<p>I'm worried writing about a high school competition would be too cliche. Of course, I would convey my personality through this and make it as unique as possible, but generally is this okay as a topic for HYPSM? </p>
<p>I think it is fine. The robotics season is long, and there are a lot of technical and interpersonal challenges during the season. And it is likely that your role changed over the years on the team, and you changed as well. There is more to write about than the competition itself. (I am currently wearing a T-shirt I got for volunteering at our state FIRST competition last year. 
So I do know about this!) </p>
<p>Ok. Say for whatever reason I want to make a BRIEF analogy with Freemasonry in my essay. Would that be too controversial, or would it be acceptable?</p>
<p>Ah… the issue is whether it would be understandable to the admissions officer reading your essay, honestly. And it depends on what you are saying.</p>
<p>Basically I want to mention a Latin phrase that is used in Freemasonry, but also has a literal significance to my topic.</p>
<p>Well, you want to explain it clearly to someone else who doesn’t understand it. My kid used a Latin phrase as the opening to her U of Chicago essay. Followed immediately by the translation and context for the essay topic… it didn’t hurt her, she got in. :)</p>