Freshman

For other uses, seeFreshman (disambiguation).

"Freshers" and "Frosh" redirect here. For other uses, seeFreshers (disambiguation)andFrosh (disambiguation).

"Freshman year" redirects here. For other uses, seeFreshman Year.

Freshman class artwork, fromEast Texas State Normal College's 1920Locustyearbook

Afreshman,fresher,first year,or colloquiallyfrosh,is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually asecondary schoolor at thecollegeanduniversitylevel, but also in other forms ofpost-secondary educational institutions.

Arab world

In much of theArab world,a first-year is called amubtabi'(مبتدئ;pluralمبتدئون,mubtadi'ūn), which is Arabic for "beginner".

Brazil

InBrazil,students that pass thevestibularesand begin studying in a college or university are called "calouros" or more informally "bixos" ( "bixetes" for girls), an alternate spelling of "bicho", which means "animal" (although commonly used to refer to bugs). Calouros are often subject tohazing,which is known as "trote" (lit. "prank" ) there. The first known hazing episode in Brazil happened in 1831 at the Law School ofOlindaand resulted in the death of a student.In 1999, aChinese Braziliancalouro of theUniversity of São PauloMedicine School namedEdison Tsung Chi Hsuehwas found dead at the institution's swimming pool; this has since become one of the most well known episodes of violent hazing and has received extensive national media coverage since that year.

Canada

The term "first year" is used for a first-year student at university or college. Thestudent orientation periodat Canadian universities is often called "Frosh week."

Chile

Mechónormechonais used for the first-year students ofUniversity of Chile,a term that has spread to the rest of the universities in the country.

Asia

Some Asian countries use the same names as used in the United States (freshman,sophomore,junior, senior), among themMalaysia.

Germany

InGermany,a first-semester student of a university program (Bachelor, Master, State exam etc) is calledErstsemester,or in short and more common,Ersti,witherstmeaning 'first' and the-iadding a benevolently diminutive tone. The plural isErstis.

Unlike the wordfreshman,which stands for a student in their whole firstyear,the German wordErstiis exclusively used for students in their firstsemester.Students of higher semesters are accordingly calledZweitsemester,Drittsemester,Viertsemesteretc. and sometimes, but rarely, alsoZweitis,Drittis,Viertis,etc.

United Kingdom

England and Wales

Students at the beginning of their first year of university are often known inEnglandandWalesasfreshers;however, the term 'first years'is also used. The first week of term before lessons is widely known asfreshers' week,when there are usually no classes, and students take part in induction events and fairs; but this arrangement is not universal. As freshers are newcomers to the institutions and often experience a period of adjustment as they navigate university life, there are numerous UK websites available that offer support and resources to help freshers with university preparations, such as providing guidance on accommodation, academic advice, social activities, and general tips for a successful start to their university journey.

Unlike inScotland,this term is not used in reference to pre-university education, the equivalent terms beingyear sevensfor the first year ofsecondary schoolandfirst years,lower sixersandyear twelvesused atsixth forms.

Scotland

First year(also known asS1in Scotland) is the first year of schooling insecondary schools in Scotlandand is roughly equivalent toYear 8(Second Form) in England and Wales and Year 9 (Second Form) in Northern Ireland. Most pupils are 12 or 13 years old at the end of S1.

The first year of primary education inScotlandis known asPrimary 1(P1).

At thefour ancient Scottish universitiesthe traditional names for the four years at university areBejan( "Bejant" at theUniversity of St Andrews) (1st),Semi (2nd), Tertian (3rd) and Magistrand (4th), though all Scottish universities will have a "freshers' week" (as with all British universities) and the term is as widely used with more traditional terms.

United States

Beginner

Freshman is commonly in use as aUS Englishidiomaticterm 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 tohigh schoolor university study).

First Year Congressional representatives

New members ofCongressin their first term are referred to asfreshmen senatorsorfreshmen congressmen or congresswomen,no matter how experienced they were in previous government positions.

First year high school students

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, or10th graders,then juniors or11th graders,and finally seniors or12th graders.

First year university students

At college or university, freshman denotes students in their first year of study. The grade designations of high school are not used, but the termssophomore,junior, and senior are kept at most schools. Some colleges, including historically women's colleges, do not use the term freshman but use first year, instead.Beyond the fourth year, students are simply classified as fifth year, sixth year, super senior, etc. Some institutions use the term freshman for specific reporting purposes.

See also

• Freshman fifteen
• Sophomore
• Junior (education year)
• Senior (education)
• Hazing