Freshman
Encyclopedia
A freshman or fresher (UK, India
) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang
plural frosh or freshmeat) is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves (e.g. They are first years).
and Scotland
, the term "first year" refers to the first years of either secondary school or university. In the case of university students, the term "fresher" is also used as in the United Kingdom.
, the whole of the student and academic traditions of Portuguese universities, a major part of it is the hazing of freshmen (in Portuguese, Caloiros). It is accompanied by a series of music festivals and partying.
There is an actual "Praxe Code" that describes the entire set of traditions, including the Freshman's rights. These include "The Freshman has NO rights" and "The Freshman is allowed to breathe occasionally".
education system, and in schools it is no longer in official usage. In England and Wales
a student's school career (not including pre-school nursery education) now begins with Reception
, usually at the age of four, and continues up to either Year 11 or Year 13
depending on whether the student is going on to further education. However, in informal usage the term "first year" is still very common. In Northern Ireland
and Scotland
, the first year of compulsory education is Primary 1 (P1).
Before the introduction of the "Year [number]" system around the early 1990s, the first year or first form almost always referred to the first year of secondary education
.
In Scotland
, the first year of secondary school
is known as S1 and also first year. In Northern Ireland
the first year is known as either "Year 8", "Form 1", "First Form" or "First Year". In England
, the first year is known as "Year 7". This continues to years 8 - 11 or 13 depending on whether the pupil is planning on higher education. Years 12 and 13 are known as Sixth Form
.
In UK universities, new students are referred to as "freshers", but not "freshmen" or "freshwomen". They are, of course, first-years, but generally only called "fresher" early in the first year. At some universities (such as Cambridge
) certain students may continue to be referred to as "freshers" until they have sat their first examination.
In some UK universities, the term "fresher" is considered derogatory, with some student's unions and universities encouraging the use of the term "first year" and rebranding events such as "Fresher's Week" as "Welcome Week"
Freshman is commonly in use as an US English idiom
atic term to describe a beginner or novice, someone who is naive, a first effort, instance, or a student in the first year of study (generally referring to high school
or university study).
New members of Congress in their first term are referred to as freshmen senators or freshman congressman to suggest their lack of experience at their new position, no matter how experienced they were in previous government positions.
High School first year students are almost exclusively referred to as Freshmen, or in some cases by their grade year, 9th graders. Second year students are Sophomores, or 10th graders, then Juniors or 11th graders, and finally Seniors or 12th graders.
At College or University Freshman denotes students in their first year of study. The grade designations of high school are not used, but the terms Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are kept at most schools. Some Women's colleges in the US do not use the term Freshman, but use the perceived gender neutral term: First Year, instead. Some liberal arts colleges do not use the terms Freshman, Sophomore, etc. at all, but rather stick to First Year, Second Year, Third Year, and Fourth Year designations. Beyond the fourth year, students are simply classified as fifth years, sixth years, etc. Some institutions use the term freshman for specific reporting purposes.
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
plural frosh or freshmeat) is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves (e.g. They are first years).
Ireland
In IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the term "first year" refers to the first years of either secondary school or university. In the case of university students, the term "fresher" is also used as in the United Kingdom.
New Zealand
The term first year is used within New Zealand universities, primarily to describe students in their first year of tertiary education direct from secondary school.Portugal
In the Portuguese PraxePraxe
The Portuguese term praxe describes the whole of student traditions in universities or, more often, to the initiation rituals freshmen are subjected to in some Portuguese universities....
, the whole of the student and academic traditions of Portuguese universities, a major part of it is the hazing of freshmen (in Portuguese, Caloiros). It is accompanied by a series of music festivals and partying.
There is an actual "Praxe Code" that describes the entire set of traditions, including the Freshman's rights. These include "The Freshman has NO rights" and "The Freshman is allowed to breathe occasionally".
United Kingdom
The term first year is occasionally used in the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
education system, and in schools it is no longer in official usage. In England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
a student's school career (not including pre-school nursery education) now begins with Reception
Reception (school)
Reception or Primary 1 or FS2 is the first year of primary school in the United Kingdom and South Australia. It is preceded by nursery and is followed by Year One in England and Wales or Primary 2 in Northern Ireland and Scotland.Pupils in Reception are usually aged between four and five...
, usually at the age of four, and continues up to either Year 11 or Year 13
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
depending on whether the student is going on to further education. However, in informal usage the term "first year" is still very common. In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the first year of compulsory education is Primary 1 (P1).
Before the introduction of the "Year [number]" system around the early 1990s, the first year or first form almost always referred to the first year of secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
.
In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the first year of secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
is known as S1 and also first year. In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
the first year is known as either "Year 8", "Form 1", "First Form" or "First Year". In England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the first year is known as "Year 7". This continues to years 8 - 11 or 13 depending on whether the pupil is planning on higher education. Years 12 and 13 are known as Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
.
In UK universities, new students are referred to as "freshers", but not "freshmen" or "freshwomen". They are, of course, first-years, but generally only called "fresher" early in the first year. At some universities (such as Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
) certain students may continue to be referred to as "freshers" until they have sat their first examination.
In some UK universities, the term "fresher" is considered derogatory, with some student's unions and universities encouraging the use of the term "first year" and rebranding events such as "Fresher's Week" as "Welcome Week"
United States
In the United States, freshman, rather than being a slang term, is officially used by most high schools and universities.Freshman is commonly in use as an US English idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
atic term to describe a beginner or novice, someone who is naive, a first effort, instance, or a student in the first year of study (generally referring to high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
or university study).
New members of Congress in their first term are referred to as freshmen senators or freshman congressman to suggest their lack of experience at their new position, no matter how experienced they were in previous government positions.
High School first year students are almost exclusively referred to as Freshmen, or in some cases by their grade year, 9th graders. Second year students are Sophomores, or 10th graders, then Juniors or 11th graders, and finally Seniors or 12th graders.
At College or University Freshman denotes students in their first year of study. The grade designations of high school are not used, but the terms Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are kept at most schools. Some Women's colleges in the US do not use the term Freshman, but use the perceived gender neutral term: First Year, instead. Some liberal arts colleges do not use the terms Freshman, Sophomore, etc. at all, but rather stick to First Year, Second Year, Third Year, and Fourth Year designations. Beyond the fourth year, students are simply classified as fifth years, sixth years, etc. Some institutions use the term freshman for specific reporting purposes.
See also
- Freshman fifteenFreshman fifteenThe Freshman fifteen refers to an amount of weight often gained during a student's first year at college.The expression is commonly used in the United States and Canada...
or (freshy) - SophomoreSophomoreSophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
- Junior (education)Junior (education)"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
- Senior (education)Senior (education)Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...