<p>I come from a extremely small town in north Idaho that has a population around 2,000. My graduating class is 72. I recently took a trip to Europe for two weeks and it was quite eye opening. If I wrote by admissions essay about my eye opening experience from a small town to the Colosseum, would that be a unique essay that would get good feedback. I’m applying for admission to the University of Southern California for the fall of 2014.</p>
<p>If it’s written well, yes.
If it’s written badly, no.</p>
<p>This is something I wrote for a different project but it was along the same lines as what I think I want my topic for my college admissions essay to be. I haven’t edited it at all for an admissions audience but feedback would be great so I can get a feel for where to start.</p>
<p>Growing up in a small town, you do small town things. Most of us are born, raised, and stay in St. Maries our entire lives. This summer, I went on a trip that changed my outlook on the rest of my life for the better. My parents are divorced so every year its two different Thanksgivings, Christmases, and Birthdays and for my Sweet 16, my dad had promised me when I was eight that we could take a trip to Europe since I love traveling and Ive always wanted to go to Europe. Since we made this birthday plan while on a cruise, we decided to visit Europe on a cruise. So for eight years, I counted down the months, days, and finally hours till I would step aboard the ship that changed my life. Finally July 13, 2012 rolled around and we boarded the plane for London; after fourteen hours in the air and three hours sleeping in the London-Gatwick airport, we boarded the final plane before reaching our final destination, Barcelona. Since the moment I stepped onto the Virgin Atlantic plane that would take me across the pond I was in love! Everything about Europe was fascinating, the differences in culture, the people, the scenery. Everything there is so historical and the architecture from hundreds of years ago, it just takes your breath away. We spent the night in Barcelona, visiting all of the tourist sites. The next day, my dad and I woke up extra early, went and got a Starbucks(which, let me just say, tastes even better over there!), and walked the boardwalk. It was very calm and quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of mid-evening Barcelona we had experienced when we had arrived; we just saw the native people not the tourists. A few hours later and I was standing outside the ship I had only dreamed about for the past eight years. I wont go into much detail but the trip took us to places like Capri, Italy (which has to be one of the most beautiful places Ive ever been! You can see all the way to the bottom of the ocean, its that clear!), Rome, Florence, and Pisa, Italy, and also Marseille and Cannes, France. It is amazing to think, that little me from small town St. Maries, Idaho can be standing in front of some of the most historic sights of all time! Standing in the heart of Vatican City has to be when it hit me, I can do so much with my life. So what if I come from a town with less people in it than some kids go to high school with, I shouldnt let that stop me from doing amazing things that are out of this world. I love everything about where I came from and who it made me, but it wont stop me from becoming something better. So, as sad as I was to have to leave the best time of my life, I left with a new understanding of myself and a new outlook on my life. It was the best experience I could have ever asked for and I wish, every day, that I could go back to that one week of bliss.</p>