- Don't Hide Behind Your Baseball Cap - University of Iowa, Wiki Commons
Take Yourself Seriously
It's pretty common for college women to play down their intelligence so they don't seem too "threatening" to potential friends and dates. But guys do this too, more than you might realize. This isn't middle school, so don't be afraid to raise your hand with the right answer.
Don't Be Invisible
Avoid being a "baseball cap guy." Baseball cap guys sit in the back row, slumped down as far as possible, with their baseball caps pulled over their faces. They don't participate in class unless forced and attempt to call as little attention to themselves as possible. Secretly, one of the baseball cap guys might be the smartest kid in the class, but nobody knows this because he's practicing the art of invisibility. This attitude isn't going to help you in your future career, so break out of this habit now and take off your baseball cap.
Binge Drinking is Not Manly
It's just not. It's stupid, and if you do it often enough, dates and friends alike will lose respect for you. Big guys sometimes overestimate how much they can drink because of their large stature, so watch out. You don't have to be a 5 foot 2 inch woman to die of alcohol poisoning.
Don't Be a Slob
There's no need for business attire yet, but please do your laundry more than once a semester and do something with your hair. Professors are not going to take you seriously if you look like a lint ball.
Take Care of Yourself
Try to eat well, exercise once in awhile, and get a decent amount of sleep. Women spend way too much time obsessing about the Freshman Fifteen and such, but some guys don't seem to notice if they've gained the Freshman Fifty. You know how 13-year-old guys can wolf down piles of fast food in one sitting and still look like beanpoles? You're getting older, guys, and if that bottomless metabolism isn't a thing of the past already, it will be soon.
Sexual Relationships
You're an adult, and therefore can make your own decisions about sex. However, be careful not to make decisions about sexual behavior lightly. Along with concerns about the risk of pregnancy and STDs, consider emotional repercussions as well, both for you and your partner. And always, always remember that no means no. Date rape is a very serious problem on college campuses.
Best of luck to you, and here's some advice for college girls.
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
