Do college essays need to be in APA format?
I’m in the middle of working on my Common App essay and got a little bit confused about the formatting requirements.
My English teacher mentioned something about APA style for some assignments, but I’m not sure if that applies to college essays. Are colleges expecting things like a running head, abstract, or citations when you’re writing your personal statement? Or are they looking for something less formal?
I don’t want to get rejected or look unprofessional because I missed a formatting rule. If anyone who’s already submitted or knows about this could clarify, that would be awesome!
My English teacher mentioned something about APA style for some assignments, but I’m not sure if that applies to college essays. Are colleges expecting things like a running head, abstract, or citations when you’re writing your personal statement? Or are they looking for something less formal?
I don’t want to get rejected or look unprofessional because I missed a formatting rule. If anyone who’s already submitted or knows about this could clarify, that would be awesome!
2 weeks ago
•
19 views
Grayce Gibbs
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
Great question—there’s often confusion between classroom assignments and the college admission process! For your Common App essay (or any college application personal statement or supplement), you do NOT need to use APA format, MLA, or any specific academic formatting like running heads, abstracts, or formal citations.
Admissions officers are looking for a personal, authentic essay that reveals who you are. They want to get to know your personality, character, and perspectives—so a less formal approach is absolutely fine and even expected.
Here’s what you should focus on:
1. Keep your essay in standard paragraph format. Don’t use headings or extra formatting.
2. Avoid double-spacing, non-standard fonts, or special title pages. The Common App text box will automatically format your essay.
3. If you mention books, people, or concepts, you can refer to them casually (no need for parenthetical citations). For example: "Reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' challenged my perspective on empathy."
4. Use a readable font (if uploading) and keep margins about 1 inch.
5. Your name, word count, or title aren’t required unless an application specifically requests them.
Example: Say you’re writing about how volunteering at a food pantry shaped your understanding of empathy. You could mention an interaction with a person you met, but there’s no need to cite statistics or use reference lists.
Treat your college essay more like a reflective, creative narrative and less like a formal school research paper. Focus on showcasing your unique voice, not formatting rules. Good luck—you’re on the right track!
Admissions officers are looking for a personal, authentic essay that reveals who you are. They want to get to know your personality, character, and perspectives—so a less formal approach is absolutely fine and even expected.
Here’s what you should focus on:
1. Keep your essay in standard paragraph format. Don’t use headings or extra formatting.
2. Avoid double-spacing, non-standard fonts, or special title pages. The Common App text box will automatically format your essay.
3. If you mention books, people, or concepts, you can refer to them casually (no need for parenthetical citations). For example: "Reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' challenged my perspective on empathy."
4. Use a readable font (if uploading) and keep margins about 1 inch.
5. Your name, word count, or title aren’t required unless an application specifically requests them.
Example: Say you’re writing about how volunteering at a food pantry shaped your understanding of empathy. You could mention an interaction with a person you met, but there’s no need to cite statistics or use reference lists.
Treat your college essay more like a reflective, creative narrative and less like a formal school research paper. Focus on showcasing your unique voice, not formatting rules. Good luck—you’re on the right track!
Grayce Gibbs
Denver, CO
Dartmouth College (AB); Colorado School of Mines (MS)
Experience
4 years