{"id":16052,"date":"2018-02-17T01:00:21","date_gmt":"2018-02-17T09:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=16052"},"modified":"2021-05-31T12:47:19","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T19:47:19","slug":"dating-in-college-freshman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/dating-in-college-freshman\/","title":{"rendered":"Dating in College: Starting Your Freshman Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dating has changed a lot over the years<\/span>\u2014<\/span>what used to be an experience filled with courtship rituals, well-defined roles, and a set of unstated rules that (for the most part) people agreed with has been replaced with the wild world of dating apps where just about anything goes. (And it often goes to some interesting places.) But it\u2019s not just a change in technology, dating has gone through a generational shift as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating in college used to look very different<\/span>\u2014<\/span>women attended a university expecting to graduate with a MRS degree, and likewise men went expecting to find a wife. Now the vast majority of women go to college for the same reasons as men<\/span>\u2014<\/span>to get an education to help advance their careers. And contrary to what older generations may have thought, graduating from college as a single man or woman isn\u2019t the end of the world anymore. In fact, it\u2019s just the beginning. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

College was and still is a time for exploration. In addition to academics, you learn more about  yourself, how to be independent, and how to interact with the world. Your relationships are a huge part of that. And how to form them, mold them, maintain them, and even end them is a huge part of your college experience.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went to a traditional four-year college. During my time there, my views on dating and relationships changed as I progressed through each year of school, freshman to senior year. To give you an idea of what dating in college is like and help you master the art of navigating the somewhat muddy and confused waters of the college dating experience, I\u2019ve put together this helpful guide. This four-part series will cover the dating trends you\u2019ll experience during each year of college, the different things you and your friends will go through, what you can expect, and some tips on how to make your way. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I\u2019ll be discussing the beginning of your freshman year, what for many is the single best year of their life and for others is the single most terrifying year of their life. (And for others is both terrifying and amazing at the same time.) <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Three Types of Daters You’ll Meet Freshman Year<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You did it. Good for you. You made it through those four long years of high school. You pack up your bags and get dropped off at your new home. <\/span>You\u2019re free<\/span><\/i>. You can do whatever you want. Be whoever you want. You don\u2019t have to report back to your parents every time you head out of the house. You did it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with all this freedom comes great responsibility. You don\u2019t have mom or dad there to help guide the way. You\u2019re on your own, and it\u2019s time to make friends and meet new people. And let\u2019s admit it, you\u2019re going to be meeting a ton of new people. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interesting thing is, when it comes to dating and relationships, many of the new people you\u2019ll meet will fit into one of these categories…<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. LTR-ers
\n<\/b>About 10% of people you encounter in college will be in the Long-Term Relationship (LTR) category. These are people who go to college while in a LTR\/LDR (Long Distance Relationship) with their high school sweetheart. Now there\u2019s nothing wrong with this. Actually, you know what, I\u2019m just going to say it, there is. Don\u2019t do it. You\u2019re going to meet so many different and interesting people in college and you don\u2019t want to miss out on someone who could be really amazing for you, or someone who (at the very least) you can learn a lot from because you\u2019re trying to make it work with someone who lives far away. Wouldn\u2019t you rather be going out on a Friday night instead of sitting inside your dorm FaceTiming someone? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know when you\u2019re in the middle of a relationship it can feel like it\u2019s going to be forever, but the reality is that it probably won\u2019t be. Both you and the person you\u2019re dating are going to change a lot in the next four years and even though some high-school sweethearts grow closer together, the majority grow apart. And that\u2019s not a bad thing, it\u2019s just a life thing that happens. If you\u2019re in an LTR think about why you\u2019re with this person. Is it just because they feel safe or that this relationship is what you\u2019ve always known? Because now is the time to venture into the unknown a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The Relationship Romanticizers
\n<\/b>These people are the worst. About 25% of people you\u2019ll meet freshman year will fall into this category. These people are obsessed with finding a boyfriend or girlfriend, so much so that it literally takes over their lives. Admittedly,  I was that girl for a split second during my first year. But as it turns out, not seriously dating anyone during my freshman year was the best decision I ever made. If you go to a frat party set on finding your husband, well guess what, you\u2019re in for a world of disappointment. Finding the love of your life will happen when you least expect it, so try not to force it. If you\u2019re approaching your college dating experience with the mindset that you have to be in a relationship, or that you can\u2019t be alone, you\u2019re going about it all wrong. Meeting someone and starting a serious relationship can obviously be a great experience, but you shouldn\u2019t force something because it feels like you <\/span>should <\/span><\/i>be in a relationship. Relationships are really only fun if you genuinely care about the person. Serial monogamy during your first year of college is only going to make you regret you didn\u2019t take advantage of this time. Trust me, enjoy the freedom while it lasts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. SingleAF
\n<\/b>Ah, yes. The third and final category of people you\u2019ll meet during your freshman year of college. I\u2019m biased, but this category is my favorite. The people who are single and don\u2019t care about dating are seriously the best. They\u2019re in college to live their best life and have fun while doing it. The final 65% of people you meet will fall into this category. It\u2019s because they\u2019re always down to do something. They\u2019re down for the adventure. There\u2019s nothing holding them back. They\u2019re not obsessed with finding \u2018the one\u2019 and because of this they meet a lot of people and form a lot of different relationships<\/span>\u2014<\/span>some romantic, some sexual, some friends that will last a lifetime, and some (ok, a lot) that are somewhere in between. Not all of these relationships are even good, some may even be bad or be huge mistakes. The point is that when you\u2019re SingleAF, you\u2019re also free AF and open to experiencing and learning from everything your college life has to offer. If you aren\u2019t one of these people, then align yourself with one. If you are one of these people, get ready for a fun time. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being unattached during my freshman year was the best decision I ever made. During my single years, I was able to learn a lot about myself. These aren\u2019t things I could have learned if I was tied down or if I was constantly obsessed with trying to get a guy\u2019s attention or chase after a relationship. Some of my key takeaways include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n