College Application Essay Format

Expert Tips: College Application Essay Format:

When an Indian/NRI student applies to a college even small things matter a lot. It is very important to pay heed to your college essay format. Things such as margins, font and even file format hold a lot of significance.

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How to Format Your College Essay?

Given below are some of the tips how to format your college essay: 

• Some of the colleges allow the students to send paper applications, but it is not recommended that you send paper application unless there is no other option available for you. There are chances that your paper applications can get lost in mail. Also, online applications reach faster and in case there is any problem the mailed gets reverted back to you.

• Draft your essay in Word Processor. Double or even triple check everything you send. Make sure that you transferred the entire essay and nothing was cut off.

• When a document is copy pasted, formatting such as Italics or Bold might get lost. Also in some cases Italics and bold do not work in text box so it is better that you do not use them.

• Ensure that paragraphs are delineated clearly either through skipping a line or via tabs. Right at the start a single tab is just fine.

• Choose a standard font like Arial/Times New Roman. Font size should be 12 pt.

• Do not use complicated fonts such as Curlz and Papyrus.

• Even though single spaced essay are allowed, making an essay which is double spaced is better as it is easier to read the same.

• You can include college essay heading along with page number and even your application ID. Do not put in your name unless it is specifically required.

• The college essay needs to be submitted in specific file format. The application might accept only certain versions of the Word files such as .doc (docx format is not accepted), .rtf or .pdf files. Make sure that you save the file only in an accepted format prior to uploading the same. .pdf format should be used wherever it is possible because it cannot be edited and it always looks the same.

• Avoid unnecessary symbols or hashtags, emojis etc. the college should look professional.  Anything casual will be taken as immature.

• Do not provide title to your essay unless and until it is requested. This will just use word count.

• The essay need not be divided into five clear paragraphs. All what is important is one clear introduction and conclusion where the entire idea is wrapped up properly.

• You can even structure the essay like a long narrative. So how you do the middle paragraphs is entirely up to you.

• Do not use any template for the essay. The essay should carry your original voice, only then it will fetch good marks.

• Write about the experiences which have been most meaningful to you.

• Do not pattern your essay after any sample essay. This will make your essay look totally unoriginal.

So, these are some of the tips how you should pattern your college essay for maximum impact.