<p>From freshman year to senior year, and everything in between, which are generally the best and worst years, and why?</p>
<p>I don't think anything will top freshman year for me.</p>
<p>The reality of a completely new and foreign atmosphere, the new experiences, the first friends you meet, the first parties, and even the awkward times make it unique and eventful.</p>
<p>It seems to get watered down and more serious every year.</p>
<p>Okay, well, personally my rank is by semesters. Nothing will ever beat Second Semester Freshman Year, there's no way (met all my friends, went to some AWESOME parties, got a 3.54 gpa). Spring Sophomore year was definitely the worst (depression hit me, made some bad decisions, and I failed a class). The other semesters are in the middle somewhere. </p>
<p>I'm currently in fall semester of Junior year, btw.</p>
<p>Junior year is the best- study abroad all year! I think freshman year will always be the worst for me.</p>
<p>freshmen wasn't a horrible year but its hard being at the bottom of the food chain, and not knowing people. i think each year gets better, usually.</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore, but I can say that so far I like sophomore year better than freshman year.</p>
<p>"Okay, well, personally my rank is by semesters. Nothing will ever beat Second Semester Freshman Year, there's no way (met all my friends, went to some AWESOME parties, got a 3.54 gpa). Spring Sophomore year was definitely the worst (depression hit me, made some bad decisions, and I failed a class). The other semesters are in the middle somewhere.</p>
<p>I'm currently in fall semester of Junior year, btw."</p>
<p>Wow that's exactly my experience. 2nd semester freshman was the best for those reasons (except the GPA), and 2nd semester 2nd year was the worst because of similar reasons. I'm also currently in fall of junior year.</p>
<p>For me:</p>
<p>Best:</p>
<p>1) First semester frosh - sooo much fun! So many parties, so many new people, no real responsibility. Certainly were some moments where I wasn't sure of myself, but on the whole great times. I was too busy to be homesick.</p>
<p>2) Second semester senior - got accepted to med school early in the semester. So many nights at the bars, so many great memories. I had some heavy organizational responsibilities and some things that I worked really hard on that didn't pan out, but on the whole, this was such a good time. Graduation though was the saddest day of my life.</p>
<p>3) First semester senior year - nearly the same as the 2nd semester, but with a lot more uncertainty due to med school. Still great socially, and just overall solid.</p>
<p>4) Second semester frosh - not nearly as much going, got settled into the groove. Classes were a bit more strenuous. </p>
<p>5) Sophomore year as a whole. Just different, Organic chem sucks, and fewer social opportunities compared to freshmen in my fraternity.</p>
<p>6) Junior year, first semester better than second. I turned 21 in late april, so I was stuck at home while all my friends were at the bars. Seriously lacking social life. Classes really sucked (biochem esp) and just overall a lackluster year.</p>
<p>Geez, all this talk about freshman year being the best is both scaring and depressing me. I had a great time last year, but if that's the peak, then get the noose ready for me. </p>
<p>Are you all you guys science majors whose workloads just increased exponentially in the later years?</p>
<p>I'm only in my second year at uni... but this year is much better than freshman year already.</p>
<p>My workload is much heavier this year (more classes and harder classes than last year), but my classes are on the whole much more interesting and challenging. Studying things you like is always better than stupid general ed or intro courses. Also, I had a difficult time adjusting to rez in first year for a few reasons (party floor and antisocial roommate), but this year I'm back in rez and the people are really fun and I'm LOVING my single room. </p>
<p>So yeah... thus far Soph year >>>>> Freshman year.</p>
<p>nbachris, freshman year was better than sophomore year for me because during sophomore year I was dealing with a bunch of crap not related to school (crazy boyfriend drama, depression, etc). School wise it was okay, but the non-school stuff made my schoolwork suffer and I crapped out my GPA because of it. </p>
<p>Junior year looks to be much better just because everything that made soph year crap has gone away. Plus I am studying abroad next summer so that will be freaking awesome.</p>
