What is the proper format for a college application essay?

Great question—making sure your essay looks right is an important (and often overlooked) part of applying. The good news is that the Common App essay doesn’t require the same strict formatting as a school paper. When you paste your essay into the Common App portal, the formatting options are pretty limited, and admissions officers aren’t expecting MLA style or any formal heading.

Here’s what you should focus on:

- Font/Size: The Common App text box uses a standard, readable font (like Arial or Times) by default. No need to worry about choosing the font or size—the system takes care of this.
- Spacing: You don’t need to double-space your essay. Single spacing is fine, and the text box keeps all your lines together. But you SHOULD use a blank line to separate paragraphs. Don’t indent the first line of each paragraph—instead, just hit “Enter” twice between paragraphs so it’s easy to read.
- Margins: These aren’t something you can control in the online portal. Just focus on clear, readable paragraphs.
- Length: Stick to the word count—250 to 650 words. If you go over, the end of your essay might get cut off when you submit.
- Heading/Title: You don’t need a title or name at the top. If you want to include a creative title, that’s optional, but most students skip it. The admissions office already knows who you are from your application.

A quick example:

"The lights flickered as I crouched backstage, knees shaking. Everyone expected me to play the piano perfectly. As the curtain rose, I took a deep breath—then launched into the hardest piece I’d ever learned..."

[Blank line]

"That performance changed how I approach fear. Not because I played flawlessly, but because I learned to breathe and move forward, mistakes and all."

The main priority is clarity: make sure admissions readers can navigate your story easily. Focus on strong paragraphs and natural breaks between ideas.

If you want an extra layer of assurance, you can draft your essay in Google Docs or Word, using 12pt font, and then copy-paste it in. But when you submit, the Common App's system will apply its own formatting rules.

Bottom line: Content and clarity are what matter most—if your story is engaging and easy to follow with clear paragraph breaks, the technical formatting won't hold you back.