<p>i realize this question that this question will be seen as moronic</p>
<p>wrong. moron jk. xD</p>
<p>Whatever is easiest to read. I would go with a serif typeface and 1.5 spacing if I sent a physical copy of the essay. Unless their application specified otherwise.</p>
<p>If you are submitting your app online, you'll be copying and pasting it into a text box, so it won't matter. You will lose any formatting at that point anyway.</p>
<p>For Common Application, it's single spaced. The essay must fit into one page. I agree as long as it is readable. The double spacing is for English paper, the space is for teacher to insert comments and stuff. It is not necesary for college essays.</p>
<p>I did 1.5 space, 10 pt font on common app upload</p>
<p>wow the essay MUST fit into one pagE? then i'm truly, truly dead.... =/</p>
<p>^I mean should fit into one page, roughly around 500 words.</p>
<p>i spaced it so it filled exactly a page...i think mine came out to about 1.3 spacing or something.</p>
<p>my friend actually had a really good idea-- she changed her essay from Word format into PDF so the formatting couldn't possibly get messed up in translation. i did the same thing.</p>
<p>cool, mine was around 700 words, went to about 2.2 pages with 1.5 spacing. oops xD</p>
<p>Usually single spaced, but if you're doing a supplement or something, the colleges should specify it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
my friend actually had a really good idea-- she changed her essay from Word format into PDF so the formatting couldn't possibly get messed up in translation. i did the same thing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>how do you do that?</p>
<p>You can upload pdfs as well?</p>
<p>Considering MLA format is double spaced, why would you do anything but?</p>
<p>My essay was a little more than two pages. I didn't realize they wanted you to keep it to only one. Is that actually specified anywhere, or is this just CC folklore?</p>
<p>Nowhere does it say it must fit on one page, my s. and I carefully scanned every possible place on the commonapp website and NO WHERE did it say it must fit on one page or that it must be 500 words. If you noticed this is the first year that they did this, and there is a reason. His advisor said still try to stay at around 500-600 words but theoretically there is NO limit. And anyone new to this who knew nothing about previous restrcitions would have no reason to think otherwise.</p>
<p>I learned this in the parents forum and in Carolyn's blog. I did not know it either. I just learned it this year because the Common Application does not say anything but the minimum word count is 250 words.</p>
<p>This is our first experience with college applications. We did not see ANYTHING about a word or page limit, so DS's essay is almost 900 words. I guess college admission officers will obviously know we are novices, and didn't get the "understood" 500 word limit.</p>
<p>ilove..there is no "understood" 500 word limit pure and simple. IF there was it would be clearly posted on their webiste for all to see just as it was for years, it is no longer there for A REASON. I mean, clearly they don't expect mini novels but at the same time, I guess felt having students adhere to a 500 word limit was difficult, so they loosened up a bit and there is more room to write what you want,etc..........Personally I would not send anything over 900 words if not for the reason, that you want to show respect to the readers, knowing they are reading hundreds of essays a day for days on end, but if you have something truly riveting to write about that will hold the readers attention, then I think its worth it. Good luck to you and D!</p>
<p>Thanks CTmomof3. I don't think it's riveting, but it is interesting and a good read. Our thinking was, that this essay was his best chance to tell the adm officers who he was, and that's why it was kind of long, I guess.</p>
<p>ctmomof3 i agree- this freaked me out for a second as my essay is about two and a half pages long, but I breathed again when I saw your post :)</p>