Ally Karsyn

After two or three years of college, the college dating scene can get a little old. Maybe it’s gotten to the point where you can’t walk across campus without seeing a past hook-up buddy, boyfriend or one of their current girlfriends. If this sounds like the situation you’re in, it’s time to try something new – or, shall we say, someone new.
 
With the fall semester quickly approaching, we’ll say so long to summer and hello to the new crop of campus cuties: freshman boys. Dating a freshman guy certainly has its advantages. “One of the perks is that it gives you a much bigger playing field of options for dating, and you have more experience as an upperclassman to know what you want physically as well as emotionally,” says Dr. Brenda Schaeffer, a psychologist and sex addiction expert.
 
“You may also find it easier to share your power rather than give it away to someone older and bolder,” Dr. Schaeffer adds. “You have more opportunities to enter a relationship, be in a relationship and end a relationship, which are important discoveries at this time of life.”
 
That all sounds good, right? But since you’re older and bolder than he is, he may be looking for you to fill one or more roles in his college life. Read on to find out what they are and how to handle being placed in each one...

Trophy Girlfriend

A year in review: your love life, circa 2011. Whether you experienced a dating dry spell, a string of casual dates that didn’t go anywhere or a continued less than ideal long-term relationship, you know there’s room for improvement. So whether you’re single, dating, or in a relationship, you can take something away from each of these resolutions to revive your love life in the New Year.
 
Love the new you (and the old you too)
 
As founder and president of a successful matchmaking service called Intersections Match, Jasbina Ahluwalia knows a thing or two about finding love. But as always, it starts with you. She said, “If you don’t love yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to either.” So how do you go about forming a fabulous life? Fortunately for you, Ahluwalia gave a few ideas for what you can do to love yourself and build self-esteem.
 
Eating healthy and finding a physical activity you enjoy were at the top of her list. Between cooking and exercise, you have quite the array of options and activities. If you’re looking to cook, Cheap Healthy Good is a delightful blog that features frugally nutritious recipes from all different kinds of cuisines including Thai, Indian and Italian. For exercise, think about taking yoga, Zumba or dance classes. Who said exercise can’t be fun?
 

So I’m out on a coffee date with this guy. We get to the cashier and what does he do? Well, he doesn’t whip out his wallet, ready to pay. No, he sneaks away to the bathroom. Call it a guy’s fake purse-grab – his not-so-subtle way of getting out of paying.
 
I order a small mocha and hand over $2.79, then stand and wait for my date to reappear, all the while wondering if I had given him a look that said – are you going to pay for that?
 
There’s nothing like an awkward moment to start a date.
 
Now in his defense, it was our first date. It was casual. And I had asked him.
 
Should he have paid? Maybe. Depends who you ask.
 
Back in the days of commonly practiced chivalry and courtship, this wouldn’t even be a question. Yes would be the undisputed answer. But now, we’re not so quick to agree on the terms and conditions of who should cover the bill.
 
Here’s what nine savvy college students and recent graduates had to say about who should pay for dates:
             
If you cling to tradition…

One rainy afternoon in New York City, two old friends scoured the Nordstrom Rack for formal gowns, picking out anything frilly, fringed or feathered just for a good laugh. But a poly satin wedding gown, priced at one cent, got the best of both of them.

Yue Xu and her friend Vanessa have made a habit of searching for over-the-top gowns on the reduced prices rack at Nordstrom whenever they get together. It’s their thing. They never expected to find a simply-stated, elegant wedding dress in the midst of raucous ruffles and sassy sequins.

But the classic-styled Jessica McClintock bridal gown caught Vanessa’s eye, and the price tag made Yue do a double-take. One cent was printed on the price tag. One penny for a wedding dress that retails for $275.

“Yue, try it on,” Vanessa said. Even though she’s a single girl with no wedding plans in sight, Singlefied.com dating coach Yue Xu slipped into the size 4 wedding dress to humor her friend.

Both of them were shocked by its beauty. Their over-the-top dress hunt wasn’t a laughing matter anymore.

Could this dress only cost a penny?