25 Essential College Dating Tips Every College Student Should Know

If you're a freshman in college or a graduating senior, the college dating scene can be hard to navigate. Here are 25 tips and some advice on how to beat the statistics, and be a champion at dating in college.

You obviously can't date new people if you're still seeing your high school boyfriend/girlfriend. The best thing for both of you is to break things off. Dating is hard enough as it is, but statistics show that long distance relationships don't often work. If you and your partner are going to different schools, you're better off ending the high school relationship. This leaves you both open to see new people while in college. Who knows, you might end up getting back together in the future. However, it's important to try dating other people so you know you're right for each other.

You don't have to jump right into a relationship the second you enter college. Dating in college means that you get to see a bunch of different people to figure out who you like best and what time of relationship works best for you. This doesn't mean you should date a bunch of different people at once (unless they know you're in an open relationship). It just means you should play the field a bit before settling down with just one person. You have a whole community of people ripe for dating in college, so the best advice is to try on a few different hats before picking your favorite.

You have four years of college, so why speed it up by dating like you've only got a day together? One of the best tips for dating in college is to take things slow. This is good advice because rushing into a relationship might cause you to miss out on other possible partners or even activities with friends. It's hard to beat a relationship that goes slowly because it gives you both the chance to make sure you're right for each other. Plus, if you're new to the dating game, going slow prevents you from doing anything you're not ready for.

College is an entire community just waiting to be discovered. One of the best tips for people going to college in general is to spend time meeting new people. You're going to a place that houses people from all over the country, and maybe all over the world, so you have tons of opportunities to meet new people. Of course, this translates to dating because it opens up a whole community of possible dating partners. By meeting new people, you're making friends and you're also finding people that you might want to have a relationship - or a hook up - with in the future.

You're probably going to college because you want to learn. Don't skip your statistics homework so you can date every night. Dating in college doesn't mean you have to have a date every night. First of all, you need some time to yourself and time to focus on the education you're paying for. Secondly, if you date the same person every night, you'll get bored with them quickly. If you date different people every night, it'll be hard and you'll get overwhelmed. The best advice is to settle for dating on weekends and maybe once or twice during the week. You need a break and your grades will thank you!

One of the best tips for dating in college is to look at your classes like dating sites. You're in classes with people who probably have similar interests as you! At the very least, you have the class in common already. Use your classes to find possible dating prospects. You can bond over statistics and then figure out that you both find the class to be really hard, or really easy! Classes are ice breakers and a great way to meet new people, so use them to your advantage! Talk to the kid next to you, partner up with someone you don't know, or join a class related study group. Whatever you do, meet the people in your classes!

Talking to a bunch of people while you're in college is expected, but some good advice is to never lead someone on if you're not interested in hooking up or dating them. It's fine to make a ton of new friends, just make sure you don't give him or her the wrong impression. You probably don't like it when someone leads you on, so you shouldn't do it to other people!

Casual dating is the thing to do in college. If you're not comfortable with an open relationship, let your partner know. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people aren't looking to be tied down by a college relationship. Most people are interested in casual dating to keep their options open. If you can handle being casual, do it!

Don't just date the first guy you meet who is nice to you. If you jump into a relationship too early, you're limiting yourself to other possibilities. Try the casual thing mentioned earlier so that you're not making it hard to meet new people and date around. Don't forget, college is a massive community, so limiting yourself to one guy means you won't experience everything college dating has to offer.

What counts as dating in college is very different than how dating works in the real world. You can date around in college and it's not hard to see a few different people at the same time. Take advantage of the dating community in college because you won't be in the same situation ever again. You can get casual dating, hook ups, and flings out of your system before entering the real world where settling down is the expectation.

Statistics show that college is full of peer pressure. It's hard to go against the community, but the best advice is to try not to give in to that pressure. You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do, and you are totally allowed to tell someone to shove it when they call you out for not wanting to do something. Whether it be dating around, hooking up, or drugs, you can say no. If you want to hook up with the guy or girl, go for it! But don't let anyone pressure you into something that you don't want to do.

This should go without saying, but sometimes the situation arises and you need some advice. Dating your friend's ex is almost always a terrible idea. Even if it's just a guy she hooked up with once, you shouldn't get involved. Definitely don't get involved with a guy who is making his way around your entire friend group. Gross! If you are in a situation where you're really interested in a friend's ex, you have to talk to her about it. She may give you her blessing, which is great! If she doesn't, you should respect her wishes. The friendship is worth more than the relationship in the end.

