Sophomore
 | The examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with the United States and do not represent aworldwide viewof the subject.(May 2022) |
In theUnited States,asophomore(/ˈsɑːfmɔːr/or/ˈsɒfəmɔːr/)[1][2]is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at asecondary schoolor at thecollegeanduniversitylevel, but also in other forms ofpost-secondary educational institutions.Inhigh schoola sophomore is equivalent to atenth gradeor Class-10 student.
In sports,sophomoremay also refer to a professional athlete in their second season. In entertainment, television series in their second season may be referred to as sophomore shows, while actors and musicians experiencing their second major success may be referred to as sophomore artists.
High school
[edit]The10th gradeis the second year of a student'shigh schoolperiod (usually aged 15–16) and is referred to as sophomore year,[3][4]so in a four year course the stages arefreshman,sophomore,juniorandsenior.
InHow to Read a Book,theAristoteleanphilosopherand founder of the "Great Books of the Western World"programMortimer Adlersays, "There have always been literate ignoramuses, who have read too widely, and not well. The Greeks had a name for such a mixture of learning and folly which might be applied to the bookish but poorly read of all ages. They are all 'sophomores'."[5]Thisoxymoronpoints at the Greek words σοφός ('wise') and μωρός ('fool').
High-school sophomores are expected to begin preparing for the college application process, including increasing and focusing their extracurricular activities. Students at this level are also considered to be developing greater ability for abstract thinking.[6]
Tertiary education
[edit]The term sophomore is also used to refer to a student in the second year of college or university studies in the United States; typically a college sophomore is 19 to 20 years old. Sophomores generally work on completing general education requirements and might declare their major if they are allowed. College sophomores are also advised to begin thinking of career options and to get involved in volunteering or social organizations on or near campus.[7]
See also
[edit]
- Freshman
- Junior (education year)
- Sophomore slump
- Second-system effect
- Senior (education)
- Sophomore's dream
References
[edit]- ^"Sophomore – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary".Retrieved17 December2014.
- ^"sophomore".Retrieved17 December2014.
- ^"Concise Oxford English Dictionary".Oxford University Press.Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2007.
- ^"Sophomore (1)".Merriam–Webster.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-11.
- ^Adler, Mortimer (1972).How to Read a Book.Simon and Schuster. p. 11.ISBN0671212095.
- ^Strauss, Valerie (2006-02-07)."Sophomore Year: Between Lark and a Hard Place".Education section.The Washington Post.Retrieved2009-05-26.
- ^"Sophomore Year: Get Involved".A year by year guide.Yale University.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-21.Retrieved2009-05-26.NB: In the US the termcollegeis used synonymously foruniversity,whereas this is not the case in other English-speaking countries. A college was originally a society of scholars incorporated within, or in connection with, a university, or otherwise formed for purposes of study or instruction; however, in the US, where commonly only one college was formed, then the terms became interchangeable. In the UK, where many universities have more than one college, and where there are colleges outside the university framework that do not always study to the same level, the term is not interchangeable, so should be used with care to avoid misunderstandings; Everywhere else in the English-speaking world,universityis more commonly used.