paste it into the Common App preview window. Don’t stress about making it look “fancy”—the story itself matters most.

Over the past 8 years, I’ve helped thousands of students refine both the substance and presentation of their essays so admissions officers can focus on what truly counts: their voice and ideas. I’m currently offering free consultations for new Sundial families, where we can review your goals, brainstorm essay ideas, and outline a clear application strategy. You can book one directly through my profile—spots this month are limited.