I have been learning taekowndo since the age of 9 and I really enjoy it- I’m a black belt and a TA in my studio. However, I did not compete because it always costed $100-150 and it just felt like too much. I’m a junior, and my parents are willing to spend the money this year- however it just feels too expensive. I would like to compete or at least be in the taekwondo team, especially in UCB, so will it help my chances at college or at least getting into the team. Or can I do collegiate taekwondo without competing in high school?
If you put that you are a black belt that will be sufficient to prove you are serious and accomplished at taekowndo for admission purposes.
In terms of being on the team at college, why don’t you try to contact the coach and ask?
Most schools have Taekwondo as a rec sport- do you still have to get into those? Also, would @happy1 would (winning) a tournament have any meaningful difference in my college application to get into selective schools?
If it is a rec sport and you have a black belt I’d imagine they would be happy to have you on the team. If a coach or club website online listed you can ask for more information.
I don’t think winning a tournament (unless it is at an Olympic level) would have a significant impact on your application – being a black belt is a notable accomplishment in and of itself and working in the studio shows an additional commitment to the sport.
My son earned black belt in TKD and participated in numerous state and national level competitions since his sophomore year in HS. He didn’t do any of these things with the college application in mind. Although I had been a TKD instructor who earned 2nd degree black belt in my native country, South Korea, with a proper traditional training, I never even bothered to encourage my son to take it up because of my strong opinion (call it bias if you want) that TKD in the U.S. has degenerated into a joke. Might as well take up a ballet, I’d say to my son. But he grew up watching Jackie Chan movies and because his desire to take up TKD was strong that I signed him up to waste a whole lot of money and time for the ensuing three years.
With that bit of our background said, in my opinion there are way too many black belts out there to really impress any AOs nowadays. A decade or two ago, yes, but today there’s black belt glut to make a significant difference. Sure, I suppose having attained a black belt has to help on points of discipline, focus, commitment and perhaps even leadership, but if too many applicants possess the same thing you have, it loses that “spike.”
But then most TKD black belts do not have state and national level competitions, so being accomplished in such gladiatorial arenas could possibly turn the AOs’ heads. I don’t know whether that’s been the case with my son or not. In all frankness, we never even gave much of thought on that since my son’s primary EC was being a conservatory level violinist and that’s what has been of foremost importance in our lives.
My suggestion to you is to follow your own inclination on this issue. If you’re not averse to the idea of competing, then why not? But then it’d cost you very valuable time and money if you think of TKD competition as an “investment” of sorts for positive college returns. Like any investments, having positive returns aren’t guaranteed. In other words, the best way to approach this is: do it if that’s what you want to experience for the experience’s sake and could be personally fulfilling.
I think being a TA in your studio is something that is more important than the tournaments. That shows leadership and responsibility. I would mention that in the EC section of your application. I would not worry about the tournaments.
Thank you all for your responses! I decided to skip this tournament as its only a small bay area tournament, but the price just does not justify it. I really enjoy taekwondo and I want to join collegiate taekwondo, so I’m going to continue it regardless of its impact on college apps, but the tournament doesn’t seem to either help me with significant improvement in my taekwondo skills nor any college returns.