A survival guide for college dating

The first weekend away from conformity brings out the wild child in everyone.

No… The first weekend away from conformity brings out the wild child in everyone.

No parents, no curfews, abundant amounts of alcohol readily accessible for the inexperienced, and members of the opposite sex await those who are entering college for the first time.

Like most everything else, dating in college is very different than anything you may have experienced in high school. Here, with four years of dating experience as a basis, is some advice on how to dip your feet into the college dating pool.

Forget your high school sweetheart. You both need time to mature, and when he or she is many higher-education miles away, long-distance fights are sure to ensue frequently. You won’t get the true college experience if you are moping over a significant other all the time or are constantly going home to visit him or her.

Truth be told, you won’t meet your future spouse at a house party. Such events host scantily clad women, men with raging hormones and a never-ending supply of cheap beer that makes everyone look surprisingly more attractive. Throw in some thumping music and gyrating bodies and you have a recipe for hookups, not potential dating material. Skip the kegger scene when trying to wow a date, be it your first or 50th together.

Don’t date people that live in the same building as you. It may be convenient and exciting at first, but when all is said and done, your paths are bound to cross and it will, undoubtedly, be hella awkward.

Dinner and a movie can get a bit monotonous. The city is bursting with wallet-friendly romantic escapades for which a car isn’t vital. Pirate games, walks in Schenley Park, frugal concerts, museums, Phipps Conservatory, Light Up Night and eclectic shops all over the place are only a few of the options.

It’s not that hard to get the digits of that hottie in Geology class. You already have something in common that you can talk about, play on that. Say you missed a few classes, and ask to borrow her notes. This will lead to a phone number exchange, because clarifications may be necessary to decipher chicken scratch. Another option is to make a study date at Hillman Library before the midterm exam. This will ensure a numeric exchange as well.

The least stressful first date is getting coffee. You won’t stress over what to wear, no one is going to card you, it isn’t expensive, it’s casual and in a public environment. The Kiva Han on the corner of Forbes and Craig is larger than its Meyran Avenue counterpart and, if you’re lucky, you will catch some live music, or muse over the art exhibits. Starbucks, on the corner of Forbes and Atwood, also boasts some tasty coffee beverages in a swank environment.

What’s that you say? You don’t like coffee? Learn. And learn quickly. This is an essential beverage even when you aren’t trying to pull all-nighters. As per the above statement, it’s one of the best first dates. Sometimes it can be the “date” that isn’t exactly a “date.” Serious conversations about the fate of the relationship will be had over coffee. It’s not unlikely that you will walk into a coffee shop with a significant other and walk out alone ? or vice versa.

Relationships progress a lot more quickly in college. Sleepovers will happen almost immediately, and they’ll be frequent. Make sure the roommate isn’t in the room as you and your significant other of the moment are getting busy, and remember to always respect him if he isn’t ready to cross that boundary. Additionally, don’t forget to respect her if she is ready to cross that boundary.

You don’t know this person’s past. Therefore, you don’t know if the person is genuine when he or she claims to be a virgin, or if those 11 partners came about by American Pie’s “Rule of Three.” Always, always be safe.

Certain people are off-limits. In high school, the dating pool was a bit communal within a group of friends. There weren’t that many options, so dating friend’s exes and ex’s friends was bound to happen. College is a different story. Dating your ex’s friend is taboo, as is sleeping with one of your friend’s exes. This is a surefire way to end more than one friendship. Stay away from your friends’ siblings and roommates also ? this keeps uncomfortable situations at bay.

Remember high school sweethearts. Drive a few hours every now and then to visit. But remember, the two of you broke up for a reason, and don’t be surprised if you get some dirty looks from members of the same sex while visiting. You don’t know what he or she has been up to, no matter what anyone says.

There it is kids, take it or leave it. But remember, these words of wisdom weren’t just conjured overnight; they were four years in the making.