Lovin' 101 The Pros And Cons Of Dating In College

In this day and age, college isn't just about getting a degree, it's also about finding true love.

There are many pros and cons when it comes to dating in college, whether or not you're experienced in this subject, there are some very important lessons to be learned from this curated list. This list will walk you through everything you can expect and what you should keep an eye out for. While dating and having the time of your life might seem fun in college and it very well can be, there are some very important things you should know first. Just remember to keep yourself first when entering the dating world in college, you never know what to expect and you should stay on your toes at all times. Don't let a dumb girl or boy get in the way of your studies or career. But if you can handle it, have some fun!

15 Con: Going Out To Parties Isn't The Same

When you're dating someone or trying to have a serious relationship, it's basically impossible to have the same kind of fun you would have normally had when going out with all your single friends. It's not even about trying to flirt and hook up with people, but it does put a damper on how crazy you can get when trying to have a good time with people who aren't connected to someone romantically. Keep in mind this quote from Bradberry, because it can be just as easily applied to jobs and who you're dating in college, “More than half of people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain their managers know how to balance being professional with being human. These are the bosses who celebrate an employee's success, empathize with those going through hard times, and challenge people, even when it hurts.”

14 Pro: Not Being Alone In The Dorm

A great feeling is always having someone there for you. When you're shut up in your dorm all day it can get a bit depressing, especially if you don't know that many people in college. But when you're dating you always have someone you can hang out with or go meet up with to have coffee. But just like the wise Nick Cannon said: “Nobody can predict the future. You just have to give your all to the relationship you're in and do your best to take care of your partner, communicate and give them every last drop of love you have. I think one of the most important things in a relationship is caring for your significant other through good times and bad.” Keep this in mind when you're looking for your college soulmate, you'll find someone out there that works perfectly for you, without a doubt!

13 Pro: You Have Support

College is stressful, and when you're alone without anyone to talk to in a more personal way, it can be quite hard to stay above water. When you have someone there to give you that emotional support and you're able to do the same for them, you'll find that it's actually beneficial and easier for everyone involved to be happy and positive. This kind of support could even help motivate you when it comes to your school work as well! College has the potential to be one of the most wonderful places on earth if you really work hard on your schooling and yourself. There are so many ways to show that kind of diverse togetherness if you try hard enough.

12 Con: No Time To Yourself

One negative element to having someone there for you all the time is the fact that you might not be able to spend all your time to yourself if that is what makes you the most comfortable and relaxed. Between school and dating it can be hard to find any extra time for anything, let alone a day where you can just stay in bed all day and watch Netflix. While it's always hard to find balance, just try your best and see how much you can handle before you make any serious commitments. If you feel like you can't fully handle the responsibility of a partner and school, your studies should come first and really be the focus of your attention. You also need to be with someone who actually will take the time to understand that kind of need and balance. We know it can be hard, but making sure you're happy is most important.

11 Con: The Stigma

So many people say that when you date in college you either get married too soon or drop out. There are so many other made up ideas about dating in college as well. It can actually put a lot of excess pressure on you from friends and family if they think you're making the wrong choice when it comes to dating, even though it's your own choice. No one should be able to bud into your life and basically tell you that you're going to ruin your own life because of your wanting to date. Don't pay attention to what people say to you, you should care if someone is so closed minded that they don't even know how to handle a relationship themselves. Keep in mind that everyone has had their own experiences, and it's very true that many relationships don't work out because of college, but why should that have anything to do with you?

10 Pro: You Learn About Yourself

When you date in college, you're becoming an adult. This is the time in your life where you're going to figure out what you want in your career, personal life, and in your long-term relationship. When you experiment safely and date in college you'll be learning more about what you will want in your future and you'll also have a clear idea of what you will not want in your future as well. You'll have so many new ways to learn about yourself, not only because of the aspect of college, but also because you'll be showing your personality to people around you. This is the first time in your life that you will be constantly reaching out to people in the dating scene and being able to do that is a step in itself to a better outlook on yourself. Are you ready to learn more about who you are?

9 Pro: Meeting New People

When you log into Tinder, it's a whole new world of possibility opening up. There are so many new people to meet online and on campus. When you're opening yourself up to being able to date, not only will you learn more about yourself but you'll also be exposing yourself to more people in the world around you. This is a great way to feel more comfortable with yourself and your confidence when speaking to new people, even if the date doesn't work out romantically. Just like Derek Bok explained the economy, you could easily apply the same ideas to a relationship when in college. Are you ready to meet new people in the future of your college career?

