<p>I had never heard of it until one of the colleges S was considering had something on their website for "rising seniors." I didn't really know what it meant. I thought I was the only one. I guess it's short hand for what I've always said -- "about to go into senior year."</p>
<p>Whatever.</p>
<p>I've heard this expression for as long as I can remember. It's interesting that many others have never heard of it. Maybe there has come to be something regional about the usage. Language and the way it evolves is such an interesting thing. One of my favorite courses in college was History of the English Language, where we traced the usage and history of words, idioms etc. back to their very beginnings.</p>
<p>From the American Heritage Dictionary - ris·ing (rī'zĭng) </p>
<p>adj.<br>
1. Ascending, sloping upward, or advancing: a rising tide.
2. Coming to maturity; emerging: the rising generation. </p>
<p>n.<br>
1. The action of one that rises.
2. An uprising; an insurrection.
3. A prominence or projection.
4. The leaven or yeast used to make dough rise in baking.</p>
<p>As Roseanne Rosannadanna would say, "Never mind..."</p>
<p>Sorry, first voice in my head figured in the way you would consider someone rising up the depth chart on a roster. Rising=improving, hence my thought process on this one. </p>
<p>And gar, there's alot to be said from what area's your from...</p>
<p>"You got a prudy mouth" could be a compliment or a singal you're about to take part in a scene from "deliverence". At least that's what my voices tell me. I reckon.</p>
<p>I think it is just to clarify status. My d, for example, always considered herself in the next grade on the last day of school for the previous one ("I'm a junior now"), while I always thought of her in the next grade on the first day of school ("Not until the day after Labor Day!"). "Rising" took the guesswork out of what we meant.</p>
<p>But what do I know? The voices in my head just sing show tunes!</p>
<p>Chedva, I know what you mean. When my younger one finished her sophomore year in college this past May, I recall her calling to say she was done and she added, "I'm a junior now!"</p>
<p>But it is kinda confusing to call a kid who will be a junior in Sept., a "junior" in the previous June, to others. They may think the kid is just finishing junior year, as opposed to entering it the following fall. That is why for a good part of the summer, it is clearer to say, "a rising junior," and then maybe closer to the start of school, refer to him/her as a "junior" and most are thinking of the coming year at that point.</p>
<p>As someone else mentioned, college status is usually determined by number of credits attained. My son was in a five year program, and the fifth year students were dubbed super seniors.</p>
<p>Reminded me of fast food.</p>
<p>"Rising" sophomore reminds me of trying to blast mine out of bed in order to get to high school on time.</p>
<p>It's a term I'd never heard til I started reading CC. It's not used in the area I live now (Toronto), nor had I ever heard it in other places I've lived (NY and MA) while my kids have been in school.</p>