Should I list things I really liked, like travelling with my friends, or should I mention something more serious, like a debate or a competition?
My ds had a mix on his list.
My DD mentioned 1 event where she won an award but explained that the reason she loved it is because their team came together after some difficulties and it taught her about teamwork and perseverence.
Like hoggirl’s son, I had a mix of both!
Is it ok if I only list a vacation I spent with my friends abroad?
I would avoid listing a vacation. Imagine that you are an admission officer who has always dreamed of going to Paris and has never been able to go. Then, you are reading an application (factor in that the admission officer may not feel well, may be having a bad day, may be bad weather) and the essay is all about how the kid went to Paris on vacation with her friends and listed all the things that the admission officer has always wanted to do on vacation in Paris. Gee, that admssion officer might not feel so kind towards that kid.
Hmmm…good point.
But aren’t admission officers trained to eliminate such personal bias and rather evaluate based on what’s written?
Why would you take that chance? Right now, there is so much that is out of your control. You cannot do anything now about your gpa, test scores, activities, etc. The essays are the last thing that are still in your control. Use them in the best way possible. Do not take a chance that you may alienate the reader.
@bwaygirl1 Your reasoning is a bit iffy. I could replicate the same scenario with a competition, like this:
An admissions officer had always wanted to compete in Intel ISEF in high school but was never able to because he couldn’t find a professor to help him with research. The particular day that he was reading some person’s application, his coffee wasn’t made right and he was just in a bad mood. Then he reads about this person who won the grand prize in ISEF (maybe even came from the same area as the adcom officer and had help from the professor he wanted) and it brings back bad memories, so he hands the person an auto-reject.
See how flippant that would be? And @ahmedsheta I know people who mentioned a Kanye concert in that supplement and still got in, don’t stress too much about that question. They are really just trying to get a feel for your personality. If you like going out with your friends and there was a vacation that was particularly meaningful to you, I would say go for it.
@theRealMesutOzil Thanks a lot 
@theRealMesutOzil The main difference between your scenario and the one that I presented is money. It would be hard to travel without money. Travel is a privilege. I would like to believe that the average high school student would be able to compete in Intel or do research without it costing the family money. I do completely agree that mentioning a concert is a great and totally appropriate event to list.
@ahmedsheta here is a link from a college admissions consultant. This took me seconds to find on google. I am sure there are others that argue both sides essays on travel.
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-essays/travel-college-essays/
Not really…Most of the students who participate in competitions like ISEF are rather privileged socioeconomically and have opportunities that students of lower-income backgrounds do not have.