Sophomore.html

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (August 2008)

Sophomore is a predominantly American English term used to describe a second effort, instance, or release. Its most common usage is in the United States as a noun meaning a student in the second year of study (generally referring to high school or university study). The word is also used as an adjective for the second album released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a professional athlete. In the United States, the 10th grade is usually the second year of a student's high school period and is referred to as sophomore year. High school sophomores are expected to begin preparing for the college application process, including reducing and focusing their extracurricular activities.^[1] Most students reach the age of 16 while sophomores, and so the year is considered a watermark for independence, closely connected with the acquisition of a driver's license in most states. Whereas it was once primarily taken by students in the 11th grade, the PSAT, a college preparatory exam taken across the U.S., is now most commonly taken during a student's sophomore year. Students at this level are also considered to be developing greater ability for abstract thinking.^[2]

In the U.S., colleges generally require students to declare an academic major by the end of their sophomore year.^[3] College sophomores are advised to begin thinking about career options and to get involved in volunteering or social organizations on or near campus.^[4]

In the United Kingdom, the equivalent term is simply "second-year student".

The true etymology is from the Old French, "Sophime" or Latin "Sophisme", which mean wisdom. The English converted it to "sophume", and one who practiced wisdom was a "Sophumer". It wasn't until 1726 that the spelling was established in America as "Sophomore," which thus lent itself to the false etymology above.

References

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msophomore.html
http://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword/word/sophomore

Sophomore.html

References

See also