US Universities: Learn the Jargon

So you’re lucky enough to be enrolling at a university in the world’s most popular study destination. Perhaps you’ve chosen a US university in the iconic New York City, or maybe you’re on the opposite side of the country in sunny California. You could be exploring the Great Lakes region, perhaps at one of the leading US universities in Illinois, immersed in the Deep South at a university in Georgia, or getting close to national and international politics in federal capital Washington DC.

While each US state offers a distinct environment and cultural experience, there’s one common challenge international students face: understanding all the jargon and slang surrounding US universities. You might think your English is perfect – but there’s a whole new set of rules to be learned. Not only are there lots of differences between UK English and US English, but US universities come with their own special language.

Below are a few key US English terms that will come in handy when preparing to study in the US. (Add your own in the comments below.)

US English terms for general student life:

• Co-ed

Co-ed, short for co-educational, is a term used less at US universities today due to wide-spread gender diversity, but the word refers to a program or school in which both male and female students are permitted.

• College/school

US universities are usually referred to as colleges or schools rather than universities. This means that the entire education system runs a bit differently. It goes; pre-school (or Pre-K), kindergarten, elementary school, middle or junior high school, high school and, finally, college.

• Dorm

A dorm is the place you’ll most likely be living in while undertaking study in the US. Short for dormitory, a dorm is the US English equivalent of what would be called a “hall of residence” or “halls” in the UK, and it is there to house many first-year students as well as older students. Your dorm room, aka your bedroom, will be located in your dorm.

• Football

Depending on your nation of origin, football may well mean something completely different to you than it does at US universities. In the US, football is used to mean American Football (the one with the helmets, the tight leggings and the big shoulders) and soccer is used to mean the other type of football, (the one with two nets, no contact and a ball that’s kicked and not thrown).

• Fraternity

Whether you want to be in one or not, if you plan to study in the US you are likely to become well aware of fraternities. These fraternities are (usually) all-male social organizations formed by students and are often well-known at US universities for their heavy partying and sporting competition. See also “sororities” (below).

• Homecoming

Homecoming is the US university tradition of welcoming back alumni to their old school and celebrating with activities, sporting events and parades. Homecoming usually occurs in autumn, or the “fall” as this season is known in the US.

• Roomie 

A roomie, short for roommate, is someone you share your dorm room with, or other form of accommodation such as a flat or house. Sharing a dorm room is a common aspect of US university life, which may feel strange at first but will undoubtedly teach you a few life lessons about cleaning up after yourself, being respectful and communicating well with others.

• Sorority

      A sorority is the female equivalent of a fraternity (see above).

• Spring break

You may have heard the words spring break being shouted in a number of American teen films, most likely from the beach bar of a trendy Mexican resort or from one of the shirtless lads speeding down Route 66 in a roofless sports car. Spring break is the US university version of the UK’s Easter holidays or Easter reading week, and lasts for one to two weeks. Although universities ostensibly set aside this time for students to catch up with studies, many choose to take a holiday or spend time with friends.

US English terms for the start of term:

• Class

In US English, a class can mean a single lesson or series of lessons, such as “I’m taking a class in American history”, or it can mean the entire group of students in your year at university, such as “the class of 2014”.

• Period

A period in US English actually refers to a full-stop punctuation mark. Or some people use the word to put an end to arguments. Period.

• Prof.

Prof. is short for professor and acts as a handy word to use when you forget your lecturer’s name.

• Reader

A reader is a collection of all the reading materials needed for a course, photocopied and bound together.

• Semester

A semester is a full university term, for example, from September until the Christmas break. At most US universities there are two full semesters and often a shorter third semester towards the summer, with the last of these dedicated to exams.

US English terms for exam season:

• All-nighter

An all-nighter is something you don’t want to be experiencing too many times, as it means to stay up all night studying in the library or elsewhere.

• Blue book test

A blue book test is an exam that features essay and shorter-answer questions. This is a common style of assessment that is often used in humanities subjects such as history or literature.

• Burn the midnight oil

Burning the midnight oil; this is what you’ll be doing if you decide on an all-nighter. It simply means to stay up late.

• Cram

Cramming is something that is never advised… but often done. You’ll find students cramming before lessons and cramming in the final minutes before an exam. All this means is that students are attempting to learn a large amount of information for their subjects in a short space of time.

• Finals

Finals is the word US university students give to the stress-inducing exams that rear their ugly heads near the end of the school year. Your final (singular) is the name for the last exam of your finals.

• Mid-term

      Your mid-term is an exam, or multiple exams, that are taken halfway through the school term.

• Paper

      Not as innocent as it sounds, a paper is actually an essay.

• Scantron

      A Scantron is a specially designated sheet of paper used to take multiple choice tests and exams.