The Great Font Debate: What Size Font for the Common App Essay? (Spoiler Alert: It’s Not a Big Deal)
Okay, so you’re knee-deep in the Common App, battling the dreaded essay prompts, and your brain is already fried from brainstorming. Now you’re faced with another dilemma: font size.
The short answer is: 12 pt. Period. End of story.
But hold on, because this isn’t just about picking a number. It’s about understanding the why behind the seemingly arbitrary rules. And, let’s be honest, a little bit of sarcasm never hurt anyone, right?
Why the Font Fuss?
So, why does the Common App care about your font size? Well, they’re not trying to be fashion police, trust me. It’s all about consistency and readability.
Imagine reading through hundreds, maybe even thousands, of essays. If each student had their own crazy font choice, it would be like trying to read a text message from someone who thinks every word is a codeword. Chaos. Mayhem. A potential eye-strain epidemic.
The Common App wants you to be boring. I mean, standard. That way, they can focus on the content, not the font-astic design choices.
The Big Three: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri (Yawn)
Now, let’s talk about the font itself. We’re not talking about Comic Sans here, folks. (Unless you want to see your dreams of college admission disappear faster than a poorly-written essay.) We’re talking about the classic trio:
- Times New Roman: The OG of college essays. It’s like the reliable friend who’s always there, even if they’re a little bit meh.
- Arial: A bit more modern, a bit more trendy. But still, nothing too crazy.
- Calibri: The new kid on the block. A little bit more edgy, a little bit more bold. (Okay, maybe not really.)
The point is, all three are perfectly acceptable, and all three will make your essay look like a normal, boring college essay. Which, let’s be honest, is exactly what you want.
The Hidden Power of 12 pt.
You might be thinking, “But what about 11 pt. or 10 pt.? I can cram more words in!” And to that, I say:
Don’t even think about it.
Why? Because 12 pt. is the sweet spot for readability. It’s big enough to be easy on the eyes, but not so big that it makes your essay look like a ransom note.
Trust me, the admissions folks are reading hundreds, maybe even thousands, of essays. They don’t have time to squint at tiny fonts. They want to be able to breeze through your essay, and 12 pt. helps them do that.
Font Size: The Ultimate Secret Weapon for Admission?
Okay, so maybe font size isn’t going to be the deciding factor in your college acceptance. But it’s still important to get it right. And by right, I mean boring.
Think of it as a way to avoid a major red flag. You know, like that friend who shows up to a party wearing a neon green jumpsuit and a furry hat. They might be a great person, but the outfit screams “attention-seeker.”
Same goes for your essay. Stick to the basics, and let your words do the talking.
Beyond Font Size: A Quick Primer on Essay Formatting
Now that you’ve conquered the font size dilemma, let’s talk about a few other formatting essentials:
- Spacing: Use 1.5 spacing or double-spacing. This gives your essay some breathing room and makes it easier to read.
- Margins: Standard margins (1-inch on all sides). No need to get fancy here.
- Paragraphs: Use short, concise paragraphs. This helps break up the text and makes it easier to follow.
- Proofreading: Proofread. Proofread again. Then proofread one more time. You don’t want a typo to be the reason your essay gets rejected.
The Common App Essay: A Journey of Formatting and Frustration (But Mostly Frustration)
The Common App essay is a journey. A journey of frustration, confusion, and endless editing. But, at the end of the day, it’s a journey that will hopefully lead you to your dream college.
And, as you embark on this journey, remember this: Font size is the least of your worries. Focus on your content, be boring, and you’ll be just fine.
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