<p>I recently heard that writing a college essay about travel experiences is generally shunned upon; however, I wanted to write one of my essays about my international background. I have lived in multiple countries (UK, Singapore, Germany, and the US), I have spoken German for the past 10 years or so, and I have 2 adopted sisters, one from Romania and one from Singapore. With all this I wanted to write about the impact that my international identity has had upon my life. Would this topic be considered too cliche or in the lines of being a "travel" essay?
Opinions Please!</p>
<p>If you cover all you’ve mentioned above it will be way too broad. If you can find an anecdote that describes the impact of your international identity and does the following, it may be ok:</p>
<p>Tells a lot about who you really are
Captures the reader’s attention with an interesting story and a great lead-in
Describes personal growth and shows you to be someone who will be an asset to the school, while not being boastful
Answers the question clearly and in an organized fashion</p>
<p>The advice against travel essays has some legitimate reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It’s a very common topic, and often poorly executed</p></li>
<li><p>There is a tendency to turn the essay into a travelogue instead of a focused revelation of the applicant’s way of being & thinking.</p></li>
<li><p>Most applicants who write such an essay have spent at most a month or two of their 18-year life traveling. For such a person, writing about travel can shift the focus from the person him/herself to a peak experience which is not that representative of his/her true personality and mentality.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>In your case, #3 is not a problem. International experiences are a fundamental part of your upbringing and entirely representative of you. #2 and #1 are only problems if you allow them to be. </p>
<p>As long as you take a focused approach and share specific, rich examples of your experience instead of a shallow travelogue, you can make a great essay out of your international history.</p>
<p>Just remember that the admissions reader is your audience. And that audience is not there to learn about the world, but to learn about you. As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll do well.</p>