a question about the swim test

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I'm thinking about applying to cornell but the swim test is really putting me off. Well, not precisely the swimming part, since I can swim back stroke and free style (provided it's short distance) rather confidently. But I read somewhere that we have to jump in feet first... the swimming teacher at my high school tried to make me do that in grade 10 for a whole semester, but by the end of the semester she only succeeded in making me jump into the water with a life jacket on...</p>

<p>Is the feet first part really compulsory?</p>

2

<p>yes. you can step off with 1 foot…</p>

3

<p>aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves? :)</p>

4

<p>humans float…usually.</p>

5

<p>I don’t want to seem insensitive, but are you serious?</p>

<p>You are hesitant about applying to one of the best schools in the world because of the swim test? Pick anything else, but something as momentary and meaningless as the swim test?</p>

6

<p>and even if you don’t pass the test, all you have to do is to take the class, and learn everything from the beginning…</p>

7

<p>OH god, apply somewhere else. LOL.</p>

8

<p>swim test is very easy.</p>

9

<p>haha yep I know it’s a little stupid but the thought of jumping into the water just really really really (I can’t emphasize this enough) scares me. </p>

<p>I guess I will apply and see whether I get in first. =)</p>

10

<p>that’s so funny! the fact that you have to do a swim test is putting you off applying… but yes, i agree. don’t apply if you’re not comfortable with a 30-second test!</p>

11

<p>i dont get it, if you dont go in feet first, then how do you go? head first? i’d imagine thats worse</p>

12

<p>you can also just sit on the edge and scoot in…it’s not like you launch yourself into the pool from a 20 ft high diving board anyway…</p>

13

<p>The feet first entry requirement is a safety thing. It is simply feet first entry rather than diving in head first. This does not mean you have to JUMP in the pool feet first. You can probably just scoot in off the side or go down the ladder. Please don’t let this keep you from applying!</p>

14

<p>jumping in with feet first is certainly better than diving head down …</p>

15

<p>for my swim test, the pool was really warm (probably b/c of all the ppl jumping in and out) and also, rather small.</p>

<p>it’s definitely not something to worry about, much less something that should
deter you from applying to cornell</p>

16

<p>actually the lifeguards said that you couldnt scoot off the side. You have to jump in feet first (though you can do one foot first). The distance your body will travel vertically is probably 1 to 2 feet. if you get in you have half a year to jump in feet first lol.</p>

17

<p>you wont sink to the bottom if you do it properly…</p>

<p>i was in swim class and until i learned to do it right i always went all the way to the bottom! </p>

<p>a good way to step off is to have your arms up like this \o/ and land in the water in a crunch/fetal position almost so that you can keep yourself up…</p>