As college students, I would bet that we have all heard the same things about meeting people. You have probably been told that it's a time to make new friends or to seek out new relationships. I personally was even told, as an introvert and knowing I would do fine in my classes, that making new friends should be my top priority. And while it's a huge part of going off to college, it can be super intimidating. How many friends should I have? How do I find these people? Where do I find these people? Well, to make your life a tiny bit easier, I thought I would look into where college students are most likely to meet people, specifically romantic partners, also looking at how attachment style plays into where we meet people.
Wanting to get a general idea of where people think might be the most common places for college students I asked my friend what she thought the most common place to meet a potential romantic partner was.
“Uhhhh, I want to say the bars, because that's what everyone always says, but I’m thinking it might be school related, like in classes. I have heard so many different places where people meet their significant others that I’m struggling to give one specific spot where it happens most.”
I then moved on to ask her where she met her boyfriend.
“We met during an exam review session, and we went to study at the library after with my other friends in the class. I had seen him around and in my class, but it wasn't until we were in a smaller group that we actually met. Shout out to CHEM 113 for helping me out.”
So my friend met her boyfriend in one of her classes but this actually is not the most common way for college students to meet their romantic partners. Most people meet their partners online (Rosenfeld et al., 2019). Individuals who use online dating apps are often those with secure attachments (Chin et al., 2019). Other ways people often meet their partners are at bars/parties, at work, in school, or through family or friends (Rosenfeld et al., 2019). Those who meet their partners at a party/bar are most likely secure or anxious attached, and as Öztürk and Mutlu (2010) found, are more likely to be social and engage in activities like going out and experiencing new things. Anxious individuals are often less social and meet people in places where they feel comfortable, such as work (Öztürk & Mutlu, 2010).
All of this is not to say that based on one's attachment style, you will only meet potential partners at said places. This is far from being true. There are so many times, places, and opportunities in which we could possibly meet our romantic partners. Heck, a lot of people don't even find their person until after college! But if you are still in school and trying to meet new people or are looking for love, these are some of the places where others have found success. Let me know in the comments where you thought the most common place to meet someone was, and if you met your partner during college, where and how it happened!
Hi Madi! I absolutely loved your blog post. As I finish my final semester at CSU I have been self reflecting a lot about the past four years. I am also an introverted person and did not make many friends. I always thought that I would find the love of my life during college but that wasn't the case for me. I am still hopeful that one day I will meet someone! On the other hand my best friend who is an extrovert had an "amazing" college experience in her words. She is the complete opposite of what I am, she loves going out and meeting new people. She found her partner at a physiology study session! It was quite funny at first but they are very good together.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi! In a way I resonated with your blog post because I have been lucky enough to find who I believe to be my soulmate in high school. We met in our 7th period health careers class back in 2015 and to this day we are still together. Coming in to college, I thought that would be how many people met their partners, but observing my close friends I don't believe this is the case. For example, though the majority of my friends are extroverts and they met the majority of their partners on social media. To me this was shocking because when I started dating online dating wasn't something that was prominent in dating culture. However, now I see how evident it is and how much influence the media has on relationships in general.
ReplyDeleteAs an introverted person I find that often friends find you. Throughout my life I have just happened upon the people I am closest to, and if anything, they are always the ones to talk to me first. I love the idea that there is no one place to find a partner, and that even if you stay with places you are comfortable, you will find people you connect with (partner material or not). In my personal experience, I met my partner in high school in biology freshman year. We didn't start dating right then and there, but after bumping into them in the places where I was trying to go over and over again, we became friends and started dating in sophmore year. I wasn't seek out a relationship at all, it just happened when it happened and I am live laugh loving it to this day!
ReplyDeleteHi Madi! I used to think that it would be easier to find a partner in places that you regularly go to like at work or at school. I didn’t expect that meeting people online would be the most common way to find a partner! But I do have a more anxious attachment style and I’m also more introverted so like you had mentioned in your post I think for me personally it’s easier to find a partner in places that I'm comfortable with or through connections with friends or family. I guess since the world is becoming so globalized it makes sense that most people will find their partners online. I haven’t tried online dating myself but I know a lot of friends that have tried it and have been able to find happy relationships. It’s so interesting to know that people can find their partners almost anywhere!
