College is a time for discovering things about yourself, and it used to be about figuring out your future and setting down. Career-wise, that is still true. But relationship wise, it is absolutely not true. Not that many people really “date in college”, but if you decide to go against the norm and have an honest to God relationship, there are so many ways to be romantic, without ever leaving campus, or spending a lot of money. I happen to be one of these silly girls who believes in love, and I have a romantic side. Here are my best ideas for college dating.
- As cheesy as it sounds, I would love it if my (imaginary) boyfriend built a cute little fort made of blankets and pillows and hung little twinkle lights or lit candles and rented a romantic comedy to watch and just cuddle. Not “Netflix and chill”, but “actual company and talking”.
- Most colleges have at least one semi-good sports team. Make a date out of a football, baseball, or hockey game. Get all dressed up in college apparel, and tailgate, or buy snacks and take silly pictures and maybe enjoy yours or their favorite sport.
- If you don’t have restaurants nearby or off campus, dress up fancy and take your partner to the dining hall. Bring a candle or a flower and make it out to be a real date. You’ll look a little funny but your partner will absolutely love it.
- As simple as it is, take a nice stroll around campus. Take in the scenery, hold hands, and have a nice conversation. We don’t do that often enough.
- Go to a campus sponsored event! There is usually something happening every single night, go to the comedy show, or bingo night, or whatever else is going on. It gets your active on campus but it’s also a good date idea as well.
- Go somewhere nearby, maybe a soccer field to have a picnic, or the ice rink to go ice skating, or a secluded part of campus with a beautiful view.
- Have a snow day/holiday/weekend pajama and TV show marathon day with crappy college food so you never even have to take a break from the show.
- Get take out from somewhere you don’t usually eat food like on campus such as Chinese and play boards games in your lounge.
- Have a cute study date with candy/junk food breaks and help each other.
- Go to your school library and explore each other's interests and have intellectual discussions and show interest in what you partner is passionate about.
- Sneak your partner into your lecture class. It seems boring, but it actually makes your boring Wednesday class kind of fun. You probably won’t learn anything, though.
- Do festive things around the holidays! Dress up on Halloween, go trick or treating, or do secret Santa or decorate one of your rooms! Valentine’s day can be filled with candy, hearts, and cute little teddy bears. Other holidays you can make fun are New Year’s, Easter, Saint Patrick’s Day, Birthdays, and don’t forget Anniversaries!
