underclassmen
Younger college students
Underclassmen is the plural of underclassman, referring to students in the lower grades of a high school or college—typically freshmen and sophomores.
The term distinguishes these students from upperclassmen, who are juniors and seniors.
The orientation session was mandatory for all underclassmen.
The word is used primarily in American English and carries connotations of inexperience or junior status within an academic institution.
Newly enrolled students
- sophomoresStudents in year two
- undergraduatesStudents seeking bachelor's degrees
- lowerclassmenFreshmen and sophomores
- lower divisionFirst two collegiate years
introductory · prerequisites · core curriculum · general education · academic advising · matriculation · credit hours · survey courses
Newly enrolled students
- sophomoresStudents in year two
- dorm lifeStudent communal living experience
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- pledgesFormal promises given
rush week · meal plans · resident advisors · campus tours · student activities · homecoming · school spirit · student government
Inexperienced beginners in profession
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
- greenhornsInexperienced beginners
- fledglingsYoung birds with feathers
beginners · initiates · newbies · entrants · tyros · inexperienced · uninitiated · first-timers
Lower-ranked members
- seniorsOldest in a group
- class rankPosition among graduating students
- seniorityRank from length of service
- pecking orderSocial dominance arrangement
hazing · mentorship · class president · graduation requirements · varsity · junior varsity · lettermen
freshmen
Newly enrolled students
- sophomoresStudents in year two
- undergraduatesStudents seeking bachelor's degrees
- lowerclassmenFreshmen and sophomores
lower division · introductory · prerequisites · core curriculum · general education · academic advising · matriculation · credit hours · survey courses · foundational
freshmen
Newly enrolled students
- sophomoresStudents in year two
- dorm lifeStudent communal living experience
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
pledges · rush week · meal plans · resident advisors · campus tours · student activities · homecoming · school spirit · student government · intramurals
rookies
Inexperienced beginners in profession
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
- greenhornsInexperienced beginners
fledglings · beginners · initiates · newbies · entrants · tyros · inexperienced · uninitiated · first-timers · untested
juniors
Lower-ranked members
- seniorsOldest in a group
- class rankPosition among graduating students
- seniorityRank from length of service
pecking order · hazing · mentorship · class president · graduation requirements · varsity · junior varsity · lettermen
- yearbookssenior portraits, senior photos, senior quotes, class photos, yearbook editor
- campus populationfreshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, undergraduates
- Cadetsnaval cadets, army cadets, midshipman, midshipmen, plebe
- newcomersnewcomers, newcomer, new arrivals, new arrival, newbie
- school levelskindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade
- school yearsfreshman year, sophomore year, junior year, senior year, first year
underclassmenupperclassmen
Juniors and seniors collectively
seniors · juniors · graduating class · alumni · graduate students