During my first year at Emerson College, I learned my top college essentials couldn’t be found in a store, at least a physical one anyway. A free app shaped my freshman experience and in the best way possible.
It all began while sitting in a dorm room with my new group of friends. A few of them were on Tinder and laughed when seeing a profile with a strange bio or excitedly squealed when matching with someone they deemed attractive. Before college, I never considered joining a dating app, but I wanted to be included and entertained for the evening. Minutes later, I downloaded Tinder, created a profile, and got to swiping.
If I had never downloaded Tinder that night, my first year of college and my life would look a lot different. Maybe I’m biased because several swipes opened me up to the world of frat parties, upperclassmen friends, and weekends full of adventure.Still, I truly believe that dating apps have something to offer every college student.
Amp up your social life
Often, the most popular reason college students download Tinder is to find hookups. Sometimes, someone may be looking for a relationship on the app, but platforms like Bumble and Hinge are more favored when looking for a partner. That being said, one-night stands aren’t the only thing Tinder offers. The app can actually help college students find parties in their area.
I attend Emerson College, a small liberal arts school in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. While the education is unparalleled, the school lacks the traditional college social scene present in movies and television shows. Once I got to college I suddenly desired to experience a house party in a sweaty, jam-packed basement like most college students.
While Emerson couldn’t offer me the party scene I preferred, I knew that other schools in Boston could. The great thing about Tinder, specifically the Tinder University feature, is that it can help you connect with college students from different universities in your area. I matched with students at Boston University, Northeastern University, and other colleges in Boston. Before long, my friends and I began to view Tinder as a networking opportunity. We would swipe on users that attended party schools and ask our matches of any parties for the upcoming weekend. They often answered yes because not many people want to go to a party alone.
Many other students had the same idea, because oftentimes a Northeastern or BU party would have students from colleges all over the city. Going to a Halloween party with my newly formed college friend group brought us closer together, and we became inseparable. I met one of my now closest friends from Northeastern at a party through Tinder. Since that night, we have spent countless times on the Charles River Esplanade together, and I can talk to him about anything. With a little bit of networking, Tinder allowed me to have a bit of the traditional college experience while attending a small school.
So, what’s your type?
Tinder can also help you discover your type, even if you don’t meet all of your matches in real life. When I first arrived at college, I wasn’t sure of my “type”, or if I even had one. After swiping, messaging, hooking up, and even going on dates with several of my matches, I realized my likes and dislikes in a man. I learned what to look for in a relationship down the line. While looks aren’t everything, I found out through swiping that I am most attracted to guys near 6 feet tall with brown hair. I appreciate timely texters but don’t think constant messaging is necessary, especially when busy with friends. Even though it’s the 21st century, I enjoy chivalrous acts on the first date, like opening doors for me, paying for the meal and texting me afterward to ensure I safely arrived home. The more I swiped and met new men, the more I understood what I value in a future partner.
Gain a Newfound Confidence
Tinder taught me many lessons that I had yet to learn upon starting my freshman year of college. For starters, it taught me that casual sex is more than okay, as long as it is consensual and both partners are on the same page. Using your body in the way you want shouldn’t warrant slut-shaming, and isn’t something you need to hide. As several Tinder flings burned out in my first semester, I learned that if a romantic partner stops talking to you, it doesn’t mean you did something wrong. Sometimes things just don’t work out, and it’s important to not beat yourself up over it. I spent so much of my teenage years chasing after guys who weren’t interested. I felt unworthy because I craved their validation. If someone loses interest in you, it’s probably not personal. Why would I even want someone who doesn’t want me anyway?
It’s pretty funny, actually: I met my current boyfriend on Tinder. Knowing that I put myself out there and met many people,ultimately encouraged me to have an exclusive and committed relationship. My boyfriend may be the best thing Tinder gave me. But if I hadn’t met him, my time being on the app wouldn’t have been a waste at all. The fun weekends, new friends, and things that I learned about myself just by swiping made it all worth it.