<p>Here we only look down on Freshman if we see them doing stupid things. And usually it's just a mumbled under-the-breath "Stupid Freshman".
Like riding a bike in the rain without a fender - aka "Freshman Stripe"
Walking around campus with a campus map infront of them.
Walking around campus with thier ID card & dorm key hanging from a plastic pouch around thier neck (given to each freshman when they move in).
Talking about how great the D.C. food is.
Complaining about how hard general chem is.</p>
<p>For me this was many moons ago but freshman in college were treated much better than freshman in HS ... mostly because the upperclass folks are older and more mature in college. </p>
<p>That said freshman will catch (good hearted) crap in college.<br>
* The HS letter jacket and t-shirts won't carry any weight in college and will signal that you are a freshman
* I used to run a pool each year (sophs and older only can join) guessing when on the HTH (Home Town Honey) relationships will end that the freshman proclaim are their true love of their life
* Most kids planning on the 4.0 and then Harvard B-School or Harvard Med schools are freshman
* Most kids planning on unconnected double and triple majors are freshman
* Etc</p>
<p>Freshman start school naive and it's fun for the old timers to watch you all find your way ... but the amazing thing about college is that you all will and you will mature very quickly ... and those upperclass folks ragging on your letter jacket are the same kids who will be there to give you advice along the way. For me, at least, my friends in college were spread across classes much more than they were in HS ... and some of those pesky upperclassman are among my best friends 25 years later!</p>