Freshman A freshman ( US ) or fresher ( UK , India , Ireland , South Africa ) ( or sometimes fish , freshie , prep ; slang plural frosh , freshmeat or pichones ) is a first - year student in secondary school , high school , college or university . The term first year can also be used as a noun , to describe the students themselves or others ( e . g . " They are first years " ) . 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 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 " , 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 . Ireland . Fresher normally denotes a first year university student . It is not normally used in secondary schools to refer to first year students . India . In India , a first year student in college is casually termed as ' First Year Student ' for male and female . In more formal language , the term ' Fresher ' is applicable for both the genders . Australia and New Zealand . The term " first year " is used within Australia and New Zealand universities , primarily to describe students in their first year of tertiary education direct from secondary school . Portugal . In the Portuguese Praxe , referring to all student and academic traditions of Portuguese universities , a major component is the hazing of freshmen ( known in Portuguese as Caloiros ) . There are also many music festivals and a great deal of 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 " so he must obey . One of the traditions includes forcing the freshmen to sing university songs and paint their faces and nails with several colors and partake in various games . The tradition requires that hazing be moderate and not endanger anyone . It is also tradition to host friendly dinners for the freshman so they can meet fellow students . It is usually the third year students who " guide " the freshmen , and there´s a symbolic ceremony where the freshmen must choose a " Godmother or Godfather " ( mentor ) from the third year students to " guide " them throughout their university years . After the mentor is formally chosen , the freshman can no longer be hazed except with the mentor ' s permission . Third year students wear the traditional university outfit most of the time but it is a must to wear it at freshmen ceremonies . Sophomores are usually not allowed to haze freshmen or to join third year students , they are also not permitted to wear the traditional university outfit during their first sophomore semester . England and Wales . The term " first year " is occasionally used in the pre - University and college English 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 . Before the introduction of the " Year [ number ] " in most secondary schools in September 1990 , the first year or " first form " almost always referred to the first year of secondary education . Years 12 and 13 are known as Sixth Form or " lower sixth " and " upper sixth " respectively . In English 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 , notably in the first week of attendance when specific activities are organised , both academic and social , using this expression . At some universities , certain students may continue to be referred to as " freshers " until they have sat their first examination . Scotland . In Scotland , the first year of compulsory education is Primary 1 ( P1 ) . The first year of secondary school is known as " S1 " but one can freely use " first year " . At the four ancient Scottish universities the traditional name students for the four years at university Bejant / Bejantine ( 1st ) , semi ( 2nd ) , Tertian ( 3rd ) and Magistrand ( 4th ) , though all Scottish universities will have a " freshers ' week " and the term is as widely used with more traditional terms . Italy . The " first year " university student is called " Matricola "