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How to Pick Easy Electives That Boost Your GPA
Strategic elective selection, RateMyProfessors hacks, and classes students actually enjoy.
Table of Contents
How to Pick Easy Electives That Boost Your GPA
TL;DR
Easy electives exist — and taking them strategically is smart, not lazy. Look for classes with high average GPAs, participation-based grading, and passionate professors. Music appreciation, intro to film, and personal finance are perennial favorites.
Why Strategic Elective Selection Is Smart
Every semester, you have some room in your schedule for elective courses. These can be:
- GPA boosters — Easier classes that balance out your hard major courses
- Exploration opportunities — Try something new without pressure
- Skill builders — Learn practical skills outside your major
- Fun — Yes, college is allowed to be enjoyable
How to Find Easy Electives
1. Ask Upperclassmen
"What's the easiest elective you've taken?" is a perfectly acceptable question. Seniors have years of experience and strong opinions.
2. RateMyProfessors
Filter by:
- High overall rating (4.0+)
- Low difficulty rating (2.0-3.0)
- Positive reviews mentioning "easy A," "light workload," or "interesting content"
3. Check Grade Distributions
Some schools publish grade distribution data. Look for classes where the average grade is an A- or B+.
4. Look for Participation-Heavy Grading
Classes where 30-40% of your grade is participation or attendance are easier to ace — just show up and engage.
Popular Easy Electives (By Category)
Arts & Humanities
- Music Appreciation
- Intro to Film Studies
- Art History Survey
- Theater Appreciation
- Creative Writing (if you enjoy writing)
Social Sciences
- Intro to Sociology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Positive Psychology
- Marriage and Family
- Gender Studies
Practical Skills
- Personal Finance
- Public Speaking (scary but useful and usually graded on effort)
- Nutrition
- First Aid / CPR
- Intro to Photography
Physical Activity
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Bowling
- Golf
- Dance
Fun/Unusual
- Astronomy (stars, not math)
- Wine Tasting (if 21+)
- Mythology
- Science Fiction Literature
- History of Rock and Roll
The Rules of Elective Selection
- Still show up. Easy ≠ skip-worthy. Attendance often IS the grade.
- Do the minimal work well. If the assignments are simple, do them well. Easy A's only happen if you actually submit work.
- Don't overload on easy classes. 1-2 per semester is strategic. All easy classes means you're not challenging yourself.
- Verify it counts. Make sure the elective counts toward your degree requirements (credit hours, distribution requirements, etc.).
- Enjoy it. The best "easy" elective is one you genuinely find interesting.
Let Gradily Help With All Your Classes
Even easy electives have papers and assignments. Gradily helps you knock them out quickly so you can focus on your major courses.
[Try Gradily for Free →]
Taking easy electives isn't gaming the system — it's being strategic about your education. Balance challenge with enjoyment, and your GPA (and your sanity) will thank you. 📊
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