ReplyDeleteShout of Chem 113!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think that going out to different events and being social is the best way to meet new people. I honestly think any and everywhere is an open opportunity to meet new people. Going to things or event in which you enjoy yourself or would want to get to know people who have the same interests. But I agree, I think that meeting your s/o in one of these laces is possible and do-able, but I wouldn't make it a habit of incorporating that aspect of them in your life. For example, if you guys both have the same class or lab, I feel like that may cause tension between the two down the line. I had this happen to me personally where I started dating someone in my class, and it got too hectic between us because of it. But also, it may not. I just feel in some respects when in a relationship, you should keep different parts of your life separate.
I am of the opinion that engaging in diverse events and maintaining a social presence is a highly effective way to forge new connections. I genuinely think that the opportunity to meet new individuals is omnipresent, transcending specific locations or moments. By attending events aligned with your interests, you can create avenues to connect with like-minded people. However, while I acknowledge the possibility of finding a romantic partner in such settings, I advise against incorporating that aspect of your life into shared activities. For instance, if you both attend the same class or lab, I believe it could potentially lead to complications and friction in the future.
ReplyDeleteshout out to chem 113
ReplyDeletehi madi! I loved your blog post, I found it super interesting, especially the part about anxious individuals being more likely to meet someone where they are more comfortable like work. I think for a long time, I went out to frats or bars hoping that a cute boy would approach me, this rarely happened. As I talked to my friends, they said something that changed the way I think, "think about how many people you see out at the frats/bars, you are just one of the many there". This made me realize that maybe a more intimate setting would be better for finding potential partners. For example, my friend met her boyfriend through DSP, the co-ed business fraternity on campus. They found out they had the same concentration and shared a class. They started sitting together, studying together, and I guess the rest is history. Dating apps are so common in college, and I can't say I don't have a couple apps myself. While these are fun for little talking stages and casual things, I find that most men on them want situationships type beat. I have high hopes for next semester, maybe I'll try to be more social in class!
Hi Madi! The way you have widely expressed the different ways people meet people either in a friendly or romantic manner is very accurate. I agree that most cases are found somewhere on campus or in classes. However, I also recognize that a lot of these encounters occur outside of a college campus like a bar or party. I personally have met friends and partners online, in classes, and also at parties. I love the way you use two of your friends' accounts and their statements. I met my current partner on an online dating app and I think you are right about having a secure attachment!
ReplyDeleteI found this blog post really interesting because I am also an introverted person and typically stick to a smaller group of friends. I've never felt I needed to seek more friends or romantic partners; however, I think societal pressures make people, including myself at times, think that there is something wrong with them if they don't have a lot of friends or a lot of previous boyfriends/girlfriends. However, I still agree that college is an important time to make new connections. My sister met her now fiance in her Music Appreciation class her freshman year. Now I get to be maid of honor!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
shoutout to chem 113
ReplyDeleteHi! This is a very interesting topic. As an introvert myself, I met my very first boyfriend online, and that fizzled out quickly, and most of our relationship was over FaceTime (I was 15). My current boyfriend and I went to middle and high school together, and didn't get to know each other until we had a class together our senior year. We talked and go to know each other in our senior composition class, and honestly I was shocked at how natural a relationship developed just from talking during class. As someone who generally has more of an anxious attachment style, it was honestly refreshing to start dating someone face to face instead of online.
Hi Madi! I love your blog post, it was really interesting to read. I am also an introvert, so starting my freshman year in college and making new friends was kind of intimidating. As intimidating as it was, I ended my freshman year with many close friends due to connections through class and other friends. I didn’t realize how popular online dating was for college students until I read your blog post. I haven’t tried online dating personally, but I have heard that some of my friends have had success with it themselves. I know a few people, like my uncle, who have found their partner in college. Before my uncle and his partner graduated, they got married and had their first kid soon after. I’m excited to see what kind of connections college will bring me in the future.