<p>In order from best to least best</p>
<p>1) Freshman year
2) Junior Year
3) Senior Year
4) Sophomore Year</p>
<p>Entering freshman year suddenly gives you lots of freedom
Sophomore year, the responsibility has caught up with the freedom and you can't drink yet while your older friends can. Junior year you can finally drink with your friends. Senior year, your trying to figure out what to actually do with your life.</p>
<p>^ Cause no one drinks as a sophomore. But I know what you mean, you can't go to bars and just watch the game with friends.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm only a sophomore, but this year has been MUCH better than freshman year. The work is significantly harder, but much more interesting (as cowgirlatheart said). I also have a research position so that's really fun.</p>
<p>And socially, you know the school inside out by sophomore year. You know all of the entertaining places, fun activities, and just have more friends than freshman year. The only downside is that some of the novelty of going to college has worn off.</p>
<p>What I didn't like about freshman year, in retrospect, was the forced friendliness. Everybody had their "Pleasantville" faces on, and the sobering truth was that many of these people would drift away even in just a few weeks. But in sophomore year, everybody has their base of friends, and as you keep on meeting new and great people, you'll always have "your boys and girls" to fall back on.</p>
<p>For me:</p>
<p>1) Senior Spring - Virtually no responsibility, went out 5 nights a week. Decided that 1 week of spring break wasn't enough so I added a second, 1 in mexico, 1 in colorado skiing. Also did a month long road trip before the start of the semester which was amazing</p>
<p>2) Freshmen Spring - Pledging is the most fun you never want to have again</p>
<p>3) Senior Fall - When I turned everything off and starting doing everything that I forgot to do as an undergrad</p>
<p>4) Freshmen Fall - New place, lots of parties</p>
<p>5) Junior Year</p>
<p>6) Sophomore Year</p>
<p>I agree with nbachris. I love sophomore year so much better, even though I'm having to work harder. Living in a house with four of my lady friends is just lovely. <3</p>
<p>for the shy introverts on CC</p>
<p>1A & 1B) Junior year ... best combo of fun and school ... terrific girlfriend, great friends, know what I love to do on campus, and having fun in my major.</p>
<p>3A & 3B) Sophomore year ... finally out my shell socially ... actually the year with the most "great story" social things ... academically a bust though</p>
<p>5A & 5B) Senior ... worried about grad school (and overcoming by freshman & soph grades) ... socially ready to move on to post college life. </p>
<p>7) spring of freshman year ... I started finding the other kids who were like me</p>
<p>8) fall of freshman year ... I felt like I was the only one who didn't have a ton of new friends and who didn't like to get drunk ... this is the only semester of college I would say wasn't on the positive side of the ledger ... it took me awhile to hit my stride socially</p>
<p>(1) Freshman - The novelty, the free time, not yet being over-committed, getting to try all the new stuff, the ease of social situations, the one year break between questions like "Where are you going to college?" and "What are you doing with your degree?"</p>
<p>(2) Senior - The hardest year work-wise, but finally really knowing your classmates and your professors, really getting talked to on another level, lots of "lasts," next-best socially (another chance to meet tons of new people. It once again becomes appropriate to sit down at random tables and say "I can't believe how many people there are in our class who I've never even met!").</p>
<p>(3) Junior - Past the halfway mark, still getting to enjoy college without the burdens of senior year applications, job search, etc., but also without feeling "bottom of the food chain"-y. </p>
<p>(4) Sophomore - It's not new and novel, it's not yet traditional or sentimental. It all just IS. </p>
<p>But it's all relative, even sophomore year. College was great. I loved my school, but I didn't get *how[i/] great it was until I was out of it (now I'm having the "What?! I can't go back?! Do I have to be done?!" crisis) :p</p>
<p>And of course, this'll differ for everyone. You might go abroad junior year and have a blast, or have an awful freshman roommate and be miserable. The important point is that each year is a little bit blech-y, but mostly awesome for its own reasons.</p>