Dating in college is hard. But dating in college using a dating app is 10 times harder. In today’s world, there are hundreds of options for dating apps, each cringey and different in their own way. Here at Penn State, students use four apps for “dating,” Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Dandy.
Here’s some quick info about each app and what you can expect from them.
- Tinder
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The most popular dating app at Penn State. It’s pretty easy to figure out: swipe right if you like them and swipe left if you don’t. Personally, I NEVER super like someone, unless it’s someone I know, then it’s a full send.
In case you haven’t noticed from Barstool’s Tinder Tuesdays, Tinder is a very… interesting place. You can expect either really bad pickup lines or really boring conversations; there’s really no in-between.
The plus side is Tinder has a wide variety of people for you to choose from. From frat boys to State College townies, to Penn State athletes, there’s someone for everyone.
- Bumble
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Bumble is like Tinder but with a twist. You swipe right or left, but the twist is that not only do girls have to message first, but they also have 24 hours to message someone before the match expires.
Sending the first message gives you the freedom to send whatever conversation starter you want. You can start with a basic “hey,” a cheesy pickup line or a funny GIF.
Just like Tinder, there’s a wide variety of people for you to swipe on. One cool thing about Bumble is you can use it for three different reasons: dating, friends, or professional.
- Hinge
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Hinge is different than most apps. This app gives you the chance to like someone’s picture or bio and comment on it. Commenting on pictures and bios instead of swiping right gives you the opportunity to show people your personality before even having a conversation.
Not many people here use this app, so there’s not a huge variety of people to choose from. This is one of the more serious apps that lets your personality shine before you even start a conversation with the person.
- Dandy
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Personally, Dandy is my favorite app. It’s different than most and is the most fun to use. You pick a song to play while people view your profile. The twist, and personally the best part of Dandy, is that you can’t message someone until they’re online. Once the message starts, you have ten minutes to chat before the match disappears forever.
The best part about Dandy is that Penn State is one of the only schools to use it. Meaning, you can only match and talk to Penn State students. This app is so fun to use and helps you skip the small talk and get right to the point.