<p>Can someone explain that? I've never heard of anything like that till recently and I'm not sure how it works. I'm applying to Cornell and I'm worried since I can barely swim, after 2 summers of trying to with the help of my friends.</p>
<p>You need to swim three lengths of the pool without stopping or touching the bottom.</p>
<p>Don't worry. You can opt out of the swim test and enroll in a course where you will definitely have to swim.</p>
<p>do transfers have to pass this test? I'm a terrible swimmer and practically have a phobia of water, nearly drowned as a kid. I guess if I go to cornell I'd have to take the swimming class and learn.</p>
<p>You do have all summer to learn if you're accepted, right? There might be some classes at your local YMCA or community center for free or cheap-- in a freshman semester that might be packed with classes, the anxiety of learning to swim for the first time might not be the best thing for you. Then again, I don't know you! </p>
<p>I'm on swim team so I might be biased here, but I think that learning to swim well enough to manage three lengths would be a far better thing than taking a whole swim class.</p>
<p>I'm studying abroad in Ghana over the summer so that won't be an option.
Anyway, I've always wanted to learn how to swim. Did take a class when I was like 7, but I don't think I ever really learned. I never go in the pool if it's more than 5 ft deep, and even that freaks me out because I'm like 5'2 so if I stand my head isn't fully surfaced lol. I don't really swim laps, I just kind of chill in the water, sometimes relax on one of those floaty seat things. anyway i'm not too worried about the class, i'm more worried about being accepted. only I'm still not sure if I want to transfer. I have a lot of thinking to do lol.</p>
<p>^Where in Ghana will you be?</p>
<p>Also, I think transfers are exempt from the swim test.</p>
<p>Accra. </p>
<p>I'll be a soph transfer - does that make me exempt? yay! but I still want to learn how to swim. Assuming of course it'll be in an indoor pool and not a frigid gorge in Ithaca.</p>
<p>What the heck is this? A swimming requirement?</p>
<p>Cool. I stayed in Cape Coast for a month but got to visit some of the larger cities as well (Accra, Kumasi, etc.). Had an enjoyable time.</p>
<p>As long as you transfer in enough credits to be considered a sophomore...you are exempt from the swim test. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm on swim team so I might be biased here, but I think that learning to swim well enough to manage three lengths would be a far better thing than taking a whole swim class.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I swam competitively for 12 years and used to think this was as well. However...once I began teaching swim lessons to people who just wanted to be comfortable with water I learned how difficult it can be. I taught people who had unexplained phobias of water...wouldn't even put the face in. I'd been in the water for years...so that experience was reality check for me.</p>
<p>sometimes I think I have a phobia of water, like I said I'll go in the pool if it's not too deep, but I can't be fully submerged or I'll freak out. I think it's cause when I was like 4 I nearly drowned in a lake after a kayak flipped over...I know it sounds dumb but I think I still have this phobia yrs later.</p>
<p>^^Not dumb at all. This past summer...I was teaching lessons to a 27 year old who had a near drowning experience when he was 5...I took my 3 weeks just to help him build enough confidence to put his face in the water.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I swam competitively for 12 years and used to think this was as well. However...once I began teaching swim lessons to people who just wanted to be comfortable with water I learned how difficult it can be. I taught people who had unexplained phobias of water...wouldn't even put the face in. I'd been in the water for years...so that experience was reality check for me.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yeah i tried to teach my friend how to swim this summer, and it was really a shock how uncomfortable he was in the water</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm the athletic adventurous type, but the one thing I cannot bring myself to doing is swimming. My mom nearly died in a whirlpool, and all of my siblings have a fear of water. I learned how to swim when I was little, but once I was in the deep-end by myself, I couldn't mentally handle it. I'm going to try to learn too! It will be hard though.</p>
<p>In Chapel Hill in the early 70's, we also had a swim requirement. The story was- one of the Cancellor's had a relative who died from drowning. It was considered a life skill. I see nothing wrong with it</p>