Boxing or Taekwondo?

[phillips77]

Hello, I am currently a senior in high school applying for USNA class of 2028. Throughout my high school career, my main extracurricular has been band. I have been apart of my schools music program for all 4 years, earned leadership positions, and am currently working towards teaching opportunities with my school after graduation. When looking at what makes a candidate well rounded, the weakest aspect of my resume is my athletic participation. I have not been apart of any sports in high school.

I will be away over the summer but will return home in the fall where I will be taking community college classes as well as ROTC. I currently work a part time job and I will continue to do so in the fall.

When searching for more athletic opportunities for college, I have found two things that interest me. Taekwondo (which I used to be a part of for 6 years until 6th grade and earned my black belt) and boxing (I have never done boxing, but I am quite interested in it). I know that USNA sees martial arts as an extra curricular and not a sport, but if I had to choose between one, which would make my application more well rounded?

Taekwondo is good because I can return as a black belt and hopefully move up to an instructor role. However, it’s not a “sport” according to USNA. Boxing is good because it is a sport and would help fill the hole that is my sports participation record. However, I would be starting from scratch with boxing, which would only give me a number of months of experience before my application would be fully submitted.

There is a possibility that I can do both (I will be planning for my summer return very soon), but if I had to choose one, which would help my application more? Taekwondo, or boxing?

Thank you for your time.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Hello, I am currently a senior in high school applying for USNA class of 2028. Throughout my high school career, my main extracurricular has been band. I have been apart of my schools music program for all 4 years, earned leadership positions, and am currently working towards teaching opportunities with my school after graduation. When looking at what makes a candidate well rounded, the weakest aspect of my resume is my athletic participation. I have not been apart of any sports in high school.

I will be away over the summer but will return home in the fall where I will be taking community college classes as well as ROTC. I currently work a part time job and I will continue to do so in the fall.

When searching for more athletic opportunities for college, I have found two things that interest me. Taekwondo (which I used to be a part of for 6 years until 6th grade and earned my black belt) and boxing (I have never done boxing, but I am quite interested in it). I know that USNA sees martial arts as an extra curricular and not a sport, but if I had to choose between one, which would make my application more well rounded?

Taekwondo is good because I can return as a black belt and hopefully move up to an instructor role. However, it’s not a “sport” according to USNA. Boxing is good because it is a sport and would help fill the hole that is my sports participation record. However, I would be starting from scratch with boxing, which would only give me a number of months of experience before my application would be fully submitted.

There is a possibility that I can do both (I will be planning for my summer return very soon), but if I had to choose one, which would help my application more? Taekwondo, or boxing?

Thank you for your time.

To clarify, are you a graduating senior (HS Class of 2023) going to community college next fall and actual ROTC, or, rising senior in the HS class of 2024 in JROTC and part time college courses next fall?

I recommend you read the USNA class profile information available on USNA's webpage which points out the common thread among most successful applicants that participating and ultimately leading in varsity team athletics (including tennis, wrestling, gymnastics - sports that you compete as an individual on the mat/court as part of a team and team on the field together sports - basketball, soccer et al.. Search prior posts.

If you are in actual college and ROTC next fall then recommendation is to carefully pick courses and professors, excel with a 4.0, learn like a sponge, be very active in ROTC, and earn an recommendation from your ROTC professor/leader to attach to your service academy application. You might also pick up a ROTC scholarship if you don't already have one (Not sure what branch or I would comment further). Boxing vs Tae Kwon Do? It's not going to fill your application gap in team athletics - (I'm the son of a golden gloves boxer and the dad of a martial artist - Love and respect both sports - but discussing this in the context of helping you SA application only). Max out your PT scores in ROTC - take up running, cross-fit and build up your performance all summer to do so. A max PT score, 4.0, and ROTC leader endorsement IMO would go farther for your candidacy than an extracurricular with one semester of tenure. Others may disagree - just sharing one opinion here.

If you are returning to HS next Fall, and doing JROTC and taking part time community college courses, why not sign up and participate in an actual HS sport or 2 your senior year vs something they consider an extracurricular? It's not 4 years of progressive experience and being the captain but it's something vs nothing in this category.

Good luck to you - thank you for your interest to serve.

 

[phillips77]

To clarify, are you a graduating senior (HS Class of 2023) going to community college next fall and actual ROTC, or, rising senior in the HS class of 2024 in JROTC and part time college courses next fall?

I recommend you read the USNA class profile information available on USNA's webpage which points out the common thread among most successful applicants that participating and ultimately leading in varsity team athletics (including tennis, wrestling, gymnastics - sports that you compete as an individual on the mat/court as part of a team and team on the field together sports - basketball, soccer et al.. Search prior posts.

