Many things change once you enter into college, including dating. College dating, luckily, is much more intriguing than high school dating ever was.
1. You don’t have to ask for permission.
In college, you no longer have to ask your parents for permission to go see someone, unless you really want to. The only person you have to ask permission from is yourself, and then it usually, at least in my case, turns into a debate of whether it’s more important than homework.
2. Dating apps are more of a thing.
I never downloaded Tinder before coming to college. It wasn’t much of a thing in my hometown, but on campus it seems that everyone has one and that there are a lot of opportunities. Of course, this may lead to some awkward encounters when you see someone you’ve been talking to on there in person for the first time and you’re in sweatpants.
3. Going over to the person’s house means more.
There’s no parents at their home to watch you. Especially freshmen year, it’s just you and them in a small little dorm room with possibly one other person, unless they kicked them out. There is no escape. Good luck. If the conversation goes downhill, it’s not quite the easiest to avoid them or talking. Luckily, the door is pretty close no matter where you are in the room.
4. There’s less gossip following it.
I have never had anyone in college gossip about my dating life, at least to my knowledge. Maybe I’m just lucky or have too few of friends for anyone to care about who I’m seeing or what I’m doing.
5. Long-term is connected more to the relationship, if it’s serious.
If you’re not just out for a night of bliss and you actually want a serious relationship with the person, the future may be more on your mind. In college, I’ve begun to see a lot of friends of mine are out getting married, buying houses, and having babies. This leads to me wondering who will be with me when I’m at the point where I want to start all of those phenomenal and horrifying life milestones.
6. Time management is highly important.
Yes, you may want to see the person you are dating every night, but you have to put your education first or at least, I beg of you, on the same level. If you can study with that person, do so, but if not, leave some time to travel down to the library and crack a book open.
7. College students have more experience.
For most, they’ve been on dates before and they know what to expect. No, this does not lower the nerves, but it does enable them to sometimes handle it a bit better. Of course, if someone hasn’t dated before college, that is okay too. I just hope they are ready for a wild journey.
8. The question of sex is often more prominently on the table.
Often, I have to ask myself if someone I like just wants to have sex or if they are in for the long haul. In high school, especially as underclassmen, sex is more scandalous, but here it’s just part of life. Of course, no one should feel forced to have it though. It’s okay to say no.
9. It’s easier to meet people who actually share common interests.
Especially when students begin to enter into upper level classes, they begin to meet people who have similar majors and interests. Conversations are easier and bonds are created much quicker.
10. There are more locations to meet people in the area.
In high school, you have more limitations of where you can go and when. In college, you can go out on the town with friends and meet people that you wouldn’t otherwise.
11. It’s easier to hide them from your parents.
If your date has some characteristics that you know your parents wouldn’t like, it’s much easier to hide it from them. I wouldn’t recommend hiding your interest in total from your parents, but it doesn’t hurt to hide a few things, right?
Yes, college dating may be a bit more intimidating, but one thing will always be the same: You will never be fully prepared for that first date.
