Rectal temperature taken at collège admission medical exams.

Reading various posts on this site, I understand a rectal temperature is often required at college admission medical exams in the US. Is this true and what would be the reason for this ?

No, it’s not, but might have been fun if it had been.

I didn’t even have a required exam. I think I just had to sign something saying I’d had the required immunizations.

Fantasy!

I never had a physical exam for college either I just signed up for the South Dakota school of mines at Rapid City. They asked me to check a box. It said I’d had my vaccinations which I did and that’s it. and the one time that I recall ever going to the little medical office they had when I had the flu. They took my temperature orally. It was one of those big IVAC digital thermometers.

@Svensson

No. Most universities in the U.S. don't require any medical examination. They might have required an admission medical exam 50+ years ago, not in recent years. Often the school is required by state law to ask about an incoming student's immunization status, the student has to prove they've received the required vaccinations - that's a paperwork task a nurse does, the student needs the official records of past vaccinations from their old doctors and clinics. Or, the student has to again receive those vaccinations. The general rule is: students always **lie** about their vaccinations, they're absolutely sure they had already been vaccinated against every disease known to man. Their old vaccination records had been destroyed in a flood, an earthquake, their mother lost the records or their dog ate it. In the U.S. many states audit the university's records proving vaccinations, that's why the university clinics are so picky about documentation. Also, University students would be wise to get yearly vaccinations for seasonal flu and COVID-19 - these vaccinations aren't mandated. Few students do,

We had to have physical releases from a doctor to play sports in high school, I don’t recall specifically, but I suspect I had to have the same for college teams. These were pretty basic, heart and lungs, hernia BP etc. they might have taken my temp orally as part of vitals. I’d remeber if they did rectally, and they didn’t. I think an RT for a school entrance or sports physical is wishful thinking for some!

Yes my doctor took my temperature rectal for my college exam

I never had a required exam before entering college. Seems unlikely that this would be at all common,

I started college in 1965. A medical exam was required and I saw an internist for the first time. He was new in town and the first appointment i could get. He did not do a rectal temperature. However, he did perform a rectal exam, the second I had ever had. My first was by our family GP at the age of 15 when I experienced rectal bleeding.

I entered college in 1985. I think I needed a health form filled out by my doc but I do not remember going for a physical. Back in the day there were not that many vaccinations [born in 1967], and they were recorded on a small trifold card that was the size of an index card when closed. It had the shot preprinted on the pages and lines underneath for the date(s) you got the shot or booster. Each date was written in pen by hand and initialed. I just photocopied the card and sent it in to the college - never heard about it again. Of course I could have added dates and initials myself, becaue they had no way of checking.

There was no exam when I matriculated. I don't even remember having to provide proof of vaccination.