<p>I love this. Apparently because "Kings College" was worried that in the event of a British invasion during the Revolutionary war the students would need to know how to swim to safety. SOME TRADITIONS NEED TO DIE.</p>
<p>Did no one notice Denzera's comment? I thought it was hilarious hahaha.</p>
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What's the purpose of the swim test? I mean the initial one when this policy was launched.
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<p>When I visited, a student told me the longstanding joke about it:
1) Columbia College students have to take the swim test because if the British invade New York, students will have to swim across the Hudson to safety.
2) SEAS students don't have to take the swim test because they could just build a boat.
3) Barnard students don't have to take it because they could just jump on the back of a Columbia guy and ride to safety.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Anyway, I personally don't think it's a big deal at all. Knowing how to swim is a good skill to have, just like riding a bike. If you can't swim, take the swim class. If you can swim, just take the test!</p>
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Did no one notice Denzera's comment? I thought it was hilarious hahaha.
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i'm a big proponent of the strategic use of the word "indeed". it adds some British to your otherwise dry sarcasm.</p>
<p>hahaha I heard the engineering joke before, but the Barnard one is fantastic.</p>
<p>So how much exactly do you need to swim? Is an average swimmer gonna make it??</p>
<p>[snopes.com:</a> The Swim Test](<a href=“http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/swimtest.asp]snopes.com:”>The Swim Test | Snopes.com)</p>
<p>I love the swim test. It’s not much, but I like the idea that at least some physical ability is put into the mix in the University setting. If you pass out from exhaustion after 10 blocks of swimming, I’d say you should probably spend more time exercising. Sound body, sound mind.</p>
<p>do you get excused from the swim test if you have a medical condition that restricts you from swimming?</p>
<p>"funny you mention that… I was just watching a program on the History Channel (that really shows my geekiness) on how a big hurricane that hits New York, Katrina-style, is inevitable (especially since the last one was in 1938) and how it would flood like all of Brooklyn and half of Manhattan. "</p>
<p>This is trippy…</p>
<p>Ds school has swim test for all first years. It also has PE requirement to take 4 PE courses to grad. If you don’t pass swim test, then that’s your first PE. Relatively easy, D said most students passed. Girls and guys tested separately. And Mhan, they do have a class that’s kind of one on one where trainers set up individualized program for students who (for whatever reason) can’t complete PE requirement with regular offerings.</p>