Complete College Essay Format: Application, MLA, and More
Your college application essay is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the rest-grades and test scores alone cannot do that-and to show who you really are.
The essay is a creative form without fixed rules, so there’s plenty of room for your thinking and story. But to write stories about that data, you have to look for narratives. And nothing helps as much as the right structure.
In this guide we take you through the fundamentals to style an essay that readers will find engaging and memorable. So let’s get started!
What is the Format of a College Application Essay?
The college application essay is a key part of the admissions process because it lets students reveal a side of themselves and a set of skills that tests and GPAs don’t measure.
Most colleges expect students to paste their essays into a text box that they provide on their applications. But if you must upload your essay as a document, follow the standard format: 12-point font and either 1.5 or double-spaced. In review, text is more readable and inviting in the wider format. More important, however, is that you follow the specific guidelines or prompts of your colleges; each might have slightly different requirements or preferences for length and format.
Basic Components of the College Application Essay
In short, the structure of those essays is relatively simple: most will have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
The opening paragraphs introduce the reader to who you are and what your essay is about. Capture the interest of admissions offi-cers with an interesting hook or provocative statement in the very first sentence.
Body This is the longest part of your essay, in which you describe relevant experiences, thoughts, or reflections. Make sure that you follow a clear line of thought and indicate connections among your points or stories.
End your essay with a memorable statement or reflection that supports the point or theme of your narrative. That final paragraph should leave the reader with something to think about.
The appearance of the whole should be neat and professional, so hold down “clever” titles unless they are essential to the story.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting a Complete College Essay
Creating a cohesive and compelling college essay involves strategic planning and creativity:
Step 1: Brainstorming Ideas
Start by reflecting on your life experiences, personal growth, and unique traits. List out potential topics or stories that resonate with you and align with the college’s prompts.
Step 2: Choosing a Structure
Decide on a structure that best conveys your story. Two popular choices include:
Vignettes with a Common Theme: This involves interweaving multiple anecdotes or short stories that revolve around a central theme, illustrating different facets of your personality or values.
Single Story Narrative: Focus on a single, detailed story that highlights significant growth or challenges, often portraying development over a period – be it a year or a day.
Step 3: Outlining Your Essay
Before diving into writing, draft an outline to organize your thoughts and the sequence of events or points. This can include your chosen hook for the introduction, main events or arguments for the body, and a lasting impression for the conclusion.
Step 4: Writing the Draft
Using the outline as a guide, begin crafting your essay. Keep the narrative engaging, ensure a logical flow, and maintain clarity throughout. Remember to stay within the prescribed word count and prioritize conciseness.
Step 5: Revisiting and Revising
After completing your draft, revisit each section critically. Editing is essential to refine language, strengthen arguments, and ensure the narrative aligns with the intended emotional and intellectual impact.
Step 6: Finalizing the Essay
Proofread your essay thoroughly to spot any grammatical errors or typos. It’s beneficial to have others, such as teachers or peers, review your essay for additional feedback and perspective.
Tips for College Application Essay Writing
It can be a challenge to write a college application essay, but if you are strategic, you can fashion a story that will engage an admissions committee. As you write, keep in mind some practical advice to improve your experience and your essay.
1. Start Early
To do all this properly, start work on your essay early. This gives you time to brainstorm, write a draft, and revise it. A good time to begin is the summer before your senior year. That schedule lets you do your best work and have the freedom to revise your ideas and writing.
2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions
It is important to understand the essay prompt. So read the directions carefully to be sure that your essay answers the question and meets all their conditions. Avoid making assumptions about what the admissions committee seeks—tailor each essay to align with the specific school's prompt.
3. Create a Strong Opener
You start your sentence. Be especially careful with it. Begin not just with a question but with a question that bumps your readers into your story before they know what else you have in mind. An introduction that works makes your essay stand out from all the rest and makes the admission folks want to read on.
4. Stay on Topic
Stay on the topic of the essay. Make sure that every part of your story is relevant to the prompt. Don’t be tempted to recycle essays from one application to another; they usually make a submission seem generic and scattered. Specific essays are more persuasive, more likely to engage the committee.
5. Choose a Unique Perspective
Pick a topic that you find genuinely interesting and on which you have a fresh take. Stay away from shopworn topics, but if you can put a unique spin on one of them, feel free. Nothing makes an essay dull faster than predictability. As far as your topic goes, the more personal, the better. Share a story that lets you show what matters most to you and what you are like when you are most you.
6. Focus on You
Personal statements reveal you beyond your grades and test scores. Focus on experiences that illustrate what you’ve learned about yourself: what kind of person you are, what you want to do and to be, what your ultimate goals are.
7. Maintain Your Voice
Write in your own voice, not in artificial formality or complexity that you wouldn’t ordinarily use. The more authentic your essay, the more your true self will emerge, and the more the admissions committee will feel that they have gotten to know the real you.
8. Be Specific and Use Real-Life Examples
Illustrate your points and experiences with specific examples, but don’t overembellish. Readers won’t believe you if your story seems too good to be true. More important, specific examples help readers see you on your journey and understand why you feel as you do.
9. Edit and Proofread Thoroughly
Carefully revise your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and error-free writing. To gauge whether your essay is clear, well-organized , and free of errors, read it over after taking a break between drafts to clear your head. After revising as best you can, ask others, whose opinion you trust, especially about style, to read your essay and offer advice. Finally, make sure your essay doesn’t exceed specified word counts.
How To Format a College Essay
When it comes to formatting a college essay, the requirements can vary greatly depending on the institution’s specific guidelines. While some colleges may provide precise instructions, others leave the decision up to the student. Understanding the different formats commonly used in academic writing can help you meet these requirements efficiently.
MLA Format Essay
The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is the standard in the humanities, so it’s the format for most essays in literature, history, and philosophy classes. Here’s a brief overview:
Title Page: Generally not needed unless specified by the professor.
Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
Font: Typically Times New Roman, 11 or 12-point size.
Heading: Required, usually includes the student's name, professor's name, course, and date.
Page Number: Yes, usually in the upper right corner with your last name.
APA Format
The American Psychological Association (APA) format is used most often in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, and education. It differs from MLA in terms of structure and citation style:
Title Page: Often required, including the essay's title, the author's name, and the institution's details.
Margins: 1-inch margins are standard.
Font: Typically Times New Roman, 11 or 12-point size.
Heading: Needed, following APA structure which might include a running head.
Page Number: Yes, positioned in the upper right corner.
Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)
While less common for college essays, the Chicago Manual of Style sometimes applies to specialized courses. It provides extensive guidelines on formatting and citation and is frequently used in publishing:
Title Page: Usually required, detailing the essay’s title and author information.
Margins: 1-inch all around.
Font: Typically Times New Roman, 11 or 12-point size.
Heading: Adopt Chicago style as directed.
Page Number: Often in the upper right or at the bottom center.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the college essay format. A well-executed college application essay is perhaps the most potent element in your application. It allows you to tell your story, demonstrate your writing skills, and reveal what makes you, you . If you think about it and follow these suggestions, you can write an essay that members of the admissions committee will remember long after they put it down!