You're sitting there, staring at a blinking cursor, and the most stressful part isn't even the "Why I want to be a doctor" prompt. It’s the top left corner of the page. You’ve got the essay, or at least the bones of it, but how do you actually introduce yourself to the admissions officer before they even read your first sentence? Getting the how to write a header for a college essay part right is basically like wearing a clean suit to an interview. It doesn't get you the job, but wearing pajamas definitely loses it for you.
Honestly, people overthink this. They start adding fancy borders or weird font sizes because they think it makes them look "creative." It doesn't. It makes you look like you don't know how to follow basic academic standards. Most colleges aren't looking for a graphic designer; they're looking for a student who can handle a syllabus.
The Great MLA vs. APA Debate (And Why it Matters)
Most high schoolers are used to MLA. It’s the bread and butter of English class. But some specialized programs, especially in the sciences or social sciences, might prefer APA. If the prompt doesn't specify—and usually, they don't for personal statements—stick to the standard academic format of your current school.
In MLA format, your header is left-aligned. It’s not in the actual "Header" space of the Word doc (that’s for your page numbers). It’s on the first few lines of the paper itself. You need your name. Your instructor's name. The course. The date. Simple. But for a college application, you don't have a "course" yet. Instead, you might use your application ID or the specific prompt title.
The date is a weird sticking point for people. Do you use the day you started? The day it's due? The day you hit submit? Just use the submission date. And write it out: 18 January 2026. It looks cleaner than 1/18/26, which can feel a bit too casual for a high-stakes document.
Why the how to write a header for a college essay rules change for applications
Here is the thing: a "college essay" usually refers to one of two things. It's either the personal statement you send through the Common App, or it's a paper you write once you're actually in college. If you are writing your Common App essay, you technically don't even need a header. The system injects your data into a PDF for the admissions officers.
However, if you are uploading a PDF as a "Supplemental Essay" or a portfolio piece, that header becomes your brand. It's the first thing they see.
The "Must-Haves" for an Application Header
If you're uploading a separate file, don't just leave the top blank. You want to make it easy for a tired admissions officer to know exactly what they are looking at. Include your full name (the one on your passport, not your nickname), your Common App ID (this is huge—it helps them link the file if it gets detached somehow), and the prompt you're answering.
- Your Name: John "Jack" Smith is just John Smith.
- The ID: Usually a 7 or 8 digit number.
- The School: If it's a supplemental for a specific university, name-drop them in the header. "University of Michigan Supplemental" shows you didn't just copy-paste this from your NYU app.
Font Choice and the "Vibe"
Don't use Comic Sans. Don't use Papyrus. Use Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. 12 point. Double-spaced. If you use a 10-point font to cram more words in, they will notice. And they will be annoyed because they’ve been reading essays for eight hours and their eyes hurt. Keep it readable.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Professionalism
I’ve seen students put their social security numbers in headers. Please, for the love of everything, do not do that. Identity theft is real, and the admissions office doesn't need it anyway.
Another big one? Including your high school's name in a way that looks like a letterhead. This isn't a formal business letter to a vendor. It's an academic or personal submission. You also don't need a "Title Page" unless the instructions explicitly ask for one. Title pages are usually a waste of a page in a document where every bit of space counts.
The Page Numbering Secret
In a standard MLA header, you want your last name and the page number in the top right corner. For example: Smith 1.
Why?
Because if a printer goes haywire and drops 500 essays on the floor, the intern needs to be able to put yours back together. Most digital platforms handle this now, but if you're uploading a 3-page PDF, that "Name + Page Number" in the top right is a godsend. It’s a small detail that screams "I am prepared for college-level work."
Technical Setup: Step-by-Step
Let's talk about the actual "How" in Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
For the main info block:
Go to the very first line of your document. Make sure it is left-aligned. Type your name. Hit Enter. Type the name of the university or the "Common App" label. Hit Enter. Type the prompt name (e.g., "Personal Statement"). Hit Enter. Type the date.
Now, for the page numbers:
Go to "Insert" then "Header & Page Number." Choose the option that puts the number in the top right. Click in front of that number and type your last name followed by a space. Change that font to match your body text! Nothing looks worse than a Times New Roman essay with an Arial page number. It's a tiny "tell" that you didn't pay attention to detail.
Dealing with Word Counts
Sometimes headers eat into your word count if the application uses a text box instead of a file upload. If you’re copy-pasting into a box that has a 650-word limit, delete the header. The system already knows who you are. The header is only for file uploads or physical papers. If you waste 20 words of a 250-word supplement on a header in a text box, you’re just shooting yourself in the foot.
The Difference Between Headers and Titles
A header is your ID. A title is your hook.
Don't confuse them. Your header stays boring and functional. Your title—if you choose to use one—should be centered and appear after the header block. Honestly, most college essays don't need a title. Unless yours is particularly clever or thematic, you can usually skip it and dive straight into the narrative. But if you do include one, make sure there is a double space between the date of your header and the title itself.
Nuance in International Applications
If you're applying to schools in the UK (UCAS) or Europe, headers are often discouraged. They want you to get straight to the point because their word counts are even tighter. Always check the specific country's standard. In the US, we love our formatting. In the UK, they love your "Statement of Purpose" to be a wall of text that gets right to the academic meat.
Real-World Example of an Application Header
Imagine you are applying to Stanford. You're uploading a PDF for their "Roommate" essay. Your header should look something like this:
Jane Doe
Common App ID: 12345678
Stanford Supplemental: Roommate Essay
15 November 2025
👉 See also: The Ugly Truth About Braids: Why Style Choice Matters More Than Your Face
That is it. Clean. Professional. No fluff.
Why You Should Avoid Bold and Italics in Headers
Some people think bolding their name makes it stand out. It just looks aggressive. Standard weight text is fine. The admissions officer's job is to read your words, not admire your formatting flair. Use italics only if you are referencing a book title within the prompt name itself.
Actionable Steps to Perfect Your Header
First, check the portal requirements. If they say "No identifying information," then obviously, ignore everything I just said and follow their rules. Some "blind" admissions processes want zero names on the papers to avoid bias.
Second, create a template. Once you have a header that works, use it for every supplemental upload. It creates a "brand" for your application. When an officer opens three different PDFs from you and they all have the same clean, professional header, it leaves a subconscious impression of organization.
Third, double-check your ID number. It is the most important part of the header. Names can be common. There are a lot of "Alex Wangs" and "Maria Garcias" applying to college. Your ID is unique. If your name gets misspelled or your file gets mislabeled, that ID number is the only way your essay finds its way back to your folder.
Finally, do a "Print Preview." Sometimes headers look great on the screen but get cut off by printer margins. Make sure you have at least a 1-inch margin all around. If your name is hugging the very top edge of the paper, move it down. You want white space. White space is your friend. It makes the document feel less crowded and more inviting to read.
Take five minutes to fix your header. It’s the easiest way to improve the "first impression" of your essay before the reader even gets to your opening hook. Once that’s done, you can get back to the hard part: actually writing the thing. Check your font consistency across the header and the body, save it as a PDF to lock in the formatting, and you're good to go.