There are a lot of misconceptions about dating in college: there are more types of guys, you have more freedom to do what you want, and relationships are more mature (we hope). But with such close living quarters, little to no supervision, classes, and partying, life gets intense. Sometimes you’ll feel like your life is its own reality TV show. Keep reading for the inside scoop you’d have no way of knowing unless you’re in college (and should definitely know if you already are).
Hookups Outnumber Relationships
There are so many kinds of guys with different interests and personalities; it can be tempting to try them all! Why not? Hookups can be fun, but they can go one of three ways: they can evolve into relationships (not likely), into misunderstandings and embarrassment, or into nothing at all. At your average bar, it’s hard to tell who wants a one-night stand and who genuinely wants to get to know you (especially if you’ve been drinking). You’re not always going to have your friends there to stop you from making mistakes, like going home with someone you just met. Just like there are probably things you’re not telling him about yourself, he’s probably keeping stuff from you, too. What if that hot finance major has an STD or a cocaine addiction? Go out and have a good time, but stay with your friends and watch out for each other.
Relationships are More Serious
Relationships move much faster in college, both emotionally and sexually. In a nutshell, four months of college dating (where you have your own living space and can have sleepovers every night) is like a year of dating in high school (when you have curfews and other inconveniences). Couples in college often rush from casually dating to basically living together. But what people tend to forget is the more intense the relationship gets, the more it’ll hurt if it ends badly. My advice is to wait before keeping a toothbrush at your boyfriend’s apartment. You can lose your independence when you spend all of your free time with a guy, and you can jeopardize friendships, too.
There’s a Whole New Dating Vocabulary
Whether you like it or not, residence halls are cesspools of debauchery. Living in co-ed dorms can lead to peculiar situations (and new words!). Like sexile (when you’re locked out of your room because your roommate is hooking up with someone), shacking (spontaneously spending the night at someone’s house, usually after going out. You have no toothbrush and no change of clothes, which leads to the next term), stride of pride (aka walk of shame: the walk home in the same clothes as last night after you’ve slept with someone and spent the night in their dorm).
Be careful, gossip can be devastating to your reputation. A lot of these things are considered rites of passage, but doing them all the time won’t make you feel too good about yourself. Just remember to have fun, be careful, and enjoy the best four years of your life.