<p>On the common app, do you need to include a title on your essay? Would you recommend it?</p>
<p>Yes, title your essay appropriately. I don’t think you absolutely <em>need</em> it but it’s recommended.</p>
<p>I’m not exactly sure on this one but in the essay books I’ve read none actually have a title. I would like to know too</p>
<p>I put a short, simple title. Nothing fancy or over-the-top.</p>
<p>I didn’t title mine. To be honest, I thought I’d be the only one to put in a title (guess I was wrong, apparently :)). </p>
<p>Also, the essay is already titled for you, in a way. It’s “Personal Essay/Statement/whatever.” And what exactly are the benefits of a title, now that I look back on it? I don’t know. I can only think of potential detriments: If your essay is better than your title, you made a bad title and are viewed as lazy and uncreative. If your title is better than your essay, you are viewed as one who doesn’t live up to expectations or cannot sustain positive work. Maybe my logic is wrong here?</p>
<p>If you take the “cop out” option (i.e. usually the last option which allows you to write whatever you choose) you should definitely have either a title or a self-made prompt. (Separate your prompt from the essay; in MS Word just type 3 consecutive dashes and hit enter.) Otherwise a title is not necessary, particularly since most people will have some sort of a ridiculous “hook” as their intro a witty/corny title will be superfluous anyway.</p>