Masoud Kakouli Varnousfaderani Feb 6, 2016:

@Edward I am not aware whether or not it is reported on a transcript or on a degree certificate. This word is important here in Iran due to this fact that it is connoted with not very studious and industrious students. So, this is a negative word in the context of universities in Iran.

Edward Plaisance Jr Feb 6, 2016:

comment... Masoud...regarding your questions:
1. From what I see, it seems that this is a new usage in American education...this tells me that we should be careful in using it...maybe a footnote is necessary...
2. the links are valid...my problem is that I fear nobody knows what it means
3. in Iran, is it considered "bad" or "negative" if you are سنواتی ? Is this reported on a transcript? In the States, there is nothing mentioned on a transcript that a student takes more than 4 years to get his diploma...anyone who looks at the transcript can see how long it took. In Iran, why is it even mentioned? Who cares?

I have done a lot of Googling on this topic and I would suggest something like "extended enrollment" or "extended time to graduation"

Masoud Kakouli Varnousfaderani Feb 5, 2016:

@Edward I think a few things are worthy of mention:
1. This word is only used in the context of universities in Iran, and not school such as high school.
2. What do you think of the links that I provided? According to these links, "super senior student" means a person who took more than 5 years to finish his/her program. Do you think these links are not very precise and accurate?
3. If you were required to coin a word/phrase for this concept in English, what is the word/phrase that you probably come up with?

Edward Plaisance Jr Feb 5, 2016:

comment... I have just checked with a good friend who is a retired school teacher, administrator and principal for 40 years in a very large urban area...he has never heard of this term. As far as I know, we don't even note how long it takes to finish a program. My brother, for example, dropped out of college after two years, and then went back and finished 20 years later. His diploma is the same as any other diploma...no indication as to how long it took.

If I saw "super senior" in some text, I would think it means a senior who is "super"...that is, great, special, above average, etc

Masoud Kakouli Varnousfaderani Feb 4, 2016:

@Edward According to these links, I think this equivalence is correct!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Super Senior
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_senior
What do you think?

Masoud Kakouli Varnousfaderani Feb 4, 2016:

@Edward In Iran, you have 5 years to finish your bachelor program. If it takes more than 5 years, you are called دانشجویی سنواتی. When it takes more than 5 years, a special committee decides that whether or not you are allowed to continue and finish your BA degree.

Edward Plaisance Jr Feb 2, 2016:

what does it mean actually in Persian? how is it used?

"super senior student" is a phrase I have never heard in my life, and I would not know what is meant by it...certainly I would not guess it means someone who takes longer than normal to graduate