Allie Duncan

More by Allie Duncan

How to Make a Long-Distance Relationship Work Over the Summer

6/2/2013

As someone who is about to be in a long-distance relationship full-time, rather than just during the academic year, I know how tough long-distance relationships can be for a couple. Between the lack of time together in person, the endless electronic forms of communication, the travel, etc., it can leave you wondering, ‘Is this even worth it?’ Well let me tell you, it is if you want it to be! To allay your fears, I will outline what to expect from your long-distance relationship, and how to make it work. Keep your chins up, collegiettes!
 
MAKING IT WORK...

Your Most Awkward Hook-up Moments (& How to Solve Them!)

4/30/2013

We’ve all been a part of moments we’d rather not remember, and that’s especially true when it comes to awkward hook-up situations. What can be worse than accidentally calling the cute guy kissing your neck by your ex’s name? Or having your roommate unexpectedly come home early and walk in on you and your guy? Here at HC, we’re committed to making sure you are prepared for anything collegiette life throws your way. So we’ve solved your most awkward moments – keep reading for the scoop!

So Awk: You Call Your Hook-up By the Wrong Name

“I had hooked up with this really attractive guy a few times, and it was always amazing,” says Kristen, a student at Pomona College. “We were right in the middle of things, and I accidentally called him by one of my guy friends’ names! It was mortifying to say the least, and he didn’t call me again after that.” If this has ever happened to you, then you know how horrible the situation can be. You’re embarrassed, he’s turned off, and you’re not sure how to move on from it. And whether you called him by a friend’s name, your ex’s, or a name you don’t even recognize (hey, it happens!), you want to fix the situation as soon as possible. Here’s how:

Sealing The Deal: How to Tie-Up Loose Ends in an Ambiguous Relationship Before the Summer

4/22/2013

Spring semester is finally winding down, and it’s time to prepare to leave campus for the summer. Whether you’re going home for a few relaxing months off or you’re headed to a major city for an incredible internship (or somewhere in between), there are a few loose ends at school you need to tie up so you can focus on the summer months ahead. Do you have a friend with benefits that you’d like to be more? Is there a cute guy in your class that you’ve been crushing on? No matter what your situation, Her Campus has the answers to sealing the deal in any ambiguous relationship!
 

Bye-Bye Boyfriend: How to Deal with Graduating at a Different Time than Your Boyfriend

4/20/2013

If you follow pop culture at all, then you know how common it is to date someone who is not your age – Taylor & Jake, Ashton & Demi, Hayden & all of her boyfriends – ring a bell, anyone? But at the college level, it can present problems. Should you stay together after graduation? How will you make the relationship work despite the age difference? Here at Her Campus, we have the answers – read on for advice on what to do when your boyfriend is graduating first – or you are.
 
WHAT TO EXPECT
 
Here at Her Campus we believe that knowledge is power, which is why I am laying out what to expect when your boyfriend graduates before you, or vice-versa. Now you can start preparing for this new stage of your new relationship!
 
Strict Schedules
In this day and age, relationships typically revolve around a schedule of classes, work, extracurricular activities, partying, etc. For the average college student, many of these commitments can be ‘negotiated.’ Who hasn’t skipped class to lay out on a beautiful day? Once you leave college though, schedules become stricter, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to blow off a day of work for a romantic lunch for two. Be prepared for your boyfriend to be much busier than usual with his new career.

 

HELP!: My Friends Are Getting Engaged

3/20/2013

College is a time for parties, making bad decisions and living in the moment. Commitment is the last thing on many of our minds - we barely have time to plan for next week, let alone for a wedding. Yet, as some of our friends, whom we met when we began college, graduate and start planning for marriage, the doubts set in. Will I ever get married? Am I behind? Is my friend ready for this? College is a time for fun, but also a time to prepare for the future. Our friends’ engagements tend to be a reality check many of us are not ready to confront... So how do we deal?
 
Who is Getting Married?
 

HC's Guide to Safe Sexting

1/29/2013

Technology has become a driving force in our everyday lives so it’s no surprise that we can now use it to spice up our sex lives, too. Do you have a new crush who you want to move things along with? Send a sext! Have you been hooking up with a guy but it’s getting stale? Send a sext! Have a long-distance boyfriend who you can’t see very often? Send a sext! The best part about sexting is that it’s fun for everyone, no matter what your relationship status is… that is, of course, as long as you do it right! We’ve all heard the horror stories of sexting gone wrong so Her Campus is here to give you the scoop on how to have safe sext!
 