ReplyDeleteHello Madi! I really enjoyed reading your blog post. It really resonated with me regarding my attachment style and current relationship. One thing that really surprised me is that people mostly meet their partners online. I would consider myself to also be an introvert with an anxious attachment style and I personally felt too anxious to meet a stranger in person that I met through the internet. My boyfriend and I meet through mutual friends at social gatherings. I would see him at parties and kickbacks and one day we just got to talking. I felt more comfortable knowing that my friends were also friends with him to begin with and I also really enjoyed how talking to him face to face felt so natural and easy. But I also know so many people who meet their partner through online resources and are extremely happy. I guess you can really meet people anywhere!
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for sharing such a thoughtful and reflective post. I found it to be so interesting how most people meet their partners online and not through going out in everyday life. My friends are a prime example of this all of my friends have met their partners online through social media and dating apps. My best friend met her boyfriend on Tinder, and they have been together for six years and our engaged so they're relationship is very successful for them. I have met my partner on a dating app and my relationship has been successful as well. I think it is so interesting to see all the different ways couples meet each other and it's so cool to hear all of their stories. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAllie M
Hi, I really enjoyed reading this post it is so interesting just like in HDFS 402 how we learn about online dating and the pros and cons to it, its crazy that social media has such an impact on everyones daily lives. I loved reading about how it surprised you that people meet in class, it is so cool to hear about something like that.
ReplyDeleteThis post immediately jumped out to me regarding where college students meet significant others. I believe that a lot of people meet their boyfriend or girlfriend online these days especially with Tinder and Hinge and apps like those. I also think it's a lot more normalized now to have met your partner on those apps and not as "weird" as it's been viewed in the past.
ReplyDeleteI started a student organization on campus about two years ago and our group meets twice every week to learn how to dance! We all joke about how we're really a "match making club" because there are more than 10 couples that have started dating in our club in the past two years alone! It's a great space to meet people and when you're dancing with other people your age for hours it's hard not to find people you love there! :)
As someone who has navigated the social landscape of college life as an introvert, I completely understand the challenges of meeting new people, whether friendships or otherwise. This post's insights about attachment styles influencing where people meet their partners are fascinating. In my experience, I met several of my closest friends during my freshman year through shared interests and classes. For example, I met the guy I was seeing freshman year, during a group project in one of my classes. I bonded with him during late-night study sessions. It’s reassuring to know that there are multiple avenues to form connections, and this post's breakdown of these possibilities is very encouraging.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi! Great post! I have also heard that college is the prime time to find a partner because you are never around this many people your age again. Unfortunately, I have not found a partner yet so I will have to try my luck in graduate school. The most common place I meet people would be: class, a party, or through dating applications. It was interesting to hear that most people who mee their partners at bars have a secure or anxious attachment style because those attachment styles are quite different. Thank you for sharing! I loved reading others peoples experiences finding their match in college in the comments. Gave me suggestions on where to look!
ReplyDeleteI met my boyfriend before college, so I'm not sure how helpful this may be. We went to the same high school, and I actually had a crush on him then, but we were in different social circles. He played football and was friends with a lot of his brothers friends, who were a year older than us, and I was a swimmer and had a smaller group of friends, so I figured we'd never talk or interact. However, after high school, we had each other on social medias, started talking, and when we went on a date, we really hit it off and have been together ever since. Before this, I had been in a few relationships, but at that point had been single for about a year. I had used dating apps but got frustrated with them, deleted them, and then stumbled upon him. So I guess my point here is that you never know who you've already met and not pursued for whatever reason. Maybe reassessing your options will help you!
