<p>I've seen people on here post and "experienced" college admissions counselors state that writing an essay about a trip that changed your life or whatever is basically bad. I don't believe this is true as long as one is genuine and writes from the heart. I've written about a trip I took seven years ago and how it propelled, matured, and basically "started" me into becoming a responsible person. Believe me when I say this -- my trip can be classified as pretty darn common. Not going into details, I can state that I've used this essay numerous times and it's worked fantasically for me thus far. Now, before you state that my grades or ECs or whatever really helped me, let me just tell you right now that they're probably not any more different or better than those of a randomly selected person here on CC. I say write whatever you want -- write from your heart and write about something that impacted you. Who cares if it's typical? Admission officers will recognize your seriousness and dedication.</p>
<p>My two cents. I know I'm going to get flamed, but whatever; this is my opinion.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone is going to flame you.</p>
<p>Because the thing is, yes, if you write a really fantastic essay about something typical, but make it REALLY specific to yourself and your experiances, then it probably won't matter if its on a typical subject. The reason people are warned away from writing such essays, is that it is hard ot make them stand out...if you can do it, great! But no everyone can, in which case they should focus on choosing a more unique topic and hoping to distinguish themselves that way.</p>
<p>I agree. One can make the most stupid topic into a great essay with the right writing skills and a touch of humor. I think the recommendations are based on the fact that this is not an easy task. Your essay needs to make you stand out. It needs to show that the experience was heartfelt and genuine and it needs to show who you really are.</p>
<p>"How I plan to save the world from thirst with the collection of my tears and heartfelt sympathy....." won't do either. You get the point.</p>
<p>After reading this post, it reminded me about an essay question (application question) from Olgelthorpe University - it reads:</p>
<p>Discuss an experience (other than simply visiting another country) that has caused you to think differently about people or practices of a culture other than your own. </p>
<p>Who knows why they would want something other than reference to a trip. Maybe they are sick of reading the same kinds of answers.</p>
<p>The reason why people say to avoid trip essays is that most students write them in a cliched way such as writing travelogues or highlighting how: "I learned that there are poor people in the world, and I am lucky to live in America where I have lots of things and opportunities;" "I learned that people are people.'"</p>
<p>If one can write a trip essay in a fresh way, that can be a plus as the OP's post indicates.</p>
<p>I agree w/Northstarmom. The fact is that many kids get to travel -- there are even organizations who package an "important" overseas experience. But they seem to be 1-2 days of "service" followed by a few days on the beach with other kids whose parents can afford to send them there. These strike me as BOOOWWW-GUUUSSS. I know kids whose church sent them on a 3week tour of India -- working throughout the country, travelling by train and minibus, living in people's homes. Now that's one trip I'd like to hear about from the participants...</p>
<p>Besides being cliched, trip-related essays have the tendency to represent the student as being wealthy or privileged. Admissions officers are starting to see that "life changing trip to Africa" as a ploy the parent bought into (literally, these trips cost thousands of dollars) to make their kid more appealing. I agree with T26E4 wholeheartedly. Avoid the travel essay if one of your main reasons for going on the trip was to make your application more attractive.</p>
<p>Why would this be bad? Um...the essays I wrote to all of my colleges (I got into 12) are almost all focused on a specific community service trip I took in junior year.</p>
<p>Well the trip was not like this expensive thing. I'm low-income and I went with my class in my elementary school years... It's around 80% reflection, 20% narrative. I used no "How to write a college admissions essay" kind of books. This was 100% natural. If u want to take a look at it, pm me.</p>
<p>I managed to pull one off that was about a trip, so it definitely can be done. I must admit that I hadn't read anything against travel essays until after I submitted mine and I worried about it for a while. I think that as long as you write an essay that is true to yourself and as long as you focus on your own insights as opposed to cliches, you will probably be okay. That's the key to editing and working on word choice, I guess. </p>
<p>My own essay was about one very specific incident on a trip. I ultimately got into four of the five schools I applied to, so I guess people liked it.</p>
<p>I dont believe that writing about a trip is going to reflect poorly on you as long as you believe in what you wrote- that is, its from your heart!</p>
<p>azsxdc, If you dont mind, can I read your essay? Just PM me.</p>
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Who knows why they would want something other than reference to a trip. Maybe they are sick of reading the same kinds of answers.
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<p>That prompt is asking for something different: it's asking for a more abstract experience. Of course going to a different country effects how one thinks about that country. When visiting another country one necessarily adjusts to that experience; they want something around you, that has come to you or your environment.</p>
<p>On a lighter note, writing about a trip on a psychedelic drug would probably not be seen as "cliched". Of course, then you're running into other issues entirely. Would be pretty original though.</p>