<p>That's what an older and usually wiser friend told us: Never write about a travel experience. That doesn't seem to make sense to us. </p>
<p>If DS is walking down Main Street and something happens that turns into an essay, that's OK? But if the same thing happens while walking in Paris or London that's pretentious? Or something else is wrong with it?</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>And writing about being valedictorian of your class with a 4.0 is not seen as pretentious? That’s ridiculous. I am going backpacking through the UK next year and I am definitely writing about it.</p>
<p>I disagree. If you’re walking through the streets of Paris, your parents can likely shell out a lot of cash. Colleges want students who can pay. </p>
<p>Then again, don’t say something like “When walking through Parisian boutiques, with my bodyguard and poodle, of course, I had my daddy purchase everything I found that was pink. Whether or not the clothing was my size was of no importance. All I was interested in was finding the best fabrics for my tailor to make my fall wardrobe with when I got back to the Hamptons.”</p>
<p>There is definitely a strong sentiment that kids should not focus on things that were only made possible by their family’s affluence. We had top counselors tell our kids to take out references to extensive travel. </p>
<p>However, if there is a good topic and it isn’t set at the Ritz Paris, I’m sure there are times when it would be fine. You have a limited number of words to get across what you feel is most important about you, do it however you see fit.</p>
<p>or if you’re really concerned about how it will read, change the circumstances every so slightly. If there’s no definite connection to the Champs Elys</p>
<p>One of the short answers on an application my S filled out asked about the most interesting place he had visited. He answered truthfully (London)…I can’t imagine him talking about a trip to his grandmother’s house instead so as not to appear too privileged!</p>
<p>Yes, but the “place” could have been a cancer ward, a veteran rehab center or a safe house for abused women. That’s the kind of place a lot of counselors would encourage. Affluence is not in vogue at top colleges.</p>
<p>Looking back, I see that the question was what his “most favorite” place he visited was, not the “most interesting” place. I don’t think any of those answers would have been appropriate…and I actually also think that they seem like someone is trying too hard.</p>
<p>I was surfing the web and came upon Bates College’s page on “writing the essay.” what they had to say seemed pretty relevant to this feed, so I’ll post it here:</p>
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<p>[Bates</a> College | Writing the Essay](<a href=“http://www.bates.edu/essay.xml]Bates”>18 Application Tips For Prospective Students | Admission | Bates College)</p>
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<p>Given that the vast majority of 17 year old Americans have never left the Country, I’m sure there are many appropriate answers. I thought there was no harm in talking about international travel too. But when we hired a top college counselor for our third, we learned about all sorts of ways in which we’d been naive.</p>
<p>Oh well…I guess my poor son who didn’t hire an expensive college counselor won’t get into that college because he went on an expensive trip (which cost less than the counselor). Seems ironic, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Any other tidbits from the top college counsellor? Like make sure your rec’s never use 'hardworking" to describe you?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice; it’s extremely helpful. As it turns out the past week or two he’s been deciding between two topics. One starts off about 6,000 miles from home. The other one starts off in rural USA about 250 miles from home. As it turns out the closer-to-home story just won out in a landslide election, 2-1 (but I’m thinking of demanding a recount).</p>
<p>So now he can do it unencumbered by that voice of doubt which blackballs all travel stories.</p>
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<p>The whole ‘game’ of college admissions seems more full of ironies than just about anthing I can think of.</p>