If you are in actual college and ROTC next fall then recommendation is to carefully pick courses and professors, excel with a 4.0, learn like a sponge, be very active in ROTC, and earn an recommendation from your ROTC professor/leader to attach to your service academy application. You might also pick up a ROTC scholarship if you don't already have one (Not sure what branch or I would comment further). Boxing vs Tae Kwon Do? It's not going to fill your application gap in team athletics - (I'm the son of a golden gloves boxer and the dad of a martial artist - Love and respect both sports - but discussing this in the context of helping you SA application only). Max out your PT scores in ROTC - take up running, cross-fit and build up your performance all summer to do so. A max PT score, 4.0, and ROTC leader endorsement IMO would go farther for your candidacy than an extracurricular with one semester of tenure. Others may disagree - just sharing one opinion here.

If you are returning to HS next Fall, and doing JROTC and taking part time community college courses, why not sign up and participate in an actual HS sport or 2 your senior year vs something they consider an extracurricular? It's not 4 years of progressive experience and being the captain but it's something vs nothing in this category.

Good luck to you - thank you for your interest to serve.

To clarify, I am currently a senior and will be attending college this fall.

 

[Gearhead5]

Hello, I am currently a senior in high school applying for USNA class of 2028. Throughout my high school career, my main extracurricular has been band. I have been apart of my schools music program for all 4 years, earned leadership positions, and am currently working towards teaching opportunities with my school after graduation. When looking at what makes a candidate well rounded, the weakest aspect of my resume is my athletic participation. I have not been apart of any sports in high school.

I will be away over the summer but will return home in the fall where I will be taking community college classes as well as ROTC. I currently work a part time job and I will continue to do so in the fall.

When searching for more athletic opportunities for college, I have found two things that interest me. Taekwondo (which I used to be a part of for 6 years until 6th grade and earned my black belt) and boxing (I have never done boxing, but I am quite interested in it). I know that USNA sees martial arts as an extra curricular and not a sport, but if I had to choose between one, which would make my application more well rounded?

Taekwondo is good because I can return as a black belt and hopefully move up to an instructor role. However, it’s not a “sport” according to USNA. Boxing is good because it is a sport and would help fill the hole that is my sports participation record. However, I would be starting from scratch with boxing, which would only give me a number of months of experience before my application would be fully submitted.

There is a possibility that I can do both (I will be planning for my summer return very soon), but if I had to choose one, which would help my application more? Taekwondo, or boxing?

Thank you for your time.

Great advice from Herman_Snerd on checking out the profiles of accepted midshipmen on the USNA website. I run into this with students at my DS’s high school.

“I got a 1350 on the SAT and I’m going to the academy!”says junior X. “Do you play any sports?” is my response. Junior X “No”.

I carry with me the USNA Snapshot Class of 2024 with me; Variety Athletics 91%.
USAFA Demographic Profile for the class of 2025; Athletic Letter Awards (1 or More/Any Sport) 76%.

So I have Junior X ask themselves are they competitive in another area that the academy values other than academics?

My DS has a SAT south of 1250, stoped playing baseball in the 9th grade (after 11 years) to focus on jiu jitsu and a PPL. He has no interest in a SA but wants to do ROTC in college and will attend as a non scholarship cadet. After some research on this site he come to the conclusion that he’s not competitive for an ROTC scholarship. Nothing wrong with that assessment.

I would not self eliminate in your case but use the profile of the SA’ incoming freshman and assess where you might fit in. Have a backup plan, ROTC or OCS.

Can you go to a community college and do ROTC at the same time? Every AFROTC/NROTC unit I have talked to said you have to attend an accredited 4 year university. Just something you may want to clarify.

Best of luck to you!

 

[phillips77]

Great advice from Herman_Snerd on checking out the profiles of accepted midshipmen on the USNA website. I run into this with students at my DS’s high school.

“I got a 1350 on the SAT and I’m going to the academy!”says junior X. “Do you play any sports?” is my response. Junior X “No”.

I carry with me the USNA Snapshot Class of 2024 with me; Variety Athletics 91%.
USAFA Demographic Profile for the class of 2025; Athletic Letter Awards (1 or More/Any Sport) 76%.

So I have Junior X ask themselves are they competitive in another area that the academy values other than academics?

My DS has a SAT south of 1250, stoped playing baseball in the 9th grade (after 11 years) to focus on jiu jitsu and a PPL. He has no interest in a SA but wants to do ROTC in college and will attend as a non scholarship cadet. After some research on this site he come to the conclusion that he’s not competitive for an ROTC scholarship. Nothing wrong with that assessment.

I would not self eliminate in your case but use the profile of the SA’ incoming freshman and assess where you might fit in. Have a backup plan, ROTC or OCS.

Can you go to a community college and do ROTC at the same time? Every AFROTC/NROTC unit I have talked to said you have to attend an accredited 4 year university. Just something you may want to clarify.

Best of luck to you!

The ROTC detachment I will be with allows cross-town schools (such as my community college) to be apart of the program. Students at these cross town schools just have to commute to the university where the ROTC unit is located and take the classes there.

 

[Gearhead5]

Going to a community college and still being able to participate with an ROTC detachment is a fantastic opportunity. Good luck to you!