ReplyDeleteI met my boyfriend in a small restaurant that we both worked for. I worked the front of house and he was a line cook. I had always seen him around but he was really quiet and I was the exact opposite. After about a year of us working, somewhat together, he would make efforts to talk to me a little more. He’d stay after work to chat with everyone or color with me. What really brought us close was my blueberry muffins. I was telling a coworker about them and he overheard and was very interested in trying them, so I brought some for him to try and the rest is history! The restaurant we met at recently closed which is quite sad but I will always remember my time there very fondly. When reading this I was especially interested in the fact that anxiously attached individuals are more likely to meet their partners at work. I am pretty anxiously attached to him and definitely felt more comfortable being myself at work than in school. I am usually incredibly talkative but at school, I actually tend to be quite shy. Maybe the ability to be one’s self plays a big role in attraction, I can’t imagine him taking as much of an interest in me at school because I am so much different there than I am at work. I am much more social, lively, and fun at work which is probably much more attractive than the school version of me who’s always tired and whose social battery is practically nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteI really like the concept of your post! When I was home for summer break last year, one of my older coworkers actually asked me this exact question. She went to my university back in the 90s, and when I mentioned my boyfriend she asked how college students meet potential romantic partners nowadays. I shared some of the same responses you did (in classes, online, at the bars), but I added that mutual friends are also a common avenue for partners to meet. For example, I met my boyfriend because he was roommates with one of my friends. Then, once we started dating, my roommate met his best friend, and now they're dating! I'm curious about which attachment style these friend-of-friend interactions are most often associated with.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi, thank you for sharing this story! I enjoy the personal anecdotes tied is your post, along with the research and data. These two aspects provide two totally different perspectives. In terms of meeting people in class or around campus, I know so many stories! I feel that maybe when people are not looking for a relationship is when they encounter one. I have a friend who met her boyfriend in a recitation, and through him, one of her sorority sisters started dating his friend! So random, and not what you would expect in this technological day and age.
ReplyDelete- This was a very good read. As a current female college student, I often wonder the same thing. When will I meet my future partner and if I will in college or not. I dated a guy my freshman year, but since then I’ve had no interest in putting myself out there. As I am a junior and my friends are seniors, I am more interested in spending quality time with them, rather than a guy I may or may not end up with for the rest of my life. I have a good friend who met her long-term boyfriend the first week of freshman year at a football game. To me, the setting has little impact, but the conversation has the biggest impact of them all. In my major and classes, it is very much female based. I have met little men in my classes.
ReplyDeleteMeeting people in college is easy in the sense that you have the ability to meet someone new anywhere if you WANT to. You have to take it upon yourself to go up to people and introduce yourself. For people who want to meet other students “organically” or “naturally” that’s a bit harder. As for romantic partners most of the people I know have met their partners on online dating sites surprisingly. I’d say at least 60% of the people I know in college use some platform like tinder or hinge. However, my closest friends who I'd say are most similar to me in attachment style are not on dating websites and are single. I think attachment style is definitely a defining factor in how you socialize and therefore where you meet your potential partner.
