We’ve previously covered the names for every school you attend in the U.S. education system, from kindergarten through higher education, but at which one of those schools are you an undergraduate?
Thanks to Nubia for submitting this word to our Glossary of Confusing Words.
Undergraduate
An undergraduate is someone studying for their associate or bachelor’s degree - a college student. This is the level of education that comes after high school.
Example:
- “Are you in school?”
- “Yeah. I’m an undergraduate at Princeton University.”
You can also use “undergraduate education” or “undergraduate studies” to describe the education you receive at college.
Example:
- "Where did she study?"
- "She got her undergraduate education at Georgetown University and then did a master's at Johns Hopkins."
While we’re at it, what do you call someone studying at graduate school? They’re a “graduate student” or a “postgraduate.”
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