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10-28-2007, 02:16 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 242
| Essay Font and Size
What font and size should I use for college essays? Does it matter? It probably converts to PDF files anywhere.
Last edited by uml1958; 10-28-2007 at 02:21 PM.
Reason: no
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10-28-2007, 05:33 PM
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#2 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 52
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No. It doesn't matter.
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10-28-2007, 06:10 PM
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#3 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NoVA ->Cambridge, MA
Posts: 694
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I used computer modern because everyone else is using Times New Roman.
Research shows that having no more than 60-70 chars on a line is best for reading. But that would mean huge margins.
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10-28-2007, 06:26 PM
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#4 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 192
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Should it be double spaced? Also, what about a title? Are you guys including a title in your main CommonApp essay?
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10-28-2007, 06:34 PM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Berkeley '12
Posts: 1,788
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Having a title does not hurt. While it might not make a difference in most cases, it might help sometimes.
I highly suggest that you use a professional typesetting system like LaTeX to do your essay instead of your typical Word document.
Format it in a way that is comfortable to read rather than the bland MLA format that you've been taught to use.
Times New Roman is overrated and considered unprofessional. Use a more acceptable font like Garamond, Palatino, or maybe even Utopia. Computer Modern (the default in LaTeX) is also a good choice if you want your document to have a less traditional feel.
Do not double-space - it is only for things that require editing. Single spacing with wide margins is recommended. If it looks too cramped, try 1.2 to 1.5 spacing.
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10-28-2007, 06:39 PM
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#6 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 374
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Times New Roman considered unprofessional? Lol why does everyone use it then.
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10-28-2007, 06:52 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,073
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I'm pretty sure Times is still acceptable.
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10-28-2007, 06:58 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 113
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Did you guys give your essays title or double space or single space it?
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10-28-2007, 07:14 PM
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#9 | | Member
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey
Posts: 716
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Title, double spaced, times new roman size 12. Above all else, make it easy to read. I doubt they really care if you use garamond vs. times new roman (I find, however, that Garamond, while prettier to look at, is a bit harder to read than times new roman).
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10-28-2007, 07:22 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 192
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There seems to some varying opinions as far as double spacing goes.... does anyone know for sure?
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10-28-2007, 07:54 PM
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#11 | | Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 856
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Tried to find a free download for LaTeX but no luck. No time to buy anything new between now and due dates. Any suggestions?
t/y
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10-28-2007, 08:15 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Woodbridge, VA
Posts: 223
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our career counselor told us that 12 Times New Roman is the Standard (double-spaced)
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10-28-2007, 09:53 PM
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#13 | | Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 749
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I went 1.5 spacing...just because I felt 2 made my essay seem too long and 1 left it hanging a little into the next page. Plus, 1.5 makes it easier to read without the overwhelmingly spacious feeling. Maybe it's just me and the fact that I'm into art and aesthetically pleasing presentations.
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10-29-2007, 10:54 AM
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#14 | | Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 885
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If you send in the common app electronically it will download your essay into a text box and all of your fomatting, font selection, spacing, etc. will be lost.
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10-29-2007, 12:08 PM
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#15 | | Member
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Johnston, RI--> Duke University '12
Posts: 545
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lol I went Times 11.5 font to get it on 2 pages
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