Is writing a college essay about traveling a good idea?

Writing about travel for a college essay can absolutely work, but the challenge is making sure your story showcases something deeper than simply recounting places you've been or broad lessons like "I learned people are different everywhere, but we're all the same." Admissions officers often see many travel essays, so the most successful ones highlight a unique personal transformation, moment of conflict, or a nuanced insight that wouldn't have happened without that travel experience.

Instead of listing countries or focusing just on cultural exposure, consider narrowing your focus to a very specific moment or encounter from your travels that caused you to question your assumptions, make a significant decision, or take action back home. For example, rather than writing, “I visited India and realized how fortunate I am,” you might write about a single bus ride where you lost your wallet, struggled to communicate, and relied on the help of strangers. How did that challenge your ideas about trust?

Another approach is to reflect on how traveling influenced your identity, aspirations, or relationships in ways you didn’t expect. Did seeing a family member’s life in a different country inspire you to start a project or change your values? For example, one student wrote an effective essay on how frequent moves between two countries led to her creating a system to keep in touch with friends all over the world, which then inspired a pen-pal program at her school. This moved beyond the travel itself to focus on initiative and the impact on her community.

Ask yourself: What is new or unexpected about your experience? What did you do afterwards because of it? If your essay shows growth through a specific story, steers clear of clichés, and reveals something personal and authentic about you, a travel essay can absolutely stand out.

If you’re interested in successful examples, look for essays that use a single travel story as a springboard to talk about passion, character, or perspective—always centering your unique journey, not a generic travelogue.