Alexandra Churchill

The school year is coming to a close and with final exams wrapping up, there’s a chance you finally found time to meet the guy of your dreams. He’s smart and funny, not to mention a total stud. There’s only one problem standing in the way of your newfound summer love and it’s a matter of miles. Maybe you’re a New England sweetheart and he’s a California surfer dude; maybe he’s a debonair European and you’re heading back to the states after a semester of studying abroad. Either way, you’re now weighing the possibility of doing a long distance relationship for at least the duration of the summer. While the summer seems short-lived, it’s hard to imagine not being able to call your boy up and suggest an impromptu round of drinks at the downtown bar whenever you want. Long distance relationships, no matter the time (and miles) spent apart, are challenging. We consulted Love Stylist Tristan Coopersmith on LDRs.

“LDRs are rigorous relationships,” Coopersmith says. “They take unique investments such as giving up that Friday night frat party in lieu of a Skype date. So you need to ask yourself, what’s it all for? How serious is this relationship? Where does it fit when you think about your future?”

With the advice from our expert and college girls across the country, we’ve listed five questions to ask yourself when you’re deciding whether going long distance is the answer.

How long will the separation last?

Ahh, spring. Time to dump those frumpy sweaters in the back of your closet and break out your new wardrobe of skirts, floral dresses, tank-tops and flip-flops (not to mention that pair of wedge sandals you’ve been dying to wear all season)! As much as we collegiette trendsetters love the warmer weather fashion trends of neon florals, pretty pastels, and colorful capris… what do the guysthink? It’s always helpful to hear what guys think of our date night looks. We’ve rounded up the top ten trends of the Spring/Summer 2013 season and asked the guys what they think. Which did they love? Which did they hate? And which did they just plain not get? Read their thoughts below and find out!  Then it’s up to you whether or not you care.
 
Maxi Dresses

We love maxi dresses in the summer, don’t we ladies? Free-flowing and versatile, these ankle-length dresses are perfect for a day at the beach or a picnic at the park. And while they’ve been trending for a few spring/summer seasons now, the maxis are coming back this year stronger than ever. But what did the guy shave to say?

There’s a fine line in the space between “boy” and “friend.” And in that little space, there can be a whole lot of drama, mixed signals, and hurt feelings. You love your best boy friend, but you’ve never quite thought of him in that way. You stop and think: wait a minute, could he ever be my boyfriend?

Think about it: he’s there to pick you up and drive you home when you’ve had one too many drinks at the bar and he always just happens to be that big, strong shoulder to cry on when your date stands you up. He’s the Anthony Michael Hall to your Molly Ringwald in 16 Candles, the Harry to your Sally, and the Chandler to your Monica.

No, he’s not your boyfriend. He’s your best friend who just happens to be a boy, but you’re starting to have second thoughts. So before you have that semi-awkward DTR talk or confusing DFMO, check our all-inclusive guide to see whether your “guy friend” is boyfriend material, whether you should DTR or stay as friends, what you risk, and why a friends-turned-lovers relationship can sometimes be stronger than the typical campus romance.

We’ve consulted the experts: Michael Lindstrom from the dating expert duo Ask Dan and Mike from askdanandmike.com and our own Real Live College Guy Sean McFarland, and we’ve asked collegiettes across the country about their experiences to know the signs that say he might just be that into you – and whether you should close the gap from “boy friend” to “boyfriend.”

Whether you and your campus cutie have been going steady since freshman year or you hooked up at his frat house party last month and you’ve been inseparable ever since, by the time February rolls around, you start feeling the pressure to come up with a fun date idea for you and your guy on Valentine's Day. Don’t fret! Here are six date ideas for Valentine’s Day that are fun and on a collegiette’s budget!

Take a dance class together

Ballroom dancing? Yes! Tango for two? Sultry – definitely yes! Irish step? Er… sure, why not? So why not skip the sweaty dance floor in his frat’s basement for once and take a dance class together? You can oftentimes find a class to try out together at the gym or on campus with a student group. The workout will get your blood pumping, and even if he doesn’t exactly have Justin Timberlake’s dance moves and you’re tripping over his feet – that’s OK! You’ll be having too much fun laughing at each other to care.

Host a picnic… indoors!

It’s absolutely freezing outside, so having a picnic out on the grassy campus lawns is out of the question. So why not bring your blankets indoors? Spread a blanket out on the floor, light some candles (battery-operated ones if you live in a dorm hall that doesn’t allow them) and cook up some food to share. It doesn't have to be fancy, but he’ll appreciate something a little more romantic than your Ramen noodles special. It’s way less cheesy (not to mention, cheaper) than the dinner-and-a-movie combo and it’s a good way to enjoy a homemade meal together. Bon appetit!