Learn English – Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors – what category

hypernymsnounssingle-word-requests

Is there a single-word category for the status Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors? I've heard it called as "batch status" but can't seem to find the right single-word category for it.

Best Answer

You might consider class as a generic noun that covers these terms.

All members of the junior class will become seniors next year.

David is an upperclassman now that he's in his third year at Brandeis.

But despite what others have stated, I believe the term "cohort" has a slightly different connotation. It means

Cohort (educational group) A cohort is a group of students who work through a curriculum together to achieve the same academic degree together. A cohort forms when the students begin the curriculum and typically does not admit new members afterward. [Wikipedia]

Here's another reference for cohort:

Cohort study is when a group of students, 12-25 (this is a general number that may vary by college), start and finish their degree together. They are accepted into the same program, take their classes together, and graduate together, building relationships with one another as they do.

This would seem to invalidate the notion that cohort could be used. Typically juniors, seniors and the rest do admit new members (transfers, etc.) and they don't all pursue the same academic degree.

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