In addition to studying and hanging out with friends, you might be looking to score a campus cutie during your college years. Since dating in college isn’t always as easy as it sounds, many collegiettes turn to dating apps in order to find someone compatible without the hassle, which is sometimes easier said than done.
If you’re so over Tinder and looking for a change of pace in your love life, give one of these apps a try, and in no time you’ll be chatting with a cutie at a chic restaurant or bar.
1. Hinge
Best For: Collegiettes who are new to the online dating scene and wants to have a bit of extra security when it comes to dating choices.
Hinge is unique in the fact that it allows your Facebook friends to help match you up with dates they are able to vouch for, rather than searching among random and unfamiliar people. Once you sign up for the app, you’re given a list of other users based on criteria that you specify, such as age, location and gender. You’ll be able to chat with the person once you both “like” each other and you’re matched together.
The difference is that the choices of dates provided to you are people whom you share Facebook friends. Once you’ve made your way through those matches, the app also recommends other tangible connections, such as people whose Facebook friends share Facebook friends with you.
We think this app is interesting because you can easily message the mutual friend you and the user both share to get the dirty deets on the person before accepting a date. Maybe your friend will let you know if the guy you’re checking out is a total player, or if a girl you’re considering has any weird pet peeves, so you can be extra prepared for a potential date!
2. How About We
Best For: Collegiettes looking to try something new and exciting with a casual date.
Working up the courage to go out and meet new guys can be daunting enough, especially if you’re worried about embarking on a humdrum date. Luckily, How About We allows you to suggest a fun date idea or activity, such as going out to brunch or walking a hiking trail, and lets other users respond to your suggestion. No more boring dates that start with “So, what do you want to do?” followed by the classic, “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” Now, you’ll have a date worthy of a super fab Snapchat story.
The process is simple: Post a date idea, connect with someone you think you’ll like, and then get together and cross it off your bucket list. It’s an app that prides itself on being an offline dating app, since it encourages users to get out and do something together beyond messaging back and forth.
Just like other dating apps, it’s tuned into where you live, so you’ll be able to meet someone who lives close to you. The app also allows you to showcase your personality and interests, rather than focusing so much on appearance. This is because the person will want to go on the date because they think that it’s interesting, rather than just wanting to go on the date because someone is cute.
You can also be as creative as you’d like when it comes to date ideas – don’t worry about sticking to the traditional dinner and a movie option. Want to split a big box of chocolate with someone or take dancing lessons together? Type in “how about we…” with whatever you’re looking to do, and see what happens!
3. Burner
Best For: Collegiettes who want to protect their actual phone number from someone they are just starting to mingle with, but still want to be able to communicate easily.
Have you ever had to give a guy a fake number because you didn’t want him calling your real number? We’ve all been there, and that’s where Burner comes in. It’s an app that protects your identity by providing you with a temporary phone number in order to prevent your real number from getting passed on to someone.
With this being said, this app isn’t just for when you want to get rid of someone hassling you for your number. It can also work for when you do like someone new, but you’re not ready to give them your real number yet in case the situation goes sour. The Burner number is valid for seven days and includes 20 voice minutes and 60 texts, which should be enough time to decide whether you want to give your potential suitor your real number. If you don’t, then the app allows you to “burn” the number with a quick touch and will immediately take it out of service. How cool is that?
The app is free to download, and your first Burner number is free as well. If you need more Burner numbers after using the first, you are able to purchase more with ease. The cost will range from $5-$12 depending on how many extra Burner numbers you want to purchase.
4. Find.Drink.Eat
Best For: Collegiettes who have a date secured, but are stumped when trying to figure out where to go and what to do for the date night.
Once you’ve landed a date (high five!), it can be difficult to decide where to go and what to do. Going out to eat has always been a popular choice, but you don’t want to be stuck trying to decide where to eat last minute. For a special occasion, you’ll want to dine at a restaurant that is recommended by top chefs and bartenders in order to make sure your meal is memorable and delicious. With Find.Eat.Drink, you’ll have tons of recommendations at your fingertips for top-notch restaurants near you, serving up your favorite cuisine.
Each restaurant on the list is backed with an endorsement from an expert in the food industry, so you know you’re choosing somewhere reputable. Search for a type of food both you and your date will enjoy, say the location you’re looking for and you’ll have plenty of different options to choose from. Try not to be on your phone the whole date, but we won’t judge if you take a quick snap of your food for Instagram later. Bon appétit!
5. Check Him Out
Best For: Collegiettes who are constantly on-the-go and want to wear the pants when it comes to finding a match.
If the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dating is “ain’t nobody got time for that,” while simultaneously wishing you had a cutie to split a pizza with, we totally get it. Sometimes you just really want to be dating a guy, but sorting through a ton of emails or texts from guys who are interested can be time consuming.
With this app, all of the power is in your hands, literally. The guys that you speak with can only message you if you’ve expressed interest in them first. This way, you can avoid the whole “I’m not interested” talk with a guy that won’t stop messaging you to hang out.
The guys you’re interested in will benefit from the app too. When you message them, they’ll know you’re into them, so there won’t be any confusion about how you’re feeling about him. This app is great for a collegiette who knows what she likes and who she wants, and enjoys having control over her decisions. You go, girl!
This summer is the perfect time to branch out and try something new when it comes to your dating life, so check out these cool apps next time you’re looking to mingle with a new guy or girl. Who knows what one date could lead to!