First Year Student versus Freshman

[Senusret I]

Does your college or university say "first year student" instead of Freshman?

Did your college eliminate freshman/sophomore/junior/senior as classifications entirely?

I feel like my college did this officially, but we all colloquially stick with the traditional classifications.

[pshsx1]

My school says "first year students" because a lot of people here don't fit nicely into a class standing although we still have the Freshman (0-29), Sophomore (30-59), Junior (60-89), and Senior (90+) standings.

[AGDee]

I'm curious whether they use the term "first year student" to include 1) kids who have enough college credits when they start from AP or Community College credits to technically qualify as Sophs, even though they are 18 and in their first year of college and 2) transfer students who are FIRST year to that school, but perhaps Juniors or Sophs in credits.

[Senusret I]

I am assuming yes on number one, no on number two.

[AXiDMeesh]

At my college it depends on what your degree program is, like I'm in my second year of college which obviously makes me a sophomore, but it's my first year in the Architecture program so I'm referred to as a first year architecture student. I guess that's a yes and a no? lol

[pshsx1]

At my school, "first year student" is usually reserved for students in their first year at LTU with less than 30 credits and then "Transfer student" refers to other people who transferred in with more than 30 credits in their first year at LTU.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Does your college or university say "first year student" instead of Freshman?

Did your college eliminate freshman/sophomore/junior/senior as classifications entirely?

I feel like my college did this officially, but we all colloquially stick with the traditional classifications.

If traditional classifications are eliminated by a college, do the credit ranges that were previously associated with the traditional classifications then transfer over to the new classifications? Or is it an entirely different concept?

[AOII Angel]

My university used freshman/ sophomore, but medical school and residency used first year/second year, etc. The weird thing is that their is no way to be in between years as a medical school student or resident. You don't have hours or credits.

[lovespink88]

My school uses freshman, sophomore, etc. even officially. When I log into my school account it says "Class Standing: Senior".

A co-worker's school referred to the students as first year, second year, etc. It made me laugh cause it reminded me of Harry Potter

[KSUViolet06]

We still use the Freshman through Senior classifications for undergrads.

[psusue]

Technically anyone who is starting at my university for the first time (regardless of AP credits) is termed a "first year student". At least, that's the p.c. way of saying it. I still say freshmen a lot, though. The reasoning behind this is that the term "freshman" came from the idea that these students were "fresh men", straight out of high school. The would denote that 1. all students in colleges and universities today are men and 2. that they are all 17 or 18 years old when they start school. Because this trend has obviously changed (ex: the fact that Penn State is 45% female now as well as the fact that the average age of a first year college student is getting older as time passes) the school wants to try to remove the use of this word due to prejudicial connotations. That's the explanation I was given, anyway. Also, in technical terms we are to be referred to thereafter by semester standing, as this is more precise term in most cases (as it refers to number of credits earned versus the actual number of years you have been here/have remaining).

[33girl]

I actually remember people using the term "freshperson."

Another PC piece of poo that people will laugh at and never use in daily life.

I think the reason med school/law school use first year etc is because the program itself is pretty rigidly scheduled and full of prerequisites. That's the impression I get, anyway.

[PeppyGPhiB]

My school still uses Freshman, etc. because there aren't many "fifth year" students - as a private school almost everyone graduates in four years. For first year students who enter with college credit from AP and such, they are classified according to their credits standing, which would be either Freshman or Sophomore. Therefore, some first-year, recently graduated high school students enter as sophomores. But for purposes of policies that extend to all first year students - such as mandatory on-campus housing - they would still refer to them as first-year students.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I'm curious whether they use the term "first year student" to include 1) kids who have enough college credits when they start from AP or Community College credits to technically qualify as Sophs, even though they are 18 and in their first year of college and 2) transfer students who are FIRST year to that school, but perhaps Juniors or Sophs in credits.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I am assuming yes on number one, no on number two.

i believe NYU uses the term to encompass both, with more emphasis on the first one. when it comes to student activities/residence life, the 2nd didnt apply as transfers were not typically eligible for first-year housing. i feel two different ways about it: a transfer could come from a school mid-year, only having one semester under their belt, and their college experience could still be "fresh." a year out is a little different, and that person probably wouldnt want to live with a freshman. another first-year, perhaps.

i bet more thought is given to this being that NYU is a revolving door of transfer students.

[Gusteau]

Freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior here.

Do not say "first-year." This is not UVA, you will be corrected.