Vivian Kaleta
getting into Yale was genuinely easier than getting a boyfriend.
The comment by “anonymous” currently holds over 2,000 upvotes on Fizz. While I believe that Fizz isn’t a great representation of the thoughts of the greater Yale community — at least, I hope — I wouldn’t be surprised if many of my peers feel similarly about their own personal love lives. Looking at my own Yale friends and acquaintances, despite one or two achieving cuffed status, the vast majority are single. While some are ACTIVELY looking for love, others seem to not care for that life — looking at you, serial hookups! While I am only a first year and find the idea of locking in on a person you met in your first few months on campus pretty daunting, the whole phenomenon makes me question where exactly Yalies find love on campus — and more importantly, if it is even possible.
Coming into Yale, I was pretty surprised to find that most first years I had spoken to envisioned themselves falling into a Yale relationship early on in their academic careers. When the topic would arise, I would follow up with the question, “When were you last in a relationship?” Most of these aspiring lovers had never been in a relationship before.With no hate whatsoever, many seem to think that love will barge into their life like the protagonist of a cheesy 2000s romcom.
A non-exaggerated quote from a first-year acquaintance: “I swear he was staring at me from across the room and blushed when my eyes met his, he must want me.”
By the way, said room was YSB Marsh. Babe, he wasn’t looking at you — he was trying to scan the PollEv so he could get his participation points.
While there is THAT side of first-year love, we’ve all also heard the other, less glamorous side:
“Yeah, we hooked up after Snu on Saturday. I think she really likes me.”
Update: It’s two months later, and now, whenever the two pass each other in Commons, they awkwardly nod, wishing that night never happened.
Since talking to other first years about this topic seems more wasteful than beneficial, I decided to consult my upperclassmen friends in search of more fruitful answers. Sorry to let you hopeless lovers down, but most of the current relationships I investigated had bloomed from pretty mundane situations.
“We had met through a mutual friend … one day, at the beginning of sophomore year, he had been invited to a pre at my friend’s dorm, and we slowly started talking from there,” said one junior who has been off the market for around a year.
“I met my girlfriend in MATH 120. We first only met to do p-sets and then started to hang out outside of Bass,” claimed a hopelessly smitten sophomore.
“My boyfriend and I met this year in PWG, actually!” stated another junior. “He noticed I needed help during a set one day and we have been working out together ever since!”
While I personally believe there is nothing wrong with seeing love sprout from the everyday going-ons of campus, I confess I am a bit disappointed by the lack of ‘excitement’ that can be found in those TikTok edits of Jacob Elordi or Theo James going through hell to be with their partners.
But, dear reader, don’t fret! This wouldn’t be a piece on atypical love without divulging some actual instances of atypical love!
“I actually met my boyfriend through a blind champagne and shackles date! My friend had secretly set me up with him because she thought he was my type … while a bottle and zip tie didn’t exactly make me think there was any potential there, he continued to make the effort to get to know me after, and we really hit it off,” said a daring sophomore.
See, there is still hope out there! Be on the lookout for the hopeless romantics who have resigned themselves to the stacks, cramming for their next CPSC 112 midterms. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and you never know where you’ll meet your true Yale love.