The Top 5 Ways to Have Co-Ed Fun at a Single-Sex University

One of the biggest concerns that students seem to have about attending a university like Hollins is: what about the boys? There are many young women who pass on the advantages of an only-female institution (can we say higher overall income and graduation rates?) in favor of frat parties with college guys at other schools. Something many women don’t know is that there are plenty of ways to interact with guys while attending a single-sex college and that a guy-free community like Hollins isn’t really restrictive at all. For our very first Her Campus post, the HC Hollins Team got together and came up with a list of ways to meet guys at an all Women’s college (although with our courseloads we can’t imagine really wanting to). 

5. Attend Hollins events on campus  – Because men aren’t allowed to attend Hollins as undergraduate students, clubs and student associations plan mixers with nearby schools like VMI and Hampden-Sydney, one of which is Hollins in reverse: guys only.

4. Attend Hollins events off campus – Hollins provides transportation to events like football games at other schools on the weekends. Check out our upcoming events page for details!  

3. Explore the Roanoke area – Some students have found that instead of feeling isolated by a single-sex campus, they’ve become more extroverted.  Ashton Little, a senior Art History major has found that attending a women’s college has pushed her to be more outgoing, “I’ve learned how to reach out to different groups of people off campus. There are tons of ways to meet new people, not just guys. You could get a job at the mall or join a gym or a local club sports team. I’ve been pushed to become a more active member of the local community. Especially with Autumn on the way, there are a lot of cool festivals coming up. You can spend a few minutes on the internet and find tons of cool things to do.” Visitroanokeva.com and eventful.com  list things to do in Downtown Roanoke (our local metropolis) and in the gorgeous surrounding areas. 

2. Go to events hosted at other schools – “There are large co-ed schools nearby like UVA and Virginia Tech, where you can go and party,” says Claire McCown, a junior at Hollins. “Hollins is a safe place I can come home to. I don’t have to worry about fending off a million really creepy guys and I don’t have to freak out if I’m walking around on campus late at night. Hollins is a safe environment and that’s part of the reason so many of students call it home and mean it.” Also, because Hollins is surrounded by schools with huge student bodies, there’s usually a great concert nearby with special rates for students, like the Taking Back Sunday concert at Mary Washington in October. 

1. Don’t worry so much about boys – Many students, like Keslie Gonzales, a third year International Business major, don’t find the lack of male students to be a disadvantage, instead focusing on the positive aspects of a single-sex school. “I think that college isn’t really about meeting guys. For me, they’re a distraction in the classroom. I can go to class and look over my shoulder and not be worried about guys. What I love most about Hollins is the sense of sisterhood. You get here and you meet amazing friends, that’s a huge part of what Hollins is all about.”