College Life

American slang from university and college culture

Introduction

American college life has its own world of slang. From the "freshman fifteen" to "cramming" for finals and the traditions of "Greek life", these terms capture the unique experience of American higher education.

This chapter covers American slang from college campuses — dorms, fraternities, tailgates, and the shared rituals of university life.

Themes

All American Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (62)

• Freshman fifteen The supposed 15 pounds of weight gain during a student's first year of college.
• Pulling an all-nighter Staying up all night to study, work on a project, or party.
• Syllabus week The first week of a college semester when classes are easy and professors mos...
• Frat Short for fraternity — a social organization for male college students, known...
• Rush week The recruitment period when fraternities and sororities invite potential new ...
• Pregame To drink alcohol before going out to a party, bar, or event.
• Dorm room A shared bedroom in a college dormitory, typically small and furnished with b...
• Office hours Scheduled times when a professor is available in their office to meet with st...
• GPA Grade Point Average — a numerical measure of academic performance on a 4.0 sc...
• Major A student's primary field of study in college, chosen as the focus of their d...
• Student loans Money borrowed to pay for college education, repaid with interest after gradu...
• Ramen noodles Cheap instant noodles that have become the iconic food of broke college stude...
• Homecoming An annual college or high school event celebrating alumni returning, featurin...
• Gap year A year taken off between high school and college (or during college) for trav...
• Dean's list An academic honor given to students who achieve a high GPA during a semester.
• Greek life The system of fraternities and sororities at American colleges, named for the...
• Tailgate (college) A pre-game party in the parking lot before a college football game, featuring...
• Study abroad A college program where students spend a semester or year studying at a forei...
• Move-in day The day when college students arrive on campus and move into their dorm rooms...
• Roommate drama Conflicts and tensions that arise from sharing a living space with a college ...
• Dining hall A college cafeteria where students with meal plans eat, offering buffet-style...
• Extracurriculars Activities and organizations outside of academics, such as clubs, sports, and...
• College town A small city or town whose economy and culture are dominated by a university.
• Pledge A new member in the process of joining a fraternity or sorority, or the act o...
• Class registration The process of signing up for courses each semester, often competitive and st...
• Internship A temporary work position, often unpaid, where students gain professional exp...
• Orientation A program for new college students introducing them to campus resources, trad...
• Campus crush Someone you are attracted to on campus but have not spoken to or only see in ...
• Class of The group of students who graduate in the same year, identified by graduation...
• The quad A central courtyard or lawn area on a college campus, surrounded by academic ...
• RA (Resident Advisor) A student staff member who supervises a dormitory floor, enforcing rules and ...
• Commencement The graduation ceremony at a college or university, featuring speeches, diplo...
• Curve (grading) Adjusting exam or course grades upward so that the average or highest score m...
• Undeclared A college student who has not yet chosen a major field of study.
• Pre-med A college track of courses preparing students for medical school, or a studen...
• School spirit Enthusiastic pride and support for one's school, expressed through traditions...
• Sorority A social organization for female college students with Greek letter names, ri...
• Lecture hall A large auditorium-style classroom where hundreds of students attend a profes...
• Campus tour A guided walking tour of a college campus for prospective students and their ...
• College bookstore A campus store selling textbooks, school merchandise, and supplies — often at...
• Game day The day of a college football or basketball game, treated as a campus-wide ev...
• Off campus Living in private housing outside of university-owned dormitories.
• Double major Completing two different majors simultaneously for a single bachelor's degree.
• Greek Row A street or area on campus where fraternity and sorority houses are concentra...
• Study group A group of students who meet regularly to study together, review material, an...
• Thesis A major research paper or project required for graduation, especially at the ...
• Party school A college or university known more for its active social and party scene than...
• TA (Teaching Assistant) A graduate student who assists a professor with teaching duties, leading disc...
• Walk of shame Walking home in the morning after spending the night at someone else's place,...
• Safety school A college that a student is confident of being accepted to, applied to as a b...
• Late-night study session Studying late into the night, often at the library or a 24-hour coffee shop.
• Legacy A college applicant whose parent or grandparent attended the same institution...
• Community college A public, two-year college offering associate degrees and transfer pathways a...
• Ivy League A group of eight prestigious Northeastern universities known for academic exc...
• Alma mater The college or university from which a person graduated.
• Greek Week An annual campus event where fraternities and sororities compete in themed ac...
• Dorm life The experience of living in a college dormitory, encompassing all the social ...
• Student section A designated area in a stadium where college students stand together to cheer...
• Cap and gown The mortarboard cap and academic robe worn during graduation ceremonies.
• Scholarship Financial aid awarded to students based on academic achievement, athletic abi...
• College application The formal process of applying to attend a college or university, including e...
• The dean A senior university administrator responsible for a particular area — academi...