Formatting college essay tips?

Hey fellow juniors! As I start writing my college essays, I'm struggling a bit with the formatting. I know content is the main focus, but how much attention should we pay to things like font, spacing, and paragraphs? Any advice would be really helpful!

Hello! It's good to see that you're considering the various aspects of your college essays. While content does take priority, formatting can make a difference in terms of readability. Although, keep in mind, if you are submitting applications through a portal like the Common App you can just paste your essay in the word box and it will be formatted for you. So, formatting only really matters for schools with independent applications or schools that ask for additional materials.

Regardless, it's a good idea to know proper formatting rules. Here are some general tips to help you with formatting:

1. Font: Stick to standard, easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Typically, font size should be between 11 and 12 points.

2. Spacing: Use double spacing throughout your essay, as this makes it easier for admissions officers to read and skim through your work.

3. Paragraphs: Break up your essay into organized paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific idea or argument. Aim for paragraphs that are around 3-4 sentences long, but don't be afraid to have longer or shorter ones when necessary. Remember that varying your sentence length creates a more engaging reading experience.

4. Margins: Stick to the standard one-inch margins on all sides. This gives your essay a clean and professional look.

5. Alignment: Left-align your text, as this is the most common and easiest format to read.

6. Headers: If required, include your name, college application ID (if applicable), and page numbers in the header or footer.

Good luck with your college essays!