Dear Fanny,
I’m going into my second year, and I’m thinking of starting to try to date, but I’ve had practically had no experience of dating or trying to flirt… Any advice?
Dear Nervous Romantic,
Congrats on surviving first year (and, I assume, at least one Roar Wednesday). Now you’re eyeing the scarier beast: dating. Don’t panic. Uni is one of the easiest places to start: it’s basically a giant pool of people your age, most of whom are equally confused.
Some uni-specific wisdom:
Societies are golden. Sign up at the Activities Fair and you’ll suddenly have 50 built-in excuses to talk to people. Even the more random ones (yes, Quidditch is real) are great for meeting people who already share your niche interests.
Seminar chat counts. You don’t need to be That Person who flirts mid-discussion, but asking “fancy grabbing a coffee in the SU before class?” works surprisingly well.
Pre-drinks & parties. Whether it’s a house on Broomhill or a cramped Endcliffe kitchen, these are classic spots to meet people casually. Pro tip: make sure you remember their name before you bump into them in the IC the next day.
Clubs = chaos, but good chaos. Corp is a bonding experience in itself — if you can survive the blue pints together, you can probably survive anything. And if you’re not a clubber, Foundry gigs or SU film nights are lower-stakes date ideas.
Apps help. Tinder, Hinge, Bumble: basically half of Sheffield is on them. Even if you don’t meet up, just chatting gives you good practice.
Flirting basics. Keep it light. Compliment their jacket, make a joke about seminar readings, or if you’re brave: “Would you still fancy me if I downed a skibidi rizz bomb?” (The correct answer is “yes,” but they should at least hesitate.)
Flatmate warning. Dating within your flat is like microwaving fish in a shared kitchen: technically possible, but everyone else will notice and it usually ends badly.
Most importantly: you’re not “behind.” Half the people at uni feel like they don’t know what they’re doing. The trick is to lean into the awkwardness, it makes the best stories later.
Yours in dodgy dance moves,
Fanny x