ReplyDeleteThe title caught my attention because I took Chem 113 during my first year of college. Now, as a third-year student, I can confidently say that in-person classes are one of the best ways to meet people. I’ve tried online dating apps before, but they just are not for me. I prefer meeting people in real life and getting to know the more authentic side of them. It’s even better when you meet someone in your class! You might share similar interests or have the same major, and that connection makes things feel more natural. Personally, I would describe myself as having an anxious attachment style, but I still prefer meeting people through in-person interactions—whether in a class or at a social event—rather than online, even if that goes against what this post suggests. This post was interesting because it brought up a perspective I hadn’t really considered, especially when it comes to meeting people online vs in person.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this! I found this super interesting as a college student and as a college student that has yet to have a boyfriend in college. I believe that it is accurate that a lot of people meet their partners at bars, parties, classes. I imagine this is most likely because this is where college students are most likely to be at. This is also an opportunityfor college students to meet other people. I know I have a lot of potential options at these places. I also know that a lot of my friends have met their partners in college. So my For college students to meet other people. I know I have a lot of potential options at these places. I also know that a lot of my friends have met there partners in college. So my friends have met their partners at parties, through other friends, the gym, study sessions, or concerts. I imagined the places you listed are some of the most popular places to meet someone in college. I also know that clubs, organizations, or through Greek life could be also popular places to find and meet possible romantic partners. I know that college is different for everyone especially meeting new people. It is super easy to make friends in college especially at Colorado State University. I imagine meeting your future partner in college. Could be a lot like meeting a new friend. Becoming friends first is a great foundation For romantic relationship. You can know each other well before hand and really dive into a possible relationship after. I’m aware that each person is different based on attachment style and where someone feels comfortable. If someone is more comfortable in a place with a few people or a calmer setting they may not meet their future partner at a party or bar. Everyone is different and the possibilities are infinite.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi, I love how you highlighted the variety of places where college students meet potential romantic partners and how attachment styles play a role in this. Your friend's story about meeting her boyfriend in a CHEM 113 study group is a great example of how connections can happen in unexpected, non-traditional settings. I also found it interesting that research shows most people meet their partners online (Rosenfeld et al., 2019), especially those with secure attachment styles. This makes sense, as online platforms often require a level of openness and vulnerability that secure individuals may feel comfortable with. It’s a nice reminder that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to meeting people. College offers so many opportunities to connect, whether romantically or platonically. Thanks for sharing, I loved reading your post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! But I also wanted to mention that I also believe that attachment styles can play a big part into where we meet people. Seeing this blog talk about how attachment can play a role in where you find your significant other is really interesting. One thing I am really good at is being self aware and I know for a fact I do not have secure attachments, I fall more in the avoidant attachment side. But what I found really interesting was when you mentioned that people with secure attachment tend to use dating app and I honestly do believe that makes sense because I have never really found interest in using apps. But I can see this is true with my friend who does use those apps. I feel like I am more of those who want to meet their partner outside at the bars or in school and feel like my attachment does play a role in it!
ReplyDeleteHi! I definitely think attachment styles plays a big part in not only meeting romantic partners, but making friends as well. I don't know if there's a "right way" to make friends or meet people, but having the confidence to go out of your comfort zone, start that conversation, invite yourself or others, etc., etc., relates to your general attachment to others... like your parents. But, on the other note, this is actually funny because I met my boyfriend in class. Well, we technically met on my high school football field, but actually got to know one another in my sophomore year math class. Then we became best friends, then later on started dating. Safe to say he's my high school sweetheart. And soul mate. Funny how life works out.
ReplyDeleteHi! Great post! I related to lots of it! I really liked what you said about the attachment styles and how they connect to where you meet your partner. For example, if you meet someone through a friend, you may feel more comfortable around them from the start. I don’t like online dating apps, I just don’t think that they are always genuine in my opinion and not the best way to find someone. I don’t think there is a right place to meet someone, I think it could really happen anywhere. I would think test the most common place to meet your partner would be through a friend. That’s how I met my ex boyfriend, and that’s how most of my friends met their partners or past partners.
ReplyDeleteThis post resonates with me because I’ve often wondered about the best places to meet new people in college. I used to think most relationships began at parties or through mutual friends, but my own experience suggests otherwise. One of my closest friends met her boyfriend during a campus volunteer event. They bonded over shared interests while planting trees, which turned into a meaningful relationship. Your discussion of attachment styles is fascinating—secure individuals feeling at ease in bars, while anxious individuals prefer familiar settings like work or classes, makes so much sense. I also didn’t realize online dating was the most common way to meet partners! This research has been thought-provoking and makes me reflect on how subtle factors influence our choices. Your writing is engaging and respectful, and the connections to personal experiences and academic research make it relatable and insightful. Thanks for sharing these ideas!
