Why can't you say freshman anymore?

You can still say "freshman," but many colleges are dropping it for gender-neutral terms like "first-year student" to be more inclusive, as the "-man" ending can feel exclusionary to non-male students, and the term "freshman" also implies a naive novice, which doesn't fit all first-year students. While some see it as necessary progress for inclusive language, others feel it's unnecessary tradition-changing, but the trend towards "first-year" is growing.

Why don't people say freshman anymore?

It's just easier for people to understand "first year" as opposed to terms like freshman, sophomore, etc. In addition to that, as others have mentioned, "first year" is a more gender-neutral term.

Can you still say freshman?

While freshmen, freshpeople, froshes, and first-years remain so for only a short while, the word freshman shows no signs of leaving.

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to skyrocketing costs, overwhelming student debt, and a perceived poor return on investment (ROI), especially with AI changing jobs and stronger alternatives like skilled trades emerging, leading many to seek faster, cheaper paths to financial stability and job security. They've seen Millennials' debt struggles, witness online success stories, and value hands-on training over traditional degrees, making college less of a guaranteed ticket to success.
 

Is freshman politically incorrect?

Since so many first-year students are female, the word 'freshman' isn't exclusionary any more. Professions that end in '-man' (policeman, fireman, mailman) are more politically incorrect than 'freshman.

Some Rough Advice for the "Real World"

Why does Gen Z not like school?

Gen Z's dislike for school stems from feeling a lack of purpose, outdated teaching methods not preparing them for the real world (especially with digital tools), high costs and questionable value of college, and a disconnect between traditional academics and their desired creative, purpose-driven careers, leading to burnout and a search for more relevant, flexible learning paths. They question the traditional path of college due to financial burdens and underemployment, preferring skills-based learning and work-life balance over rote memorization and rigid structures. 

What do I call my nonbinary kid?

Nini or bibi: These options follow a similar speech pattern to help with comprehension but utilize the letters from “NB,” which is often used as an abbreviation for nonbinary. Dama or mada: Combinations of “ma” and “da.”

What do Gen Z use instead of 😂?

Gen Z uses the 💀 (Skull) emoji to mean "I'm dead" from laughter, the 😭 (Loudly Crying Face) for intense humor or emotion, and sometimes the 🤡 (Clown Face) for foolishness, while finding the 😂 emoji outdated or "cheugy," often preferring these more dramatic or layered expressions of extreme amusement. 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Why is Gen Alpha struggling?

Today's children, known as Gen Alpha (born from 2010 onward), are navigating a world shaped by rapid technological change, global crises, and shifting social norms—and it's leaving many of them more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

What are 9 10 11 and 12 graders called?

In the U.S. education system, 9th graders are freshmen, 10th graders are sophomores, 11th graders are juniors, and 12th graders are seniors, representing the four years of high school. These terms are used to describe the specific year of study, similar to how they're used in colleges, with "senior" marking the final year.
 

What to say instead of freshman?

Synonyms of freshman

• novice.
• rookie.
• newcomer.
• beginner.
• apprentice.
• student.
• recruit.
• virgin.

What is the average GPA for a freshman?

The average GPA for first-year college students in the U.S. is around 2.8 – 3.0. Weighted GPAs often exceed the traditional 4.0 scale due to honors and AP courses.

Why is grade 10 called sophomore?

10th grade is called sophomore because the term comes from Old English university traditions (Oxford/Cambridge) where second-year students, initially called "sophisters," were known as "sophomores," a blend of Greek for "wise" (sophos) and "foolish" (moros), playfully suggesting they were "wise fools" - smart but still learning much. American colleges and high schools adopted this system, applying it to the second year of study. 

Do freshmen get bullied?

Less supervision provides opportunities to bully or be bullied. High school freshmen are particularly vulnerable to bullying.

Do Canadians say freshman?

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

What college has 100% acceptance?

Colleges with a 100% admission rate, often called "open admissions," focus on providing access, accepting most or all applicants who meet basic requirements, including Broward College, Utah Valley University, Cameron University, and Montana State University--Billings. Many other schools, like University of Mississippi and Nevada-Las Vegas, have acceptance rates above 90%, while selective institutions like Harvard and Caltech have rates below 10%.
 

What is the easiest ivy?

Cornell is considered the “easiest” Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate.

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What does 🗣 🗣 🗣 🔥 🔥 🔥 mean?

The emojis 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥 mean someone is intensely talking, speaking passionately, or shouting something amazing, impressive, or "fire," conveying strong excitement, approval, or emphasis about a topic they are discussing loudly or publicly, essentially saying, "Say it louder, that's fire!". 

What does 🍋 🟩 mean?

The 🍋🟩 combination (Lemon + Green Square) creates the Lime emoji (🍋‍🟩), representing literal limes, tangy flavors, summertime, tropical vibes, or Mexican cuisine, but it can also just mean the color lime green or a generally sour/tart feeling. It's used for drinks (limeade, cocktails), food, summer fun, or to describe something tart or sour in a fun way, as it was added to emoji sets in 2023 as a ZWJ sequence.
 

What do ze and zir mean?

Ze/hir/hirs, ze/zir/zirs

The ze/hir, ze/zir pronoun sets come from the trans community as another gender-neutral pronoun set.

What is a nibling?

A nibling is a gender-neutral term for a niece or nephew, the child of one's sibling, combining the "n" from niece/nephew with the "ibling" from sibling, created for efficient and inclusive family language, though it's more common in some communities than others. It's a useful word for referring to any sibling's offspring, regardless of gender, functioning similarly to how "sibling" covers brother/sister. 

Why do liberals say folx?

In its core, folx signifies a more inclusive spectrum of identities, affirming their existence and relevance within our societal discourse. In other words, when people, workplaces and other entities use the word folx, they want to be intentional towards embracing a broader, more radical inclusivity.