Okay, it’s almost 1am and I literally just found out about this an hour ago or something while scrolling on whether Cornell takes AP credits or not and I found out about this whole swim test requirement and now I can’t sleep because I literally (and huge emphasis on that) cannot swim to save my own life and I’ve had so much trauma with swimming and I’ve always tried my best to avoid swimming in school because it seemed like everybody knew how to and I was too stressed out and anxious about everything. I honestly thought this was a joke, but I’ve spent the last hour or two researching about this and it turns out that only a couple schools still do it (and, of course, one of them is Cornell) and, despite knowing that swimming is an important and life-long skill that would be very helpful with life in general, I can’t help but think this is some kind of ridiculous joke because 1) how does a college’s coercion correlate with you attending their institution and getting a degree? and 2) why do they only exempt those who are physically disabled while those with phobias of the water or severe trauma from it are forced to “get over it?” Honestly, if I had known this was a thing back in October, I probably wouldn’t have gone through ED with Cornell. I’ve heard that there have been countless student complaints of it, not just in Cornell, but also in MIT and others who still have the system and are still in continuity due to the donations of the wealthy. Honestly, I just hate this so much and some of you may claim that I’m overreacting, but I just don’t see the point of being forced to do a whole swimming test in an Olympic-sized pool just to get your diploma like, if I want to learn how to swim (and I definitely do and I know that it’ll take a while) voluntarily on my own time, then I will and I will dedicate myself to that. Even taking up the alternative Beginner Swimming class is going to take up so much time especially in a rigorous university like Cornell. Ugh, I don’t know; I hope some of you might be able to relate or be able to learn about this requirement if you didn’t know about it before.
Then don’t go to Cornell.
@twoinanddone That’s the problem and why I made the post. I legit just found out about this today and I’ve already been accepted to the college with extremely affordable financial aid. I can’t back out at all.
All Cornell students have a PE requirement. If you can’t swim, you take swimming as your PE requirement. It won’t take up any more time than you would have had to devote to another PE class.
You won’t be alone. They have this requirement because so many students don’t know how to swim and this could potentially save your life on day.
I took a synchronized swimming class for my PE requirement and I will share that it’s pretty awesome and stress reducing getting into a heated indoor pool when the weather is yucky. Feels like a mini vacation.
Cornell is amazing. Don’t let this derail your excitement.
Disclaimer: I was a strong USA swimmer growing up. As an adult/parent, I ran & coached our city’s rec swim team for 7 years. I took many a kid from being one step above drowning to being able to swim the four strokes legally.
That being said, in your post I read that you do not liked to be forced into something you don’t want to do, especially if it’s something you don’t think you can do well. I can TOTALLY relate to this. The more someone nags me to do something, the more I dig in and resist. And I hate doing things that I’m bad at. Ugh.
However, this is a requirement for graduation. Cornell is not alone in this requirement. My older S’ school also requires a swim test as well as several (4?) PE credits. Would taking beginning swimming fulfill one of these credits? If so, great! You get to kill two birds with one stone. You fulfill a required class while learning a valuable skill (essentially for free - you’d pay for it later) in a class with students at your same level. If for some reason it doesn’t satisfy a required course, then look at it as a nice mental break from your day. It’s not going to be a class that requires lots of time and homework and studying. Regular exercise helps keep you healthy. A part time job would require a lot more time, effort, and energy.
Your other option is to take classes and learn how to swim over the summer, so you can pass the test when you arrive on campus. If you don’t have time in the summer before college, I guarantee it will be a lot harder after you graduate and you’re worrying about careers, family, etc…
As a side note, my older S is taking yoga his final semester. This is a kid who inherited my lack of grace/flexibility. He can barely touch his knees let alone his toes. I’m so glad he’s trying, and I wish I had been required to take PE classes in school. I didn’t start yoga until age 40. I would have been much better off had I started at 20, as I’m fighting genetics, age, and decades of running/lifting/sitting in a twisted up mess.
In any case, good luck. Try to look at it as a positive. You’ll likely be glad you learned 20 years from now. And if you hate it, you’ll have a good story to tell down the road.
“Would taking beginning swimming fulfill one of these credits?”
Yes, beginning swimming would fulfill the Cornell PE credit.
I understand you do not like to be forced into doing thing you don’t want to do. However, I like the fact that Cornell requires its students to learn this important skill that can save a student’s life.
You’ll have four years to learn to how to swim before your graduation. I wish more colleges have this requirement.
I’m reasonably sure you can skip the swim test if you sign up for the swimming class.
