How to use travel as an essay topic without making it cliché?

College Essays
1

I’ve done a lot of traveling in my life, and it is definitely a passion of mine. However, I feel like everyone is saying that writing about travel is one of the worst topics to write about because so many people write about it. I was thinking that maybe if I steered clear of the “mission trip / i changed them more than they changed me… I’m so lucky…” path then I could be okay?

Another idea I had was based around my collection of room keys? Do you think it’s possible to write a successful essay about travel? Any answer helps! Thanks!

2

Are you in the habit of collecting inkeepers’ keys?

3

Yes, I’ve been collecting hotel room keys since I was about 6 or 7 and still collect them to this day. I now have a few hundred… probably about 400.

4

You do know that it costs them money to replace them, right?? Regarding the essay, what qualities are you trying to communicate that make you unique and a positive addition to their campus? (Wait til you find out how much they charge you at college if you don’t return your key!)

5

Take a look at the prompts. Don’t try to work the prompt so it fits the story, find a story that fits the prompt.

6

^??? I’m pretty sure hotel room keys only cost like 1 cent to make and no one is going to track me down to get that money back… Do you really think college will get mad that I’m taking room keys from a hotel? By the way, I’m talking about these: http://www.myhotelwedding.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Room-key.jpg (photo)

7

I was thinking about writing about travel for prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

I was also thinking about writing about how I have had knee problems (resulting in knee surgery) and how I “failed” in competition for the overcoming failure prompt. I am a competitive indoor rock climber, so that part is unique (somewhat, a lot of people still do it…), but I feel like this “overcoming injury” essay is also extremely cliche. Any thoughts on how to make my essay different?

8

@lanagotconed , Could you write about the life lessons you’ve learned from being a rock climber? Things like not being afraid to climb, but always having a tether to safety? (OK, my ignorance of rock climbing is obviously showing, but I hope you get my point.)
Your essay was about a knee PROBLEM caused by climbing, mine is on POSITVE lessons you’ve learned. See how it puts you into a more positive light? You could use it for #1 or on when you became an adult.

I think that for a lot of kids, the failure prompt may not be a good idea… why highlight the things you’re BAD at? You want them to say yes-- highlight the things you’re GOOD at.

9

Be careful when writing about travel. If you really have been to over 400 hotels in your short life span, then you will come across as a spoiled rich kid whose parents toted you around the world.

10

Holy cow. You ACTUALLY want to write about theft?? For an essay meant to get you into college???

11

You guys…LOL…you’d think the guy was talking about assault… he takes the plastic room keys with him when he leaves…I actually think it’s an intriguing topic…using those cards as a trigger of memories…yes, you’d have to be careful not to show entitlement…but the life of a world journeyer is an intriguing one…

12

Or you could use poetic license and say you took a photo of each key.

But it would have to be well written, to avoid that sense of entitlement.

13

Thanks everyone for replying! There’s been some good points on here so I certainly feel a lot better about writing my essay