<p>Ok my S is sending in his common app. to a bunch of schools today…YIPEE!! I feel like celebrating. Two questions about the main essay:</p>
<li><p>Did you indent each paragraph and did it upload that way? My s. did and it does not show up when he uploaded, the paragraph spacing is correct so thought maybe they don’t expect you to indent?</p></li>
<li><p>How many of you gave your essay a title?</p></li>
<li><p>How many of you put your name and/or social on any essay you have uploaded?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>My son put his name, date of birth and school on his essay as that is what the instructions stated to do when you printed it out. His name is now showing up twice, once with his header and then again as it was stamped with the name and common app id #. He did not title his essay. His paragraphs remained indented, but he used smaller spacing and font to make it fit on two pages. His essay turned out to be about 674 words. Hope thats not too long!</p>
<p>I think there is a good reason the instruction to include name, DOB and sec sch shows up only on the printed version and not the online version: it's very unlikely that the online one would get lost, whether in the mail, during sorting, or after sorting. They download the online one and the physical copy gets inserted into the applicant file within a few metres' walk from the printer at the most. And even if the online essay is somehow mixed up with others, they're not gonna need to sift through everything and rely on the name DOB etc to find it - they could just print a new one. </p>
<p>And DOB and sec sch of course serve to uniquely identify each applicant's essay in case there're some with identical names, but the online app's essay is inextricably tied to the main app. The printed instructions are really for those who still use paper apps. If you're an online applicant and you miss out those details, I think there's nothing to worry about - certainly not worth a call to their admissions office.</p>
<p>So if he is submitting online are you suggesting he should still cover his tracks and include his name and SS? </p>
<p>Also YES to indent for paragraphs?</p>
<p>From a common man's point of view, I think indent is optional as long as the paragraphs are easily distinct.</p>
<p>I think you have no need to worry abt "covering tracks" and include his SSN online. The online instructions didn't say anything about SSN, or including any details at all. What you saw were for paper applicants. But that's my opinion, and I'm far from being an expert.</p>
<p>1) For plain text forms (such as the reply box I'm typing in right now), I pasted my essays with no indent but a line between paragraphs.
2) I didn't title any of my essays, but that's just my style.
3) I put my name, as well as a few words summarizing the prompt ("Personal Influence," "GT Personal," etc.) in the heading of each essay I uploaded.</p>
<p>Where in the instructions does it say to include that information?</p>
<p>When you print preview and scroll down to the writing samples section. I didn't see it either to be honest, but I'm not worried :P</p>
<p>Bottom line is it sounds like some include names and socials and others do not. Since it does not ask for that info specifically, my son is not including it. If it was important then they would definitely have specified. Thanks for your input.</p>