Dating in college is beyond difficult.

I get it.

When I arrived at school and sat through the draining hours of orientation, many speakers during our different sessions would say with an uncomfortable smile "You never know! Your future wife or husband might be in this very room!" and parents and students would look at each other and then look around nervously. Yes, it's thrilling to think that the future of your heart might be in the same Composition and Rhetoric class as you on Mondays and Wednesdays, but there are ways to approach the dating scene to ultimately protect yourself and your ambition while in school.

These are the do's and don'ts of dating while in college that have helped me take care of myself while also meeting new people.

The Do's

1. Go For It

Ladies, you don't always necessarily have to wait for him to make the move. If you see someone that grabs your attention, what is stopping you from introducing yourself for a quick conversation? If you have approached going back to school as a single person, you have nothing to lose when it comes to meeting new people or even that special someone. The most attractive thing you can be when meeting new people is yourself -- someone who is fearless and brave enough to talk to anyone you want to.

2. Keep It Local at First

Most universities provide students with places to hang out without having to leave campus. At my school, a small area underneath the main dining hall that we call "The Stud" is the home to red and black leather couches, a few tables and chairs, booths, TV's playing whatever football game is on that night, and endless conversation and studies. When you're hanging out with someone for the first time, go somewhere public like that where you can be surrounded with people, yet still be in each other's company without having to leave campus.

3. Be Openminded

So maybe you don't have anything in common right away. Talk about your interests anyways, even if they might not be the same. Learn about each other without being quick to judge and open your ears to the little things that one another are passionate about. This opportunity will help you engage into conversation if both you and your new friend truly know you are listening to one another with an open mind.

4. Go Out

Let's say you know each other enough now to take a quick ride to go get ice cream at Chick-Fil-A or maybe just a drive around town to get some fresh air and listen to good music. This is a crucial part to the beginning of your budding relationship and a perfect ice breaker to get to know one another better. When you get each other out of the typical educational environment, you can truly be yourself and create memories.

5. Patience

This is the most important part of any relationship and the hardest. Patience is key to getting to know one another at first and will still be the key to your future with them. Do not push your boundaries and create unwanted pressure that might drive that other person away. Be patient with them, their words, and their actions. If you know that they are interested in you, then be patient enough to let them come after you without getting frustrated if it's taking time.

The Don'ts

1. Don't Settle

Settling for less than what you deserve is the biggest mistake you can make while dating. Approach every relationship with a realistic standard of what you want out of your future and do not settle for someone who refuses to respect that. Settling for less can keep you from opening your eyes to an opportunity where someone can treat you better.

2. Don't Over Analyze

So he sends one word text messages. It is okay. Texting is simply a minor form of communication that can often be abused and cause you to over analyze a relationship. This doesn't mean that texting isn't important, but use it as a way to make plans to actually meet up with that person. Face to face interaction will bypass the difficulties of reading too far into messages every time. He might simply just not be good at texting, and that is okay. Don't let his lack of messaging make or break a relationship that is so much better not over the phone.

3. Don't See Each Other Everyday

Be honest. It's just too much and you don't want to get tired of each other too quickly. Most of the time, your schedules will be dramatically different -- and this includes sleeping schedules. The worst thing a new relationship can do is jeopardize your sleep which will affect your performance in everything you do the following day. Yes it's fun to stay out late with him, but respect him and yourself enough to know that your schedules are different, and it's okay to do homework and go to bed early one night instead of failing that Western Civilization test and staying out with him. Be honest with each other if you just can't hang out that night because you're tired or you have a lot of work to do. (Don't over analyze it if you don't hangout one night. I promise it will be okay.)

4. Don't Tell Everyone Yet

If nothing is official, keep it to yourself. Hold on a little bit longer to your privacy until you're both ready to take the next step. This is my favorite part of a budding relationship as it gives you a chance to get to know one another without including anyone else in the equation. Once other people find out, it doesn't make the beginning stages of dating as fun. People will want to come up to you and ask questions that you don't maybe know the answer to yet. Just keep it chill at first and between the only people that matter.

5. Don't Listen to Advise From the Unnecessary

Nobody is specifically going through or have gone through the same exact thing that you currently are with your new bae. The only person I would ever dare take advice from in a new relationship would be from my mom or sister, the two women I have trusted all of my life and know what it is like to be a young woman on the dating scene and who have been successful in their relationships. Sure it's okay to ask for help, but be able to decipher what advice is good and what advice is bad.

Adapting to the new school year away from home is already difficult enough, and when you mix in the excitement and sometimes disappointing matters of dating, a whirl of emotions can take advantage of you and the future that is awaiting you. Be fearless in who you are, take this opportunity to grow into a patient person, and embrace this time of your life as you look for someone to give your heart to.