Act Now: Teach an IntroSem in 2026-27

Instructors are invited to submit new seminar proposals for 2026-27 now through March 6th. If you are renewing an IntroSem, simply email introsems@stanford.edu by the same date.

Introductory Seminars

Application Status Released: What does yours mean?

After IntroSems instructors select students for their seminars, enrollment results are released in the IntroSems' VCA. You should also expect an email with more information from the IntroSems Office.

Priority Enrollment Status Released

  • Autumn Quarter: Tuesday, September 9 (PM). Enrollment by Monday, September 15 (PM).
  • Winter Quarter: Last week of November
  • Spring Quarter: Last week of February

Check your status by logging into the IntroSems' VCA on these dates. If you receive priority enrollment in an IntroSem, you will automatically be enrolled so that the class shows up on your study list in Navigate Enrollment before course enrollment opens for the quarter. 

View Your Status

What to Do if Your IntroSems Status Is

Admitted ( = Priority Enrolled)
Admitted into a Writing 2 IntroSem
Waitlisted
Not Admitted

What to Do if You Missed the Deadline or Didn't Get into Your Selections

Space Available & Open for Self-Enrollment
Email the Instructor
Plan for Next Quarter

Admitted ( = Priority Enrolled)

Students "admitted" to one or more IntroSems will have the seminar units loaded on their study lists before Navigate Enrollment opens for the quarter (Autumn Quarter an exception - units will be loaded by September 15). This priority enrollment will occur for the student provided that doing so (1) will not exceed the 20-unit maximum load for your study list, and/or (2) there are no outstanding enrollment holds on your record.

As you build your study list for the quarter, you may decide to drop an IntroSem—something you can do yourself in Navigate Enrollment (Writing 2 IntroSems excluded). Please remember that there may be a waitlisted student who would like the space you are vacating, so do try to take action as soon as you can. As a courtesy, please notify the instructor if you drop an IntroSem.

Admitted into a Writing 2 IntroSem

Enrollment in Writing 2 IntroSems is managed by the IntroSems Office, not the PWR Office. Please be advised that—

  • Only the IntroSems Office can add or drop you to a Writing 2 IntroSem.
  • If want to drop your Writing 2 IntroSem, you must email the IntroSems Office at introsems@stanford.edu.
  • The waitlist is managed by the IntroSems Office in consultation with the instructor. The IntroSems Office will contact you if a space opens up and you are next on the list.
  • The Writing 2 IntroSem must be taken for a Letter Grade to satisfy the Writing 2 requirement.
  • If the Writing 2 IntroSem is certified to satisfy a Way, the IntroSem may count towards fulfilling the Way and Writing 2 (both).
  • Writing 2 Sophomores Seminars are only open to sophomores and first-year transfer students who have completed the first level Writing and Rhetoric requirement, Writing 1 (most commonly through a PWR1), and have yet to complete the second-level writing requirement.

An important note about admission into a Writing 2 IntroSem and your PWR2 preferences—
When you apply for a Writing 2 IntroSem that is offered in the same quarter as your PWR2 assignment, you are still required to submit your PWR2 section preferences for that quarter. 
>If you are admitted to the Writing 2 IntroSem, the IntroSem becomes your de facto "first choice" and eliminates all your other PWR2 preferences. 
>>If you apply but are waitlisted or not admitted, a PWR2 section will be assigned to you based on the preferences you entered. 
>>>If you are enrolled in a WRITE-2 IntroSem that is offered before your assigned PWR2 quarter, PWR administrators will cancel your future PWR2 assignment.For more information, please see the Write 2 Classes outside of PWR page on the PWR website as well as the View PWR Enrollment FAQs page.

Waitlisted

When IntroSems receive more applications than spots in the class, instructors are encouraged to waitlist students they would like to accommodate if space becomes available later.

How IntroSems Waitlists are Managed

For seminars in which instructors are maintaining a waitlist, you will see a status of "waitlisted" indicated in the IntroSems' VCA. The faculty will reach out to waitlisted students if space becomes available and provide a permission number to enroll. Instructors control waitlist order and waitlist position does not appear in the VCA.

Not Admitted

Some IntroSems have more students apply than there are spots in the class or on the waitlist, so if your status shows as "Not Admitted" for an IntroSem, try the options below.

Space Available & Open for Self-Enrollment

Check the Space Available page for IntroSems that still have space available and deserve another look. Enroll yourself through Navigate Enrollment, first come, first served, no application or permission number required. IntroSems that still have space available after priority applications and admissions are opened for student self-enrollment during staggered enrollment for the quarter. 

  • Spaces fill first come, first served, when course enrollment is open for the quarter. If a seminar is cross-listed, check for space across subject listings.
  • Frosh, sophomores, and first-year transfers receive preference. Juniors and seniors should email the instructor as enrollment may be limited to these groups.
  • IntroSems involve active in-class participation. If you try to add in Week 2 or 3, be aware that some instructors may not allow you to join so late even though the system lets you enroll. Be sure to email the instructor to check if you try and add an open IntroSem in Week 2 or beyond.

Autumn Quarter Exception: IntroSems with Space Available will open on September 17 once frosh can start enrolling in their Autumn classes during New Student Orientation.

Email the Instructor

You can always email an instructor to see if space has opened up in their seminar, and to ask if it would be okay to attend the first class meeting.

Plan for Next Quarter

Try not to get discouraged if you strike out on your selections for priority enrollment; about a third of seminars simply have more demand than space—it's not personal! Check out the IntroSems for the next quarter. Consider changing your approach—select seminars from different disciplines and submit statements of interest for any course you rank in the IntroSems' VCA, not just your first choice. It demonstrates your interest and enthusiasm.