<p>I was researching about Cornell and I found this :</p>
<p>The only university-wide requirements for a baccalaureate degree are to pass a swimming test, take two physical education courses, and satisfy a writing requirement.</p>
<p>Um.. just out of curiosity, is this really true?!! SWIMMING TEST? ....</p>
<p>Cornell is first and foremost a scuba diving certification center.</p>
<p>Yeah, Cornell isn't the only big name school to mandate that. I forget the other school I heard, though.</p>
<p>It's true. Every freahman is required to swim like 75 yards durring a test. If you dont pass the test or opt. out of it, you have to take some extra health classes or something. I think this requirement is rediculous.</p>
<p>columbia does a swim test too, pretty sure</p>
<p>lol i see... it sounds really queer but I guess they care a lot about fitness of students haha</p>
<p>Yea students from Columbia College are mandated to take a swimming test but those from the college of engineering do not have to because "they can build bridges", that is what I was told on the tour.lol</p>
<p>Univ of Chicago also requires that you pass a swim test. In addition, you have to pass a general phys ed test that focuses on aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, etc., or you have to take a # of phys ed courses + a swimming class (all without credit, BTW).</p>
<p>so everyone is required to take the swimming test?? LOL wow. that's kind of scary. I hope none of my scools mandate that.</p>
<p>its just 75 yards / 2-5 minutes of non-hard work, whats so bad about it? Nothing</p>
<p>Williams College also requires a swimming test.</p>
<p>Great idea! It's sad that we as Americans find 75 yards (3 lengths) a form of torture. I think more institutions of higher ed should require certain physical tests. Academics alone only exercise the mind. If college is meant to better the entire person, this is a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>yea quite a few schools require this</p>
<p>it's not that it's torture. I just believe that isn't that a problem forthose who can't swim. I know not everyone in the US can swim. I have no problem with like physical tests or anything. I know a couple of my friends don't swim.</p>
<p>MIT also mandates a swimming test. I think it was the first thing I did when I got there. You can satisfy the requirement, and get a PE class out of the way as well (four are required, or two plus a varsity sport), by taking the swimming PE class.</p>
<p>I wouldn't complain. A 75 meter swim test is much better than a mile run. I'm sure if schools wished to have such a test, they could surely get away with it.</p>
<p>you can do it any style you want, like doggy paddle, they don't care</p>
<p>Why swimming? Why not running?</p>
<p>dartmouth also requires a swimming test. just throwing it out there.</p>
<p>California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had to pass a swimming test requirement for graduation from Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior in 1979. He was already a famous movie star, so his test day at the pool drew quite crowd of onlookers eager to watch Arnold swim.</p>