<p>I emailed CA and this is what they said.
Q: Is it still true that only one paragraph break is allowed on the personal essay? Thus having two giant paragraphs when finished?
A: Yes, that is true. The text boxes do not allow for special formatting. Schools are aware that this is the case with the text boxes since they were part of the decision to do this and will not hold it against applicants as it is the content of the essays,
not the formatting that they are concerned with.
So i guess you have to have two giant paragraphs?</p>
<p>Based on the common app help section and emails they’ve sent to others it seems the common app form is designed to be capable of generating any number of paragraphs in the essay and additional information sections. However, there can only be a single return at the end of a line to make a paragraph, no blank line between paragraphs. </p>
<p>I created a dummy account and have been unable to get anything other than one giant paragraph. </p>
<p>Our D’s first app isn’t due until Nov. 1, so she is sitting tight for a while figuring the formatting issues may get resolved in the coming weeks. But, for those of you applying early to rolling schools, I really feel for you. Formatting in the writing sections is incredibly frustrating.</p>
<p>Thank you. Im glad im not the only one with this issue. I don’t know what ill do if i can only have 2 paragraphs</p>
<p>Bump bump bump</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I looked at my print-preview and there were several line breaks (but only one between adjacent paragraphs) so I don’t know what’s wrong. However, try changing your MSWord font to “Helvetica Neue”, copy-paste your essay again and just click “continue” without touching the text box. It should turn out fine then and you should get all paragraphs on there :)</p>
<p>I wonder what the reason is for this intriguing issue.</p>