<p>"Most Schools Have Thrown in Towel, But Some Require Swim Skills to Graduate"</p>
<p>My college's swim requirement made me learn how to swim.</p>
<p>For</a> Certain College Students, This Test Calls for a Plunge - WSJ.com</p>
<p>My college did not have a swim requirement, but it had a p.e. requirement. I learned to sail and play golf and took swimming (my choice) from the D1 varsity swim coach. I thought it was great to hone those life skills.</p>
<p>My daughter eliminated any college from consideration that would require her to pass a swim test. :-)</p>
<p>Didn’t even look to see if any of the schools our kids applied to had to pass a swim test. They can swim so not an issue. I think most of the schools have a PE credit requirement though. DD will meet that as a member of a varsity sport. I took archery in college for fun. We had a PE requirement but I was a varsity sport member too so I didn’t technically need to.</p>
<p>Bay–golf is a great sport to learn in college–a nice option to have in the business world!!</p>
<p>I vaguely remember a scandal 25 years or so ago where an inner-city kid on scholarship at an elite school almost drowned while attempting the swim test; turns out he had never been swimming in his life, and he was too embarrassed to admit it in front of his peers. The demise of the swimming requirement may have something to do with its inherent assumptions about the background experiences students bring to college. Hanging around lakes, pools and beaches all summer during your childhood years is a mark of privilege.</p>
<p>Drownng is the third accidental cause of death worldwide.
Not all could have been prevented but it is an important skill to have.
I think my oldests school required a swim test, youngests doesnt but she has worked as a lifeguard.</p>
<p>My D is at W&L which requires one…she said most students passed it. Girls and guys took the test at different times. If you don’t pass you take swimming as your first PE. All W&L students are required to take 4 PE classes to graduate. She just finished up…tennis, racquetball, weight training and boot camp!</p>
<p>My daughter’s U does not require one - wouldn’t have been a problem for her as she was a State level competitive swimmer in HS. Her husband on the other hand cannot swim at all. Kind of funny that my water baby who loved to scuba dive fell in love with a non swimmer. He comes from a well off and well educated family and I was baffled that they never made sure he could swim, but apparently he is one of those people who can not float at all. She tried to teach him but quickly realized that teaching your significant other to swim was one of those “not a good idea at all” ideas!</p>
<p>My D’s school requires freshmen to pass a swim test, and it was a source of much anxiety. Not so much about passing the test, but whether she should wear a one-piece or a two-piece swimsuit!</p>
<p>My college required swimming as part of PE for everyone. Of course it also required water survival. Different kind of school.</p>
<p>I think being able to swim is a critical skill. It seems at least some of those colleges allow a beginning swim class in place of the test.</p>
<p>When I was in 3rd grade at a public school in Harlem in the 70’s, we actually had a swimming pool in the basement and all classes took lessons. I heard budget cuts closed it a few years later but back in the almost-broke NYC of the 1970’s, us poor kids did learn to swim :)</p>
<p>My college required us to take a swimming placement test during “orientation,” which put us in the required level of the freshman swimming class we took. There were multiple things we had to do to graduate (r/t swimming); I think a hop off the 10m platform was one of the “simpler” ones… :S Gotta love the swimming requirements…and it is an important skill!</p>
<p>I went to Cornell (class of '76) and so did my daughter (class of '11). We both had to pass a swim test.</p>
<p>There was a small change in Cornell’s swim test procedure between my generation and hers, however. In my time, the men took their swim test in the nude (in a different pool from the one used for the women’s swim test). In her time, students of both sexes wore bathing suits.</p>
<p>I am not making this up. [Dear</a> Uncle Ezra - Questions for Thursday, August 14, 2003 - Cornell University](<a href=“http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1060837200]Dear”>http://ezra.cornell.edu/posting.php?timestamp=1060837200)</p>
<p>Had to pass a swim test to graduate from MIT. That requirement still exists today.</p>
<p>I believe you - other schools were (in)famous for their nude swim tests! As stated in the article, ND still has its swim requirement; however, now swimsuits are required!</p>
<p>I think kids should pass swimming test before going to high school.</p>
<p>I believe Harvard used to require a swim test…</p>
<p>Hamilton requires a swim test.</p>
<p>Colgate had swim requirement. I got my doctor to write a note to get me out of it. I then found out I needed PE credits to graduate senior spring, and the only sport I could do for 6+ hours a day for a week was bowling. I spent my senior week bowling so I could graduate. </p>
<p>Of course, I married a guy who was a varsity swimmer in college. Both of our girls take after their dad.</p>
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<p>That is hilarious. Have you ever bowled since?</p>