ReplyDeleteI connected with this post because I felt the same way going into college. I did not have strong friend groups before college and hoped that I would make new friends. I would constantly wonder if I knew enough people, if I was going out enough, or if not talking to people in my classes was normal. I have an anxious attachment style, obviously. I met my partner of 2 years at work, I had worked there for about a year and was very comfortable. Although I love talking to people in general being in a place that was familiar to me definitely helped. Your analysis of the different attachment styles in college specifically was very intriguing and I was very engaged and the academic research you included made it very insightful!
ReplyDeleteI felt a strong connection to this post as I completely understand the feeling of being left out. I am a largely introverted person and it was a difficult task to be able to reach out and make some new friends in college. Everything seems like such a daunting task at first until you just realize that many aspects such as having as many friends as possible does not need to matter at the end of the day. I would agree with the fact that attachment styles can have a large impact with the people that you meet. I was able to meet my partner within a school setting which was easier for me to feel comfortable creating a relationship with a common and safe space. It would most definitely be more difficult to do this in the confines of an uncomfortable space. Being able to meet all different sorts of people that are able to impact your life in such a meaningful manner which being able to be comfortable about it is very important to those who might not be as outgoing.
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar experience going into college. I was going into school with no friends from high school and just hoping that I could find someone to talk to. I was really nervous at first but once I made a sold group of friends I felt more and more confident. I still worry about if the amount of times that I go out is enough but have learned to find some sort of balance. I would for sure say that making the effort to go out more and schedule things with friends has allowed me to meet a lot of new and interesting people. So I would say that your hypothesis matches up with my story.
ReplyDeleteHello, I find myself relating to this post because I also am an introverted person who can be quite shy when meeting and being around new people. I have been a CSU student since the Spring 2022 semester and up until the Fall 2023 semester I did not make that many friends on campus. Thankfully, around the third week since the Fall 2023 semester started, I was able to make many friends in a short period of time and most of them belong in a campus ministry called Chi Alpha. I am not part of the ministry but I have many friends who do and they have treated me very nicely and I am glad to have met them and being able to slowly lose my shyness over time by getting to spend time with them. Reading this post has made me remember the time I was able to find good friends who have helped me improve myself and vice versa. Therefore, I would like to thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog post Madi.
ReplyDeleteI think the types of people you meet will vary between locations. Don’t expect to find sober, introverted or reserved people at a large party, for example. Though anything is possible I believe catering your frequented places to the kind of people you care to meet is a good strategy for enhancing the likelihood of finding good matches, both in friends and romantically. People of course do this naturally, the places you go are also the places where people like you go. Forcing yourself into environments that don’t fit who you are will likely result in meeting far fewer people that make a good fit.
However, there is a danger in this, if you socially isolate no one will come for you. You may be the most beautiful and warm girl or the most handsome and interesting man, but an army of suiters are not going to come busting down your door. You need to actually leave your house and get engaged in the activities and at the places you enjoy. It reminds me of the Taoist principle of following the flow or way of life. Be social in the places you feel you belong, and you will meet others who do so too. Go to the places where the people you like are to be found.
This post truly makes me feel heard as an individual who just started my first year of college. I have struggled quite a bit this semester, making me feel defeated almost. I have been in a committed relationship for three years, so much prior to college. I did meet him online though, which this post actually shocked me. The fact that most relationships created this way are secure attachments is so very shocking. I have always been hesitant to tell those around me how I met my boyfriend, but knowing that information now, shows that there doesn't need to be shame. I do look forward to meeting new people though, maybe I will even have an experience like CHEM 113.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people could meet their person in many different potential places. There are endless possibilities. I relate to the uncertainty of where to meet people during college. The story about someone meeting their significant other in a class reminds me of the fact that we can meet people in places we do not always expect. There is no right way to meet someone, and it does not matter where that happens. There are many options. Meeting someone at work is completely acceptable. I agree that it is intimidating. The ways in which people find their friends is interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi, thank you for you for your post! I found it interesting to read the different takes on how different attachment styles may impact where someone can meet a potential partner. I related a lot to when you said anxiously attached people tend to meet people somewhere they are comfortable. As an anxious attachment person, I met my boyfriend at a football game, a place I was comfortable with. Going to a new school and entering a new phase of life, especially at a school with over 30,000 students, it can be so intimidating and overwhelming to even think about when and where we could meet friends. I definitely think that sometimes it just happens by chance, or randomly and can happen anywhere.