Leaving your comfort zone is different than saying no to things you don't want to do. It's about doing things that you've considered but have been too afraid to do before. Life before college can be a bubble, but once you get to the college dating scene, that bubble pops. It's okay to do things that are outside of your comfort zone as long as you're the one who wants to do it. Try that body shot, kiss the random guy in the bar, but don't let others pressure you into it. Only you can push yourself out of your comfort zone, but you'll be glad you did!

When you're dating in college, you're probably doing it on a broke college kid's budget. Some advice: cheap dates are the best dates in college. You don't have to spend any money, or just spend a little, to have a good time. Colleges usually have tons of free events on campus and there are usually cheap things to do in the area. You don't have to spend a ton of money to go out on fun dates, and you shouldn't expect him to dish out the dough to go out to a fancy dinner every weekend. The best part of the date should be being together, not the amount of money it costs.

There is a lot of pressure to be in a relationship, but you don't have to if you don't want to. Into that guy in your statistics class but you don't want to date him exclusively? Go for the hook up, or the casual fling. There's no rule that you have to be in a relationship in college. You're also allowed to not date at all in college. If you don't want to date, then good advice is to just not date. You can be single and happy - don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

You are allowed to ask for more from your hookups! If you don't want to just have a one night stand, you don't have to do it. Some people like hooking up randomly and never seeing that person again, and that's fine, but it's not for everyone. When faced with the decision, let the guy know you're interested in more than just one night. If he's in, great, go for it! If not, let him go. Don't just jump into bed with a guy and hope for the best. You're in control!

Unfortunately, going out to clubs by yourself can be dangerous. Sticking with friends when you're out at the bar or at a party will help you to protect yourself against the dark side of the college dating scene. Your friends can keep an eye on you - and you on them - so that you all make it home safely. On the other hand, hanging out with your friends can also help you because they can act as wingmen for you and help you land the guy or girl you've had your eye on. Your friends should keep a watchful eye on you while you talk to your crush, but you should do that part alone. It's awkward talking someone up in a group!

If you're dating someone, don't let it get in the way of the rest of your life. You have friends who want to spend time with you with and without your significant other. Don't ignore them just because you're seeing someone! Also make sure you're getting the most out of college. Go to parties, attend school events, and make friends with people in and out of your major. You can date, but don't let it get in the way of everything else you want to do.

This might seem simple, but it's good advice. It's important that you be happy with your dating life. If you're seeing one guy who doesn't make you happy, end it. If you're not happy with dating around, choose a guy to be with exclusively. You don't have to stay doing something that is impeding on your personal happiness.

Again, this might seem easy, but it's one that a lot of people forget. Whether you're in a monogamous relationship or you're sleeping around, always practice safe sex. Keep protection with you at all times, just in case. You can't always count on your partner to remember, so you should take it upon yourself to be prepared. Also consider going on birth control if you're having sex in college, but remember that birth control doesn't protect against STDs so you should always have another form of protection handy. Safe sex is happy sex!

The most important part of dating in college is to avoid making the same mistakes twice. This means never dating the same person again if it didn't work out the first time, don't have a one night stand the night before an exam, and don't skip studying to go out to the bar. Any other mistakes you make during your college dating experience…make note of them and try never to make the same mistakes again. You're going to make mistakes, and that's okay as long as you learn from them.

You are the number one thing in your life. You have to consider your own feelings and goals before jumping into bed or a relationship with another person. College is a personal experience, so you should be thinking of yourself first. Once you leave college, you'll probably marry and start a family where putting yourself first comes secondary to everyone else. Take advantage of your college experience by always considering yourself before others. This means ending a relationship that isn't working for you, or dating someone because you feel like it. Do you!

Just like with your social life, it's important to make sure dating doesn't interfere with your college education. You're in school to learn, and you can't let dating take away from that. You might have to skip a night out to study, but you'll be glad you did when you get an A on the exam. If you feel like dating is causing your grades to sleep, you need to take a step back and focus on your education. No guy is worth flunking out of college!

This isn't sexual, because floor sex can be fun. One of the best tips for college dating is to never date someone who lives on the same dorm floor as you. This can lead to a lot of awkward situations if you break up, because you'll see each other at floor meetings and on the way to the shower. Avoid dating someone in your dorm at all costs. It may seem convenient, but it certainly won't be when your roommate has to check the halls for you before you can walk to the bathroom so you can avoid seeing your ex!

When you're a new freshman in college, there are a ton of new things coming at you all at once. Don't add dating to the mix. Spend the first few months getting to know the people in your classes, the lay of the land, and getting used to the coursework. Then, once you're familiar with the place, you can start on your dating experience!

College is an amazing experience in general, but it's even better when you consider the dating scene. Use these 25 awesome tips to get the most out of your college dating experience!