The Modern Language Association (MLA) style and the American Psychological Association (APA) style are the two most common college essay formats in the United States. MLA style is one of the most widely used formats for writing essays in college, and it is most commonly used in liberal arts classes, so the majority of English majors and other liberal arts majors use it. APA style, on the other hand, is widely used by students in science (both “soft” and “hard” science), making it one of the most popular college essay formats in the United States.
MLA style is most commonly used by liberal arts majors and is the most common format used by students focusing on language, literature, education, and English. It’s a simple and straightforward format with guidelines for page numbers, spacing, and citations of works cited within the essay. It may be considered the easier of the two major college essay formats in the United States because it does not require a title page or an abstract.
Those studying “hard” or “soft” sciences are more likely to use the APA style. The hard sciences, which include geology, chemistry, physics, and biology, are the ones most commonly associated with the term “science.” Sociology, anthropology, and psychology are examples of soft sciences, also known as social sciences. All of these subject areas typically require students to use APA style, which includes a title page and an abstract at the start of the essay and uses a variety of methods for citing works within an essay.
There are also more general college essay formats that can be used in the United States as well as other countries. For example, the five-paragraph essay is one of the most common and popular essay formats in high school and in some colleges both within and outside of the United States. A student can structure an essay using this simple format, which includes an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs that make up the bulk of the paper, and a conclusion paragraph. Some professors may have their own preferred college essay formats, which are usually variations on more common formats. Instead of strictly adhering to a more common format, students should always defer to their professors’ requirements and formats.