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By Anna Jonas: Dalhousie University

Dating in college is different from any other time in your life. You’re always meeting new people and you have all the freedom you could ask for. However, it also comes with different expectations. Make 2014 your year to do relationships right!

DON’T be afraid to speak up.

No more beating around the bush. Good communication is key to any successful relationship. Be bold and don’t be afraid to say how you feel. If you aren’t getting what you want out of the relationship, say so! Talk to your guy and make sure that your expectations are clear and you’re both on the same page.

DO make the first move.

Guys love it when a girl is confident enough to make the first move! Plus, it saves them from the pressure of having to do it themselves. Today’s women are self-assured – don’t fall victim to outdated dating rules. It’s 2014, not 1914! If you want something, ask for it! Don’t be afraid to get the ball rolling. If you never do anything about it, you’ll never know how it might have turned out.

DON’T ignore your friends.

We all know that girl who gets a boyfriend and then disappears off the face of the Earth. There are plenty of hours in your day to hang out with other people. Your friends want to spend time with you too! Make sure that you are making time for all of the important people in your life, not just one.

DO be honest.

Trust is the foundation of every relationship. How can you be expected to share your most private self with someone that you don’t trust? By being honest, you can make sure that you aren’t hiding anything that will later hurt the other person. You don’t want to feel like you have to secretly scour his texts, but you can’t expect someone to be honest with you unless you are in return.

DON’T change yourself for a guy.

Changing yourself for a guy is a recipe for disaster. It crushes your self-esteem and it’s exhausting and impossible to keep up a false façade forever. Instead of wondering if you’re good enough for them, you should be wondering if they’re good enough for you. Be happy with who you are. If a guy doesn’t like you for you, he’s not the kind of guy you want to be around.

DO be open-minded.

So many girls today have the list of qualities in their heads that they want their perfect guy to have. If you get too attached to that list, you may be overlooking some perfectly decent prospects. The perfect guy may be someone you never would have considered at first. If you aren’t open to suggestions, you may miss out on that chance.

DON’T rush things.

With so much freedom when it comes to dating in college, many girls tend to put their dating lives on fast forward. But don’t feel the need to go home with a guy or make it Facebook official right after the first date. Take some time to really get to know the person you’re dating before you get serious or start advertising it. You also shouldn’t rush into a relationship. Don’t date someone just because all of your friends are. College is short and you don’t want to waste your time in a situation you’re not happy with.

DO have a life outside of your relationship.

It’s unhealthy for your relationship to consume all aspects of your life. Make sure to balance it with other things, such as a club or society, a job, or hanging out with friends. This will not only provide you with an outlet to take time for yourself, it will also make you more well-rounded.

DON’T be too serious.

Dating is supposed to be enjoyable! You’re only in college and have all the time in the world to find someone. Explore all of your options and have fun with it.