Tips On College Dating: Making The Most Of Your 4 Years

By Catherine Muscaro on May 30, 2016

College is a huge change, and not just in living space or course load. College brings about new opportunities for making friends, finding your career path, and yes, falling in love.

With new-found responsibility both in the classroom and on campus, your love life may be the last thing on your mind. But before you know it, you’ll be looking for the best tips to tackle college dating.

It’s important to remember that the relationships you have in college can be the beginning of the rest of your life. They can also be a fun, casual way to meet new people and build friendships. Either way, there are some huge realizations you must understand before jumping into something new with the cutie from your calculus lecture.

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So where do you start figuring out your love life after high school? Here are some important things to remember as you embrace everything the college dating scene has to offer:

Be open-minded. One great thing about college is the fact that there are virtually no cliques. While high school was “us” vs. “them,” college (for the most part) is nothing like that. Everyone you meet is just like you: they are here to learn, grow, and figure themselves out. The boy you’re partnered with for your English project or the girl who asked to sit next to you in the dining hall may become your best friend — or something more. Give everyone a fair chance. You may be surprised by the one who ends up catching your attention.

Find your interests. A huge mistake most people make is the way they go about finding their new-found love. First thing’s first, if you hate to drink, chances are the drunk guy at the bar is not for you. Do the things that you love to do: go see a movie, attend an open seminar, join a club. If you seek out opportunities to do things you genuinely enjoy doing, you will meet people who love these things, too. As an added bonus, you know for certain that you have at least one thing in common!

Prioritize. You’re in college and — while it may be more fun to party with the hottie down the hall on a Tuesday night — your main objective is to get an education. You have to put your work (and your mental health) first. If you can’t handle 15 credit hours, two organizations, a job, and a boyfriend/girlfriend, you need to drop something. Unfortunately, the relationship will probably be the first thing to go. But when you’re graduated with your bachelor’s degree, your dream job lined-up, and the man/woman of your dreams by your side, you’ll be glad you put your freshman fling on the back-burner.

Don’t be afraid to date. Our generation has lost a vital understanding to dating: you don’t have to be in a relationship! If there’s an adorable guy in your bio lab, ask him out for coffee. If the cute girl in your art class has been flirting with you, invite her out over the weekend. Going on a date does not mean you are automatically signed up for a relationship, nor does it mean you should expect anything to come of it. It’s a great way to get to know someone before throwing yourself into a long-term commitment. If it doesn’t work out, you don’t have to plan a second date. If you hit it off, then you can move on from there. Dating is harmless, fun, and easy, and definitely something you should do in college.

Focus on yourself.  Sometimes the best part about a relationship is not being in one. It’s refreshing to have zero commitment to anyone but yourself. Take risks. Live for yourself. Try things you never would’ve considered in high school. Give yourself the chance to grow and live on your own terms. Take the time to really discover who you are and who you want to be before asking someone else to understand you. You have plenty of time to fall in love, so take advantage of everything before you and become the best version of yourself. The right person will find their way into your heart.

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