> Is this not pretty much standard throughout the world or 
> atleast common
> knowledge?   The order is Freshman, Sophmore, Junior, Senior, 
> Graduate.  

Of course not! It's a system unique to the US. It's about as comprehensible
to the average European as a recorded instruction "to press the pound key"
on your telephone. The numbering of grades is a US convention as well.

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/