Miscellaneous desk
< August 6	<< Jul \| August \| Sep >>	August 8 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Miscellaneous Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

August 7

A rising student?

What does it mean to be a rising sophomore? †Dismas†|^(talk) 04:15, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

~~I think it just means they're becoming more important (because of their success in the sport). See sense 16 of "rise" here: "to attain a higher status".~~ --69.159.9.219 (talk) 04:20, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

During the summer break, a student's status is usually considered based on the upcoming fall semester. But to emphasize that this is for the upcoming term rather than currently active enrollment, sometimes one says "rising". That is, at the current time, they are in the process of moving up to that next level for the imminent term. So a "rising sophomore" has completed the freshman level, but is currently on break and has not actually begun sophomore coursework. Google "rising sophomore", "rising junior", or "rising senior" to confirm. DMacks (talk) 04:23, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

That must be it, then. Thanks for the correction. That usage of "rising" does not exist in my experience (in Canada). --69.159.9.219 (talk) 05:51, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! I started with the Virginia Thrasher article which led me to that source. My wife and I, both American, have never heard the term used for students before. Normally I see, and use, "...will be starting her/his sophomore year..." Thanks again, †Dismas†|^(talk) 12:14, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I'd never heard the expression before, so I typed rising sophomore into Google. The first hit explains the term and suggests that it's popular in Washington, D.C. (and given the confusion, not much anywhere else!) Matt Deres (talk) 12:23, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

In DC, clarity is a dead issue. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 13:33, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

In America undergraduate courses appear to last four years, respectively freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. In Britain we just call them first, second and third (final) - year undergraduates, although some courses appear to include a fourth year. A "freshman" is simply someone who is new to university, although I believe some "Freshmens' Fairs" take place in the summer before the students go up in October. 86.165.247.15 (talk) 14:33, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The usual term in UK universities these days is "fresher", as in "freshers' week". AndrewWTaylor (talk) 12:48, 11 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Presumably freshers have a lot of drugs problems due to veir stress wiff maffs, innit?

Contrary to the experiences of the people above, I've heard the phrase frequently in various parts of the US. To call someone a "sophomore" during the summer would be unclear as to whether the sophomore year recently ended or will soon begin. Loraof (talk) 15:29, 7 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, but there are other ways to say it, as Dismas indicated. --69.159.9.219 (talk) 02:51, 8 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

As someone said: "I matriculated at university. It's all right. They can't touch you for it." 86.149.13.241 (talk) 09:56, 8 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]