<p>Why are all students required to take a swim test or swim lessons at Cornell? Why is it mandatory? I'm just wondering.......</p>
<p>I asked this ques..before......check out old threads</p>
<p>Hahah, here's a link to that thread:</p>
<p>you're the queen, you should know...</p>
<p>hahaha. LOL</p>
<p>Do you take the test in front of all the students in your class? Oh boy, that might be embarrassing.</p>
<p>You will take it in front of about maybe 100 kids in your assigned slot. There really isn't anything embarassing about it unless you fail, and even then it isn't that bad. I saw about 5 kids fail during my testing time and I remember nothing about any of them, so If I saw them again I would have no clue they failed. The guys try and make it a race. This isn't explicit, but everyone pretty much knows that it is a race. Nobody would think anything less of you if you finished last, except you might feel embarassed, but the truth is nobody cares, everyone just wants to get the test over with.</p>
<p>is there any other ways to waive the test???</p>
<p>my sister is at cornell right now.</p>
<p>and i don't think you can get a waiver from the swim test.</p>
<p>it's not too bad.</p>
<p>i guess they want to make sure that people will be ok if they fall in the cayuga lake....</p>
<p>I'm glad it's a swim test and not a running test. .. or maybe i'm the only one..</p>
<p>there's a swin test b/c a girl at cornell drowned (while at cornell i'm guessing) and her mom wanted the school to have swim tests from then on.</p>
<p>well there are a LOT of people there that actually jump in there because they WANT TO drown...</p>
<p>which is sad.</p>
<p>and i hope my sister doesn't become that way</p>
<p>evanescenteuphoria:</p>
<p>If you followed the link above you would have seen that the drowning story is a myth. I have cut and pasted the Uncle Ezra <a href="http://ezra.cornell.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://ezra.cornell.edu/</a> answer to that question below. </p>
<p>DUE,
When I was a Freshman I was told the reason Cornell requires a swim test is because the child of a former president/admistrator/dean/etc.'s drowned a long long time ago.Is there any truth to this story? Thanks, Simon </p>
<p>Dear Simon, </p>
<p>You've stumbled upon one of the campus' biggest wives tales! The rumor has even made it on to Snopes.com (<a href="http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/swimtest.asp)%5B/url%5D">http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/swimtest.asp)</a>, an internet rumor debunker, but they reference a different college. The "T"ruth from the source is that the swim test is not the result of a mandate from a generous benefactor or influential administrator, nor is it an opportunity to drum up business for the Physical Education department.The real reason that CU has a swim test is far more practical.If you search the Ezra Archives you will learn that it began during World War II, because so many students were going off to fight, and it was deemed a necessary skill to have. After the war ended, the swim test remained. It is a graduation requirement as voted on by the University Faculty. Several years ago it came up for renewal and was reaffirmed by the faculty. Cornell is one of a handful of schools that still require a swim test, but like the swimming anxiety some students face, its origin tends to loom larger than the actual experience. I hope you successfully passed your swim test, or are enjoying learning this life long skill.</p>
<p>ahhhhhhh. ic</p>
<p>hmm, maybe it's because cornell is surrounded by...hmmm....THE CAYUGA LAKES! Shame on you, you didn't do your homework...grr..jk!</p>
<p>I heard they have had it at Columbia since the days of the Revolution to ensure that kids could swim across the river from the Redcoats.</p>
<p>^ wow interesting fact.</p>
<p>:)</p>