Using a brand name in an essay? Need advice.

I am writing a college essay about myself and to avoid any issues with plagiarism detectors I’m choosing not to describe it any further than that. However, I have a question about what is considered to be “allowed” in an essay. My writing mentions a reasonable well-known chain and it’s pretty important to the essay that I mention this chain. The essay isn’t about the chain but the chain has an important role in a personal story. I can’t write the essay without mentioning the chain to some degree

I’m wondering if it is appropriate to say use the name of the chain in the essay or if I should write a description of the store with enough details so the reader can understand what I’m saying without actually saying it. For example, should I say “Walmart” or “a big box store known for low prices”? “McDonalds” or “a fast food restaurant that is known for its iconic gold logo”. Neither of these examples are the chain that will be mentioned, I’m just using them as an example. It just seems like it would be easier to use the brand name and not have to dedicate extra words (that could be used to tell my personal story) to describe it.

I should also clarify that the essay is not an exposé on the brand, nor an advertisement, and it’s really not about the brand at all. It’s about me. I’d be perfectly comfortable sending the essay to the CEO without fear of angering the company, although they would find it very boring because it’s all about me and lessons I’ve learned.

I don’t see any problem with it. I used a TV show in my CommonApp essay!!

yeah, I used the name of a supermarket in mine too. It’s fine

I would go for it! Using a brand name will make you sound more human and thus, relatable.

It is fine. There was a girl that wrote about going to CostCo and she got into Stanford, Yale, etc. If you Google it, you can find news articles about the story I’m referring to. You will have to find something else to worry about! Good luck!