“Economists who have studied the relationship between education and economic growth confirm what common sense suggests: The number of college degrees is not nearly as important as how well students develop cognitive skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving ability.” - Derek Bok

8 Pro: No Need To Dress Up

When you're dating in college and your date is also in college, either at your school or another. It's an unspoken rule that it's totally okay to wear a university hoodie to a lunch date. It's not crazy to wear athletic gear to class, the gym, or even to hang out after class with your partner. There is totally no need to dress up when it comes to dating in college, unless you actually want to, then that's up to you! When you're looking to find love, don't care what other people think and keep this in mind according to Kina Grannis herself: “In finding love, I think it's important to be patient. In being in a relationship, I think it's important to be honest, to communicate, to respect and trust, and to strive to give more than you take.” - Kina Grannis. Are you ready to get comfortable and watch netflix with your date?

7 Con: Safety

It can be scary meeting someone you've never met in person. It can be quite unnerving to put yourself out there in the dating world, especially with all the allegation popping up from school to school. Safety is a serious concern and is a con when it comes to this curated list. You have to be careful when dating in general, but especially in college because people can easily find your routine and classes or even your dorm. Pay attention and be completely careful when you put yourself out there. Don't be afraid to speak up if anything happens or if something makes you uncomfortable, even though it might not seem like it in the moment, there are people there for you and that will do anything to help you in any situation, but you have to speak up. Look out for others as well, your friends and peers, pay attention and point out to them if something seems off.

6 Pro: Mutual Understanding About School

When you're dating in college you'll have a major understanding of how busy your schedule can be and if you're with someone else who is also in school, that kind of understanding is unique and will be an aspect of your relationship that won't cause stress. Like we've said before, college is stressful and literally your life will revolve around it, your classes, assignments, and exams, but when you're dating someone who already understands what it means to be a full-time student, you won't have to feel guilty about the time and effort that is put into your studies. You both will be able to understand and deal with that together. If you feel like your partner doesn't understand where you're coming from when it comes to your schooling, we honestly think it might be time to find a new guy already, who has time for that! We sure don't!

5 Pro: Control

Since school can be quite controlling, it's nice for someone in intense college studies to be able to control something about their time and life. Having this aspect in your life where you are in charge of everything, it can be refreshing and honestly stress relieving to be able to have some sort of grasp on the life around you. It will almost make you feel normal too. Control is something that varies from person to person, but when in college almost all of your control is out of control. Controlling your dating life is a dream come true. “I think it's important to have closure in any relationship that ends - from a romantic relationship to a friendship. You should always have a sense of clarity at the end and know why it began and why it ended. You need that in your life to move cleanly into your next phase.” - Jennifer Aniston

4 Con: Distance

If you go to different schools, talk about a nightmare. If you happen to be going to different schools or if you're going away to school and your partner isn't, it sure can be problematic and difficult to know exactly what you should do. Especially if you're in love with this person, figuring it out can be challenging and hard. But don't give up! Even though it's a hard situation, doesn't mean that it's not possible. Don't listen to what people say about long distance relationships, just focus on making your relationship your own. Don't follow some rule book by some gossip rag! Don't worry about what people happen to think, if you want to be with someone that you think is important in your life and you want to deal with the distance, then that's completely up to you and who you're dating. Have you ever been in a long distance relationship and do you think it would work in college?

3 Pro: Being Close

But there's also the chance that you actually go to the same school, which can be a great positive! If you do go to the same school then you will always have someone right there with you every single step of the way. This kind of love and support will help motivate you to work harder now that you won't have to worry about that feeling of guilt when you need to dedicate a few hours to exam studying. Instead you'll have someone there who actually understands and will be fine with it completely.

“Truth is, I'll never know all there is to know about you just as you will never know all there is to know about me. Humans are by nature too complicated to be understood fully. So, we can choose either to approach our fellow human beings with suspicion or to approach them with an open mind, a dash of optimism, and a great deal of candour.” - Tom Hanks

2 Con: Link Ups

Something to worry about is hookups. The hookups in college are tempting because they are literally everywhere and people act like they are completely normal. But whether you're stressing about you falling for the trap, or your potential date falling for the casual hookup culture on campus, it's time you just sit down and have a chat with your date, even if it's early on between you two. There needs to be some boundaries set, that's the only way to be able to prevent something like this, at least as much as possible. “We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.” - John Lennon, even if it's just a hook up!

1 Pro: Meeting The One

If you allow yourself to date in college you might just find yourself with the soulmate you've been missing your whole life. If you actually do fall in love with someone and the feeling is mutual, that's something you could completely have missed out on if you didn't take the chance to put yourself out there in the dating pool. You have to put yourself out there sometimes to get what you want in life. At the end of the day it comes down to what you think you want in your future.

“In college, when a girlfriend asks you to watch a film in black and white, you do it. That's when I discovered a lot of films. I was really obsessed with Bergman, the whole world he creates. One that I always quote a lot is 'Autumn Sonata.' When you see women go through issues with their mom, you realize how right and poignant Bergman was.” - Jonás Cuarón