It isn’t a difficult test, so if you learned a bit of basic swimming this summer you could pass.
Not sure if that would be easier for you though. I would assume most of the kids in that class were going to be in the same boat as you. The reality is most young adults can swim. If you can’t, there is probably a reason. I’m not saying that to be negative to you, I’m saying that everyone else in that class probably is pretty intimidated and not thrilled about being there either. That may make it a little bit easier to learn and less threatening when you are surrounded by people who are in a similar place to you.
I’m not sure where I read it, and it was not on this site. But I did read an essay by a girl who was forced to take the swim class who definitely did not want to be there. She ended up thinking it was a good experience. Part of college is stepping out of your comfort zone. Good luck, I’m sure you can do thisand I’m guessing after the first few classes you will like it a lot more than you think…
Cornell alum, here, who couldn’t swim (well) before attending.
If you take 2 semesters of Beginner Swimming, it counts as passing the swimming test AND as your required 2 semesters of PE.
FWIW, Beginner Swimming was a really well-paced, well-taught class. I took it and passed the test at the end of the semester, but I had friends who went the 2 semester route.
@miss92lady Thank you so much for your input! Do you know if you can automatically choose the option to take two semesters of Beginner Swimming or do you need to try the test after a semester of the class and, if you don’t pass, then you take the class again for another semester? I don’t know if one semester will be enough for me as I’ve never really learned how to swim, nobody has really spent any time trying to teach me, and I still need to feel comfortable not holding the railing of swimming pools because of the fear that, if I let go, I might drown (I almost did once in middle school when I just jumped into the pool during the swimming unit without a thought in my mind that I had no idea how to do it at all).
Also, I know that there’s an option to waive the requirement if one has a valid reason for it and I’m wondering if my situation of being afraid of the water and being in the pool by myself and all of the traumas that I’ve went through and watched other members of my family face be considered a fib by them since it’s not a religious reason and not necessarily a medical reason with documentation? I’ll try asking the administration about this as well, but I’m hoping you might have some insights on it. It’s something that’s really discouraging for me and I’ve had some regrets about fully committing to Cornell through ED and I know it’s such a preposterous reason for that, but I literally could’ve applied to any other Ivy League school for ED that didn’t have this requirement if I had known about it before. Swimming and I just don’t go well together and, although every year for gym class, there’s usually a swimming unit (which, of course, I always dread and get anxious about before I even started the next school year) in my school, the last time I remembered getting inside the pool was freshman year and that was because we just played water polo and the teacher was okay with me staying on the same side with another girl who couldn’t swim as well.
It’s really heartbreaking because I feel that Cornell is truly such a great school, but I don’t want to have to worry about this whole test once I get into campus on top of my inevitably hectic schedule. Honestly, when it comes to this requirement, I think all universities should have it so it’s fair for all students and also the fact that not many schools still do it means that it’s probably an antiquated requirement and should be altered or completely removed. Once again, thank you so much for your insights and congratulations on making it through the test!
I wish I could reach out and give you a big hug!
Swim instructors, especially for the beginning swimming class, are super patient, will not put you in an unsafe situation, or have you do something before you are ready and comfortable. You will also be with other students who feel the same way you do. Fear of the water and swimming is quite common.
Course registration doesn’t happen for the whole year at once so you’ll be a bit into the semester before you register for your next semester. Certainly you can choose to do the second swim class and put off the test until then. That said, I would bet that you’ll end up being ready earlier than you expect.
I’m sad that this is dampening your excitement about Cornell 
@galaxygirl Glad I could help!
You’re never forced to take the Swim Test in-class, so if you don’t feel comfortable taking it at the end of the semester, you can just enroll in a second semester of Beginner Swimming afterwards. Then after you take both semesters, you go to the Registrar’s office to let them know. I don’t know anyone personally who got out of the Swim Test requirement (apart from transfer students), but I’m sure it’s possible.
Though, from personal experience, you’re not forced to do anything you aren’t ready for in the class. For the first few sessions, we didn’t leave the shallow end and just focused on breathing, floating, and getting comfortable in the water. There were also flippers and boogie boards available for use. And you won’t be alone in the pool/class because, as @momofsenior1 mentioned, there will be lots of other people who can’t swim either.
I had friends who couldn’t even float at the beginning of class, but by the end were doing laps easily! I don’t want to undermine your fear, as it is completely valid, but the supportive environment of the class could be helpful in facing it. You don’t have to come out of the class an Olympic-caliber swimmer, but at the very least, it’d be good to learn how to float and doggy paddle in case of an emergency.