<p>For my common application essay, I am writing about how I got interested in my lifelong hobby of watching college football. It is a ritual that I had every Saturday until this year, when our cable company discontinued the channel that my favorite team happened to play on. I discuss how I fell in love with a certain team when I was very young and how that team is now experiencing massive scrutiny and rebuilding because of some major violations (you may know what I am referring to). Anyway, that is like only the first paragraph of my essay, the rest talks about how I use my new found free time in academics and with my family while also staying loyal to my team during its difficult time.</p>
<p>My main question is, should I mention the college's name in the essay? The college is not a common app school (it is a state school) by the way and is not academically competitive with the schools I am applying to (though it may be athletically). </p>
<p>Secondly, is this a good topic, particularly for a girl? I know sports essays can be cliche, but I am not using this as a metaphor for life or anything, I am showing how this activity has influenced my relationship with my family, my state, and, frankly, myself.</p>