Rule #1: Have Anonymous Sext

5 Signs You’re a Serial Monogamist

1/18/2013

We all know that friend who hasn’t been single in, perhaps, her entire life. It might even be you, who knows? Typically that person doesn’t know that she’s a serial monogamist. Like Taylor Swift, she just thinks she falls in love easily. But we all know, it’s much more than that.

But first things first: what’s the difference between a serial monogamist and a serial dater? We enlisted the help of Stephan Labossiere, certified relationship expert and author of How to Get a Woman to Have Sex With You… If You’re Her Husband. “A serial monogamist always wants to be in a relationship,” says Stephan. “A serial dater is not trying to take it that far. A serial monogamist is seeing only one person at a time, while the dater can be seeing multiple people at one time. A monogamist embraces commitment, while the dater is not trying to be tied down.”

So how do you spot a serial monogamist? How do you know if you are one? Her Campus has the signs to look out for!

Sign #1: You’re always in a relationship.

Of all the signs that you’re a serial monogamist, this is probably the most obvious. Whether it’s a 5-week fling or a 3-year love, you’re never without a boyfriend.

“I’m a senior in college, and I have been single for probably a total of a month of my dating life,” says Ally*, a senior at the University of Illinois. “I know it’s weird, but I love having a boyfriend. I am really uncomfortable being single.”

The Top 5 Rules for Staying Friends with Your Ex

12/14/2012

Whether you’ve said it yourself or heard it from an ex-boyfriend, we have all heard some version of the line, “I think we’re better off as friends.” And while in the moment it sounds like the worst idea you’ve ever heard, later you start to come around. Your ex is someone you care about, and you presumably had great times together, so having him in your life as a friend will be just as fun, right? Right! But there are some rules to follow to ensure your friendship is a success. To help, we have put together a guide to point you in the right direction!
 
Rule #1: Show Some Respect

Regardless of why the two of you broke up, at one point you cared a lot for each other. In order to stay friends, you must honor the relationship you once had. “After my boyfriend of two years and I broke up, I spent a lot of time trashing him to my girl friends,” says Jessie, a student at the University of Missouri. “I was really mad that he didn’t want to be together anymore, and I wanted people to think I had moved on. I said a lot of things that I didn’t mean, and they got back to him. He was so hurt that he didn’t want anything to do with me after that.” You may be thinking that he is the worst person to have ever walked the earth, but keep it to yourself. Someday in the future you may want him back in your life (in any capacity), and that will only happen if you have shown respect for each other after your break-up, which means no trash-talking, no spilling secrets, and no over-sharing of details.

Rule #2: Give It Time

Guys’ Take On: Holiday Gift-Giving

12/5/2012

The holidays are rapidly approaching, which means it’s time to start buying presents for your closest friends and family. Maybe you have a boy in your life too, and you want to get him the perfect gift. The only problem is, you have no idea where to start looking. We spoke to college guys from across the country to answer your most pressing holiday gift-giving questions!

Do you expect to receive a gift from your girlfriend at the holidays?

We polled the guys to see if they expect to receive a gift from the girl in their lives during the holidays. The guys were split on their expectations.

“It depends. If we’ve been dating for a while, then yeah. But if not, then we should probably talk about what we expect. It’d be awkward to get a gift and not have something to give her in return.” – Pat*, a senior at the University of Illinois

“No, definitely not. We’re in college so both our budgets are tight. It would be good enough to just spend some time together celebrating the day.” – Collin*, a junior at Illinois State University

“I don’t expect it, but it’s definitely appreciated. I will probably be getting her something so she should put in a little effort, too.” – Jason*, a senior at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

The Turkey Dump: Why So Many College Couples Break Up Over Thanksgiving

11/19/2012

The Turkey Dump, as it is affectionately called, refers to the phenomenon in which college students return home for Thanksgiving break, only to then break up with their high school sweethearts. With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching, we here at Her Campus want to make sure you’re nursing a full stomach, rather than a broken heart – the only things we like mashed are potatoes!      

According to InformationIsBeautiful.net, there are peak times throughout the year when breakups are most likely to occur. According to Facebook status updates, you are most likely to be dumped just before spring break (around mid-March) and about two weeks before the winter holidays. “Thanksgiving break is kind of the last point at which a reasonable human being can drop a significant other until February, and many take advantage of the small window of time,” says Dan Savage, sex and relationship columnist. Why, you ask? Read on, ladies!      

If you follow the trend, then you probably entered college with a long-distance boyfriend. Unfortunately, long-distance relationships are a ton of work. They require trust, communication, and loyalty. At this point in our lives, who has the time to dedicate to a high school sweetheart? Many of us are often unwilling, or even unable, to sacrifice time with new friends for a marathon session with the boyfriend from home.