The term “Sophisters” is an archaic name for a college student in their third or fourth year. This custom was adopted by American schools from British universities like Oxford and Cambridge in the colonial era, but it was later dropped for the shortened “junior” and “senior” labels in use today.

In the Calendars of Trinity College, third and fourth year students are referred to as Junior and Senior Sophisters from the year 1849 until 1860. When doing research in the College Archives, it is important to remember that this term is merely anachronistic, and not indicative of a different configuration of the classes.

Merriam Webster: Sophister

Calendar of Trinity College, 1859-60.