Symbolic Systems Major

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
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<p>Can an undergrad take grad courses? There’s a SYMSYS course that I really want to take but when I use the stanford bulletin for courses it only appears if I check “graduate” in career :S Do I have to declare SYMSYS as my major to take the course? (SYMSYS 210) So confused x_x</p>

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<p>That’s odd. SymSys 210 isn’t explicitly a grad class (I know undergrads who have taken it). Also, you shouldn’t have to declare SymSys before being allowed to sign up for the course. Maybe this is just a weird bug in axess?</p>

<p>Also, for those curious, here’s a description of SymSys 210: <a href=“http://www.stanfordcourses.com/SYMSYS210[/url]”>http://www.stanfordcourses.com/SYMSYS210&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Ok, that’s a relief :slight_smile: Thanks for your help! that class looks really interesting , only problem now is actually getting into Stanford… lol … …</p>

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<p>Hi guys! I just got back from Admit Weekend, which was AMAZING! One of the many highlights was Scott Forstall’s closing speech. He mentioned his major, SymSys, and from his brief overview, I was already hooked-- it sounds like a great interdisciplinary program that spans across many of my interests (CS, Psych, AI, HCI, Linguistics… it seems too good to be true :]). </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone who has answered questions already. I was wondering if anyone could give some insight into whether it’s possible to be a SymSys major and also be premed? Would the neuroscience concentration facilitate this (if it’s plausible)? Originally I was intending to try to major in CS and be premed, but would SymSys be a more preferable alternative? (Many CS majors I talked to said it was very tough) I love how SymSys encompasses computers and minds, so I’m really excited. Any other general reflections on the SymSys major are welcome. Thanks!</p>

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<p>^ Seconding this question</p>

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<p>@Ataraxia8 </p>

<p>I was at Admit Weekend as well and having already known about the SymSys major I attended its Academic Expo on Friday morning. </p>

<p>After speaking with Todd Davies (Associate Director I believe), I am under the impression that SymSys + PreMed is possible… But generally not undertaken. </p>

<p>Of the career paths of SymSys graduates (of which there are typically 20-30 per class):
*This is a rough estimate based on what I remember him saying…</p>

<p>45% Go on to techie industrial jobs working at Google, Yahoo, Apple etc. or tech-startups.</p>

<p>40% Go on to graduate school and/or teaching positions at Stanford (coterm) or other universities (typically Berkeley, MIT & Harvard).</p>

<p>10% Go on to law school.</p>

<p>5% Go on to medical school.</p>

<p>So it’s possible, but uncommon. I don’t know if its uncommon because it’s too difficult, or because there isn’t much of an interest as demonstrated by current students in pursuing the two. I do know that most SymSys majors are interested more in CS than in biology (and presumably pre-med). </p>

<p>I too am in the same boat. I’d like to major in SymSys while also fulfilling the course requirements to go pre-med. But remember that you can always minor in SymSys, and then it would be much easier to take pre-med courses at the same time.</p>

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<p>@Xombie</p>

<p>Thanks for the info! Minoring does sound like a nice compromise, but SymSys seems so neat and interdisciplinary and something really cool to delve into. Do you think majoring in CS is more plausible, since some of the physics reqs overlap? I browsed a little on the SymSys site and it seems like there isn’t much overlap with premed reqs at all. :frowning: </p>

<p>I’m glad someone else is contemplating the same idea-- it means I’m not too crazy. :stuck_out_tongue: I wish I’d seen you at Admit Weekend! Thanks again!</p>

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<p>If people can major in philosophy or English and be pre-med, I don’t see why symsys wouldn’t work. It is a greater commitment to requirements, though.</p>

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<p>Is it possible to transfer from community college to symbolic systems major at Stanford ?</p>