Dating in college can seem pretty universal; only about eight percent of students reported never going on a date while in college in a 2016 study reported by NBC.

As this Valentine’s Day approached, Elizabethtown College students reflected on dating both at Etown and during the college years in general.
Senior Elizabeth Mazer said having a good number of places to go nearby is an advantage of dating at Etown.

“For a casual first date I think Folklore is pretty cute,” Mazer said.
“It’s a coffee shop, there’s live music, and it has a younger vibe.”

Mazer also listed the increased independence college students have as a general advantage of dating in college, while senior Andrew Mangabat noted how easy it is to learn about a fellow student as a potential significant other.

“You’re able to see things like if their room is clean and how they interact with other people in addition to you,” Mangabat said.

At the same time, Mangabat said a relationship can be a distraction from other aspects of college life.

“It’s a very big time commitment during a time when time is very important,” he said.

Some students, perhaps those looking for a smaller commitment, prefer to search for potential partners through dating apps like Tinder or Bumble.

“On dating apps, you’re still getting to know the person, but how much you find out might depend on the context,” Mazer said.

It may also depend on a person’s goal for using the apps; dating apps are sometimes stereotyped as contributing to the “hookup culture” some say exists on college campuses. According to Inside Higher Ed, Tinder even launched a mode just for college students called “TinderU” (although students at small colleges like Etown may be relieved to hear this feature can be adjusted to include potential off-campus suitors).

Mazer said the proximity that comes with dating another student can be both positive and negative; she said having lots of time together can be nice but seeing an ex after breaking up on a small campus can be difficult.

In addition, small colleges like Etown sometimes have more female students than male students. For those attracted to women, this could be a good thing. In particular, Mangabat said that for men, dating at Etown seems to be more long-term than those who read about “hookup culture” may expect.

“It’s a bit surprising because you see people who you wouldn’t think you’d see together,” Mangabat said.

“People also date for longer compared to in high school, when it was maybe three months and that was it.”

Sometimes, though, the length of a romantic relationship can lead to tough periods, depending on the timing of things like school breaks.

According to the NBC study, about a third of students experience a long-distance relationship at some point during college, whether it’s with a high school partner or a college partner who lives far away.

“Long distance is tough, and even though I’m not the greatest at it, it…comes down to communication and what you and your partner want, and if those two are compatible,” Mangabat said.

“It’s all about having it inside each of you to really make time for that person and show them you really care.”

Doing this could be harder if one or more people in the relationship is a senior. Mazer said there are a lot of extra things to consider about a relationship when students want to take it into the “real world.”

“Of course, you both want each other to be successful, but with that success comes challenges like distance and new schedules and bigger demands from other parts of your life,” Mazer said.

She suggested that seniors in these situations communicate their feelings and plans to their partners effectively and often.

But what about single college students? According to a study reported by campusexplorer.com, about a third of college seniors have been on fewer than two dates in their four years as a student.

Still, no matter their relationship status, college students may find themselves feeling something in their hearts this Valentine’s Day.
They may feel something in their wallets, too; according to CNN, U.S. consumers are expected to spend about $19.6 billion on everything from flowers to jewelry to dinner reservations.

Some Etown students will be among those spenders, whether they pay for a romantic date in Etown or a special evening elsewhere. For everyone else, the Jay’s Nest sells ice cream.