By Bella Whitmore | Intern
You often hear people recommending certain classes for your elective credits based on how easy the class was or because it’s widely considered a “blow-off” class. While this is completely understandable and relatable, I am trying to be more mindful when choosing what classes I take as electives, and so should you.
I have taken my fair share of simple classes, especially earlier on in my college career. The idea of wanting to make your workload easier by choosing generally easier, less complicated courses makes sense for people in majors with a high workload.
In my experience, the so-called “easy” classes where I have no interest in the subject end up being the ones that stress and worry me the most, completely undermining why I chose it in the first place.
So instead of choosing these classes for the sake of making your academic life easier, consider thinking more outside the box when choosing your next elective credits.
Lots of students fail to properly take advantage of the vast amount of classes and variety of courses offered at Baylor. If you take time to seriously look through all the courses offered, you will undoubtedly be surprised by how many options there are and how many you probably never knew existed. For every interest and passion of yours, there is probably an equivalent class.
It is a given that when you enjoy a certain subject or are seriously passionate about the material, it feels less like a chore and more like something you genuinely want to dedicate time and effort to.
Not all of these unique classes are going to have terrible workloads, and many professors for these niche classes are glad to see students taking an interest in the class they are passionate about teaching.
Not only can you sit in a class and engage in a subject you’re genuinely interested in, but it may also be a low-maintenance class that also allows you to focus more on your major.
Last semester, I took a history of Brazil course simply because I have familial ties to Brazil and wanted to learn more about the history of the country.
I value what I learned from that class. I have plans to use and apply the knowledge I gained from that class for the rest of my life because I chose a course I knew I would be passionate about.
So as you’re choosing classes for future semesters and weighing their pros and cons, don’t be afraid to do a deep dive into Baylor’s full class catalog. I would highly recommend considering straying from the pack when it comes to choosing an elective credit.
