A college application essay is a personal statement that applicants submit as part of their college application. It provides insight into an applicant's motivation, personality, and ability to succeed in college. Admissions committees use essays to assess an applicant's writing ability and get a sense of their personality.

There is no one formula for how to write a winning essay. However, there are certain things that all successful essays have in common. They focus on one main idea, tell a story, and use specific examples to illustrate their point.

How to Start a College Application Essay

There is no one right way to start a college application essay. However, there are some basics regarding college application essay format you need to master to make sure that your essay stands out from the rest.

  • Start with a bang. Your opening sentence should be creative and intriguing. It should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read more.
  • Be honest. College admissions committees are looking for applicants who are genuine and authentic. The admissions committees are more interested in getting to know who you are, not who you think they want you to be.
  • Be specific. A generic essay that doesn't follow even the most basic college application essay outline can be dull and uninspiring. Admissions committees want to see that you can be concise and clear in your writing.
  • Avoid clichés. College essays are an opportunity to show your personality and uniqueness. Don't waste it by using tired, overused phrases.

How to Format a College Application Essay

The format of your essay should cause the contents to flow and offer the reader insight into your goals and aspirations. Here are some things you can do to make sure that your essay is easy to read and stands out from the rest.

  • Margins: It would be best if the margins were one inch on all sides. The top margin should have your name, the professor's name, the course number, and the date double-spaced in the upper left-hand corner. The other margins should be set at 1 inch.
  • Font: The standard font for college essays is 12 point Times New Roman.
  • Line Spacing: All of the text in your essay should be double-spaced.
  • Paragraphs: The paragraphs should be indented in five spaces.
  • Headings: If you need to include headings, make sure that they are consistent throughout the essay and that they are clearly visible.

How Long Should a College Application Essay Be?

There is no set length for an essay, but generally, they range from 400 to 700 words. That said, some colleges do have specific length requirements, so it's always best to check with the school before you start writing. When it comes to writing on a specific topic, there are six college application essay tips to keep in mind:

  • The use of admission essays: Admissions essays are not meant to be a rehashing of your resume – they're an opportunity to provide deeper insight into who you are as a person and what makes you tick. It is essential to focus on the aspects of your life that are most relevant to your goals and aspirations. If you feel that you can't craft a good essay, you don't have to submit a poorly done work. Look around for good college paper writing services and choose a reputable college application essay writing service to do some of that work for you.
  • Avoiding common mistakes: There are a few things to avoid when writing your admissions essay. First, resist the urge to write about a clichéd topic such as your favorite book or movie. Second, don't try to be someone you're not – admissions committees can spot inauthenticity from a mile away. Finally, don't simply regurgitate information already included in your application. Your essay should supplement, not duplicate, the other parts of your application.
  • Editing and proofreading: Once you have a draft of your essay, it's important to edit and proofread it to make sure it's polished and error-free. Have a friend, or family member read it over to look for mistakes.

How Many Paragraphs Should a College Application Essay Be?

The number of paragraphs in a college application essay varies depending on the word count of the essay and the college application essay prompts you're working with. For example, if an essay has a word count of 500 words, it will likely only need to be two paragraphs.

However, if an essay has a word count of 1,000 words, it will likely need to be three or four paragraphs. Of course, there is no hard and fast rule for how many paragraphs should be in a college application essay.

The important thing is that each paragraph is well-developed and serves a specific purpose. However, as a general guideline, shorter essays should have fewer paragraphs, and longer essays should have more paragraphs.

Conclusion

Remember that the college application essay is an opportunity to share more about who you are as a person and what makes you tick. Choose college application essay topics that are both meaningful and unique, and then focus on crafting a well-written, thoughtful essay.

Be sure to edit and proofread your essay before you submit it, and if you need help getting started, there are plenty of resources available to help you write a strong college application essay.