ReplyDeleteHi Madi! I loved the concept of your post because it was really interesting to understand how people meet, not just romantic relationships, but even friendships can have different attachment styles based on where they meet. If I met some friends at the bar, they might not be the type of people I want to surround myself with. I met a few friends at coffee shops, going on hikes, and my yoga classes. I always feel that you meet the type of person you want to attract in places where you would want to see that person. If I want a friend who is peaceful then I might not meet them drunk at the bar. This also goes for romantic relationships. I don't think that I would meet my future husband at a bar looking for other girls. I think that one of the most popular ways to meet people is through others. Almost all of my friends have met partners through similar friends or have been introduced.
ReplyDeleteIn this blog the author details the different ways that college students meet their significant others. I think that now, more than ever, there is a wide variety of ways to meet a partner. Although many people meet their partner in an “old-fashioned” way, such as work, school, an outing, or, as the author mentions, a Chemistry review session. However, the author also mentions the prevalence of couples who have met online. In my personal experience, I have seen about half of my friends engage with dating apps, only to be disappointed after a short period of time. Sure, there is always the couple who everyone hopes to become after using a dating app, but a large majority of people on dating apps are simply looking for casual sex or turn out to be completely different than they appear online. Dating apps are a brand-new tool through which partners can be found, but they seem to have varying effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised that most college students find a romantic partner through online dating instead of face-to-face interactions! It was also really surprising to find that people who found their partners through online dating were more likely to have secure attachment styles compared to those who meet their significant others at parties or bars who also have secure and anxious attachment styles. For most of the people I speak to, the most ideal way to meet a partner would be in class or at a party, but seeing that it is not like that most of the time has me rethinking my negative opinions on trying out dating sites! Really insightful post!
ReplyDeleteHi Madi!
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of meeting college partners at bars is a bit impractical, especially considering that most of us cannot drink until junior year. It makes a lot more sense that people are more likely to meet online, although, online dating can be incredibly hit or miss. It’s so dangerous to date within friend groups or in your close social circles. If you break up, it tends to divide your friend group, and (in my experience) is typically not worth it. Meeting people in classes or clubs can also be a great way to meet people, like your friend did, because you will typically have similar interests. I do think, however, that college culture is a lot less social than others tend to think, especially in classes.
I, personally, relate to this blog for I tend to be an introvert until I am more comfortable and get to know people. I came to Colorado State University practically knowing no one. Part of the reason I picked this university was to swim on scholarship. I left every close Texas friend I had, including my boyfriend, behind for they all attended other universities with their friends. I was envious that they all had at least one person "from home" going on this new journey with them. This blog discusses how intimidating it can be to go off to college and meet people.I stayed in a long distance relationship for my first two years of college but ultimately ended my relationship at the beginning of my junior year. This past year was my first year as a single college student. The blog touches on how college students meet their romantic partners. It mentions dating apps, classroom settings, work, bars, etc. I do not think there is a "go to" method to meet potential partners. It just organically happens when it is supposed to happen. Personally, I have met people this past year mainly through friends of friends. Some of the potential partners were people I knew as a friend my first two years of school. Because I tend to be an introvert, I tend to gravitate to those that I am comfortable with and not complete strangers.
ReplyDeleteI find the example of meeting someone in college to be related to me because I also met my girlfreind during college. While not at the bars or online, we met at Sundance which is a country line dance place that used to be in Fort Collins. But I find it interesting that certain attachment styles can match up to how and where we meet our partner. I would call myself an introvert and dont really go out a lot so for me to meet her out was a rarity I would say. I would also say I have a secure attachment so that lines up to how we met. But I also know people who have met different ways such as in class and online
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