<p>I apologige- it is before the holidays which means going out town which is fine in itself ( any suggestions for palatable music the whole family can listen to?) but every year I say next year I am going someplace where I only have to pack a bathing suit and a sarong ( they better watch out- soon I won’t have that as an option!)
anyway- I digress- I went out to dinner tonight to scold my husband in a suitably public place- but we ran into friends so I had a couple drinks instead
I won’t get into a discussion about how my 15 yr old text messaged me at 1am asking when was the earliest she could change schools( which was the inspiration for the drinks)- but I was wondering since it came up- how many other schools require a thesis to graduate like Reed.</p>
<p>one of my friends was sure that Ivy schools require a thesis & I knew that while many schools have that as an honors option - I wasn’t clear on what schools required it for all students or what it looked like
( yes I know I could look this up on US News:::::hush:::::: )</p>
<p>Many schools require one to graduate with departmental honors; Wesleyan does, and I had to write one for Michigan. But I think most schools do not require one of all students.</p>
<p>When looking at colleges, my D wanted a college that offered a thesis; we found that very few colleges <em>required</em> a thesis of ALL students. Many colleges had some majors that required one. The vast majority of colleges, however, have non-thesis majors.</p>
<p>All of the Claremonts require that every student write a thesis or do a senior project (art/theatre/dance majors only, I believe).It’s a pretty unique experience that I think most people dread, but all get through.</p>
<p>“Columbia does require a swim test to graduate. Does any other college?”</p>
<p>Williams used to. I did a thesis for my degree, and, looking back at it, I’m sorry I did. There were simply better learning opportunities available to me without it, and the product was non-too-impressive either. I spent about an hour in the Reed library looking through the theses there as well, and, on the whole, I was equally unimpressed. </p>
<p>But it certainly is a good experience for some students, which is why I think the option should be there, for some students.</p>
<p>Harvard does not require an honors thesis but I do believe that they encourage you to undertake one. To graduate with English honors, a Harvard student must do a thesis or senior project plus fulfill
department requirements with distinction. Graduating with Latin honors is based on grade point average. It is very confusing with many changes instituted recently to reduce the number graduating with departmental honors. My S said to graduate with honors you must double major and write a thesis on a topic related to the two majors – but I couldn’t find that info on the Web site. Perhaps this was an older requirement (he is taking longer than 6 years to graduate) which predated the changes. He finds that writing a thesis is a valuable experience but time consuming.</p>
<p>I think Colgate either requires somesort of fitness test to graduate or else you are in charge of setting up all the chairs at graduation.
Reed has a PE requirement- and they have actually withheld diplomas from students who didn’t take it seriously- it is fairly flexible though- my daughter has taken salsa- self defense and is now taking independent weight training.
I think PE requirements used to be more commonly applied- perhaps they should be again?</p>
<p>MIT has a swim requirement. Either you pass as an incoming freshling or you immediately take a swim class. Both Reed and MIT have PE requirements.</p>
<p>besides the swim test, Columbia also requires two semesters of PE. The swim test can be taken any time, and my S has decided to join the tradition of taking it last semester, then celebrating wi th everyone who waited…why, I don’t know.</p>
<p>and my S has decided to join the tradition of taking it last semester, then celebrating wi th everyone who waited…why, I don’t know.</p>
<p>maybe it is a party-like when everyone gathers at the post office on april 15th midnight
( although with online delievery just another thing that has gotten swept up in technology)</p>
<p>My D goes to a camp where before every session there is a swim test in Puget Sound ( cold salt water) even if you are going for mulitiple sessions you have multiple swim tests-
this year however she is hoping to go as a counselor intern and will be helping the kids with the test- not actually taking it!</p>
<p>Dartmouth has a swim test requirement
(I can see my kid coming to graduation all wet because she hasn’t gotten around to getting it done. Maybe this summer)</p>
<p>They also have to complete 3 PEs before the end of sophmore year (they are not graded)</p>
<p>I think it is great that these schools are requiring PE- it is too easy for some of these kids to live in their heads- not that many of them aren’t in good shape- after all what are they 20?::::::::pause while I reflect on what it was like to be 20::::::::::::
but exercise can be so good to relieve stress and change your focus for a few hours- even at a school that doesn’ thave any big name sports teams!</p>
<p>I was told that every year, there are a few students at MIT’s graduation ceremonies with wet hair, having just passed their swim test that morning…</p>
<p>(Edit: dmd77, my first-year MIT student has neither taken his swim test yet nor been required to take a swim class. I think he’s planning to test during the January term…)</p>
