Who Can Take an IntroSem

Preferences by Class Year

First-Year Students

Frosh have priority for Introductory Seminars (IntroSems) for First-Year Students, and second priority for Sophomore preference seminars when space is available.

Sophomores

Sophomores have priority for Sophomore preference IntroSems, and second priority for First-Year preference seminars when space is available.

New Transfers

First-year transfer students have the same priority status as sophomores.

What is the difference between "N" and "Q" in the course catalog number?

N = Introductory Seminar for First-Year Students (e.g., BIO 33N)

Q = Sophomore Introductory Seminar and Sophomore Introductory Dialogue (e.g., ESS 61Q). A Dialogue is basically a seminar with half the enrollment, typically about 6 students.

WRITE 2 IntroSems

• Completion of a WRITE 2 IntroSem will satisfy the University's second level Writing and Rhetoric requirement (Writing 2).
• If the WRITE 2 IntroSem is certified to satisfy a Way, the course may count towards fulfilling the Way in addition to the WRITE 2 requirement.
• WRITE 2 IntroSems for Sophomores are primarily limited to students who have completed the first level Writing and Rhetoric requirement (PWR 1) and have not yet fulfilled (PWR 2) WRITE 2. 
• Please note that frosh are not eligible to sign up for priority enrollment in Sophomore WRITE 2 IntroSems. Frosh are encouraged to factor this when making their quarterly VCA selections. There are periodic offerings of WRITE 2 IntroSems for Frosh where they can sign up for priority enrollment. Check ExploreIntroSems.stanford.edu to see if Frosh-preference WRITE 2 IntroSems are being offered in a given academic year.
• The class rosters (ADD/DROP) for WRITE 2 IntroSems courses are managed by Introductory Seminar Program Administrators. If you are enrolled in a WRITE 2 IntroSem and subsequently decide to drop, please notify the IntroSems Office as soon as possible by sending your drop request to introsems@stanford.edu.