<p>i am aware of the swimming requirement at UChicago. if you do not pass the test, is there a specific year that you have to take the swimming classes?</p>
<p>No. I know a 4th year who hasn't taken it yet. Also, if you know how to swim at all, you will pass the test. You can even doggy-paddle it, I think.</p>
<p>What if you only know the breaststroke?</p>
<p>4 laps... any stroke... any speed...</p>
<p>S essentially backfloated the four laps. Took forever, but he did it and was DONE. He had told us he was just going to take the class, but sometime between Saturday and Sunday of O-week he changed his mind. :)</p>
<p>are the swim tests at colleges more of a tradition than anything?</p>
<p>nope, you have to pass them. They're a real-life test.</p>
<p>Don't forget the physical fitness placement test...</p>
<p>what are those?</p>
<p>
[quote]
The College requires students to pass a physical education test or take up to three classes in physical education, including jogging, archery, yoga, and conditioning.
[/quote]
University</a> of Chicago College Admissions | The Common Core</p>
<p>From what I understand, though the classes are required, no credit is awarded for them.</p>
<p>The physical placement test is a killer :(</p>
<p>what do you ahve to do</p>
<p>what is the "physical placement" test and what does it involve?</p>
<p>when i was at northwestern, there was a basketball game between our hong kong student group and yours. when the team from the uchicago showed up, they were mostly chinese americans, not students that grew up in hong kong (who became just the watching fans instead)! we had about 20-25 students from hong kong, so we had a very small pool to pick players from. we still won despite all these, in a american sport! now you can tell why uchicago thinks its students need phy ed. ;)</p>
<p>congratulations?</p>
<p>What are you guys honestly worried about, you can't run a few miles or swim a few laps? The PE test shouldn't be that hard if you're mildly athletic.</p>
<p>The fact that I don't remember the PE test that much tells you a bit about how significant it is.</p>
<p>At worst, you take a year's worth of gym, with classes like archery and social dance.</p>
<p>I don't really remember either, but I'm pretty sure there is no running involved at all. I think you do stair steps for a minute or something and they take your heart rate and then you do a little bit of lifting and maybe some sit ups? It's really not intense and you don't have to be that in shape to pass it. I think if you can walk up two or three flights of stairs you'll be fine.</p>
<p>S1 said all he can remember is that it was not as easy as he had anticipated, and he was a competitive athlete.</p>
<p>S passed the strength part, which surprised him since he is incredibly unathletic (unless it involves frisbee or social dance). I think he has to take two quarters of PE; he was non-chalant about it.</p>