Having difficulty formatting supplemental essay

Parents Forum
1

<p>My D is getting ready to send in common app, but we are having problems formatting the supplementary essay. It seems to allow her to format it correctly but when she goes to preview/print the essay becomes one large paragraph that is hard to read.</p>

<p>We only have Mac's so I don't know if that is part of the problem. Can anyone give suggestions?</p>

<p>D was thinking of just double spacing inbetween paragraphs to make the essay easier to read but I wonder if the college reader would penalize her for improper format?
Another option would be to mail the common app and print the essays seperately but D is reluctant to do that.</p>

<p>She'd appreciate any help.</p>

2

<p>Anyone? Please help.</p>

3

<p>yes, double space. We had a lot of trouble with commonapp formatting also. I THINK (it is all a blur now) the software automatically skips a line to designate a new paragraph. I don't think it allows you to indent. Try double spacing for a new paragraph and see how that works. If it works, rest easy knowing that all the essays will look like that, ie no indent.</p>

<p>If you are still not satisfied with how they look, submit them anyway but also send a hard copy via snail mail. That's what we did because we were ultimately not happy with the essay formatting. I don't think the readers cared.</p>

4

<p>NJres thanks for your reply. We did end up filing online and sending another copy via mail.</p>

<p>I agree it probably doesn't make a difference to the Admissions officers but D wanted to be sure they'd have no problem reading the essay.</p>

5

<p>I too recall some kind of formatting problem with this. We eventually just sent it as is, figuring they probably all look screwed up.</p>

6

<p>local HS Guidance has said don't send a paper copy after filing online copy first!</p>