<p>So what exactly is the swim test at Cornell like? (It's required for every freshman, right?) I'm a horrible swimmer, and I lack the "buoyancy factor," and my asthma bothers me for some reason when I swim, so this might be a problem if I go there? I can seriously barely do the width of a typical pool (pathetic, I know)...</p>
<p>As long as you don't drown, they'll pretty much let you pass.
If you cannot pass for medical reasons, then they'll let you satisfy the requirement with a course in first-aid.</p>
<p>The test is a 75 meter swim. First, you must swim 25 meters freestyle, then 25 back, then 25 whatever you want.</p>
<p>Wait, there's a swim test?</p>
<p>What happens if you don't know how to swim? >_></p>
<p>If you can't swim, you must take an intro swim class for PE credit</p>
<p>Swimming is good physical treatment if you have asthma. It might explain why I've stuck with swimming for at least 10 years.</p>
<p>Oh, and for the sake of saving time, if you've had any interest in applying to MIT, you'd better get cracking and strap on some goggles.. can't graduate without knowing how to swim.</p>
<p>you swim to one end of the pool frontstroke, back using backstroke, then back again either way. 3 laps total. and don't worry about being professional; tons of kids paddle and barely stay afloat as they cross the pool, but still pass. it's so worth it to at least try in order to skip beginner swim.</p>
<p>That is kinda weird though...Columbia is the same way. Why swimming?</p>
<p>So if you take the intro swim class and pass, you're set? I wonder what the passing requirements for that class are, since I would probably end up taking it if I get into Cornell. I suppose I'll practice a lot, but I float like a rock : P</p>
<p>25 meters really isn't that long at all. not even 3 laps of 25 meters. i was surprised at how short/not hard it was, and i'm NOT a good swimmer at all. </p>
<p>so yeah, even if you can't swim well, at least try to pass it.</p>
<p>
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Why swimming?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So if you graduate and drown your family can't sue the school for not preparing you for life. </p>
<p>Seriously, they think it's an important life skill.</p>
<p>You might find this article about the swim test interesting:</p>
<p>Do they schedule each incoming freshman to come to the pool for his/her test at a certain time?</p>
<p>Or do they drive the mass of new students to one end of the pool, block off the sides, and brandish Certificates of Authenticity in Swimming Ability seductively from the other end?</p>
<p>Probably the latter, it sounds like a better and a more efficient plan.</p>
<p>you choose the time slot (they're in 30 minute time block i think?) you want on the 'class of' site (for us, classof2010.cornell.edu or something similar to that) before school depending on the activities you have scheduled during orientation week. </p>
<p>you go at your scheduled time, and the pool has 6 lanes (for the girls @ helen newman anyways - i'm not quite sure about the guys' pool). there are a bunch of people, and you line up for the lanes. lifeguards on both sides of the pool. once they take your student ID card and signal for you to go, you can go. take your time, finish the three laps, and as long as the lifeguards dont say anything to you, grab your ID off the desk once the people at the desk have confirmed that you've passed it and go.</p>
<p>my advice is to go about 20 minutes early - i scheduled mine at 8:30am on the 3rd day of orientation. my dorm (balch) is right next to helen newman, and i left at around 7:45 am (since i couldn't get back to sleep), got there at about 7:50 am, and about 6 people were already lined up for the swim test even though the pool wasn't open. the line started getting really long at about 8:15.</p>