Why It’s Okay to Step Outside of the On-Campus Dating Pool
(by Nohel Corral)
With the seasons starting to change and people gearing up for the holidays, college students everywhere might be wondering who they’ll end up staying warm with on cold nights. College campuses tend to be a hodgepodge of dating potentials, which leads many people to believe it isn’t hard at all for students to find a compatible partner. However, this isn’t always the case.
For example, a lot would be surprised to know that at prestigious campuses like Stanford University, the pickings are slim. This is especially true for undergrads because of the small population and the fact that the campus’s location tends to make it a bit secluded. Freshmen students often fall into the routine of “hooking up” with fellow classmates at campus parties and other happenings. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost for those hoping for a more serious, long-term situation during the college years. Regardless of what campus a student is at, there are ways to improve the odds. Stepping off-campus is one of them.
A lot of success in the dating realm comes from common sense. Even dating and relationship professionals like the Attraction Institute encourage getting out of one’s comfort zone in order to see what else is out there. Not having much luck with love at college? Then that’s probably a sign that a change of scenery is needed. So what makes dating off-campus such a good idea?
Break the Routine
Students are exposed to a lot of the same routines. It’s refreshing to get off-campus and explore other settings that aren’t academically oriented. While it’s nice to have fellow students to connect with, the same conversations about degree programs, professors, exams and classes get boring after so long.
Meet New People
Being off-campus opens up the opportunity to meet non-students, resulting in a new set of conversations to have. It’s refreshing to meet people that can talk about something other than college related topics.
Have New Experiences
Students that get lucky enough to start dating someone they’ve met off-campus have the opportunity to get out and really enjoy life in ways that might not have been accessible to them otherwise. After a long week of classes and studying, it’s nice to spend weekends or school breaks traveling, dining out and even doing touristy things with a significant other. Dating outside of campus means building new memories that don’t involve anything college-related, which isn’t a bad thing.
Diversity in the Dating Pool
That’s not to say that students on college campuses are all the same. However, there are certain groups or cliques and tend to form naturally. Breaking free from those groups and the personalities that come with them is easily achieved by seeking potential partners off-campus. From working professionals and entrepreneurs to recent graduates diving into the job field, there are a number of personality types outside of college that some students could find much more appealing. It’s all about making a connection.