Dating After College

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Posted Oct 13th 2009 12:00AM

Throughout the collegiate years, there are numerous activities that bring people together. Whether it's a frat party, football game, or even just a group project-socialization is strongly enforced. Need a date for the formal? Not a problem. One of your friends' boyfriends knows a guy who is "totally perfect for you".

When you meet someone in college, the most common questions consist of "Do you go here, or are you just here visiting?", "What year are you?" and, "Where do you live?" Dating in college is all about assumptions. You assume that if enrolled, they must have some sort of education and ambition. By learning their year you can make a guesstimate of age. (This is also a great one because if they've had some issues with grades you'll get an answer like, "Well I'm supposed to be a Junior, but some of my credits didn't transfer correctly, so I'm still a Sophomore" or "Well I failed Organic Chemistry so I'm still a Freshman." This can also provide insight to their character, work ethic, etc.) Lastly, learning their proximity on campus is an excellent conversation starter. "Oh you live in that dorm? I was there last year-the air conditioning never worked!"

Unfortunately, after graduation when the "real world" sets in-dating becomes the ultimate challenge. If you live in a college town, going back to the same bars or parties will soon give you the reputation of "the one who never left". If you moved back home and are quite far from close friends, who do you meet to go out? Where do you go?

One of the easiest ways to meet people is by joining a gym. Sign up for a kickboxing or cycling class and before you know it you'll be in great shape and surrounded by friendly, familiar faces weekly.

Sporting Events are another great way to meet new people. Get some cheap tickets from StubHub or craigslist and grab a friend when your team is in town. Most stadiums and arenas have bars and social areas for those of age. It's easy to meet people and bond when you're both fans of the same team, and sometimes it's even fun to friend the rivals.

Maybe sports aren't your thing? Join a dance class; go on a trail ride with friends, ice skating, the movies-whatever you want to do-do it, because the more you get out there and have fun, the more often you'll have opportunities to meet and socialize with others. In college, opportunities are created for you, after graduation-it's up to you to make the opportunities.

Have any suggestions on where post-grads can best meet potential dating partners? Leave your comments below...

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university

Oct 27th 2009 @ 7:30AM report

Thanks for the great reading, college dating . I will pass this on to our ira clients to read

Eric

Nov 6th 2009 @ 8:01PM report

Another thing to consider is to move to a town where the majority of singles are of the opposite sex. If you're a single man, you really need to look at a town where there are more single women than single men. If you're a single woman, you really need to consider a town where there are more single men than single women, especially a town where there is a severe shortage of single women.

During the late 1990s, I was in three church-sponsored singles groups in St. Louis; the majority of those who attended group events were men. I've been to other places in St. Louis where single people tend to congregate, and it's the same thing: most of their clientele are male. Corporations with operations in St. Louis need to encourage more of their female employees who are single to move there. There's a lot of single men there who are looking to settle down.

aali

Nov 8th 2009 @ 9:21AM report

i love girli

college dating

Nov 17th 2009 @ 3:27PM report

Great Blog,This site provides very useful tips.Online dating means new age of online matchmaking.Thanks for the greatreading, college dating .I will pass this on to our Ira clients to read.

Eric

Nov 18th 2009 @ 3:48PM report

But, online dating is not the right fit for most people. There's the risk of meeting someone online who you would initially think is great, but you find out that person is a fake, or worse, doesn't exist except as a figment of one's imagination.

When one gets out in the so-called "real world", the dating scene becomes more and more competitive as time goes on. If that person lives in a town where those of one's own sex make up the majority of singles, then that person is going to have a BIG PROBLEM. Couldn't they have considered areas where they can have their pick of potential mates BEFORE they graduated?

I was a member of Catholic Match in the summer and early fall of 2005, and had a trial membership in Catholic Mingle in November and December of 2007. The trouble with both of these sites is that there were a very limited number of single, never-before-married women in the St. Louis area (or within 250 miles of St. Louis) to choose from. The worst part was that no one in St. Louis bothered to look at my profile. The one lesson I took from it was that the best things in life may not be found in your hometown.

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