With less than a week left before Valentine's Day, desperation may be sinking in for Penn students who hope to spend the holiday with a special someone.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to nab a date during this season of love.
- Don't get too hot and heavy if you're attempting to ask someone out for the first time -- nothing will ruin your Valentine's Day more quickly then scaring off the object of your affection.
"Humor is a great way to make contact," said Rachel Bolton, a Hallmark spokeswoman.
And once you have snagged the attention of the hot brunette in your astrophysics class with a remarkably witty remark about black holes, Bolton recommends offering the crush a "light" valentine.
She suggests gifts like stuffed animals that are cute but not overly serious.
- Look for new methods of meeting someone.
Frequenting frat parties and making an occasional appearance in class are not the only ways to meet prospective dates, especially in the era of the Internet.
Web sites designed for college students -- like Collegeluv.com, which advertises itself as the "ultimate place on the Web for college students to chat, date and meet new people" -- offer a more high-tech path to romance.
A Collegeluv spokesman said that creating a profile on such Web sites allows students to attract dates with similar interests.
He suggested posting an alluring photo that reflects you personally. For example, if you're interested in long walks on the beach, include a photo of yourself on a beach. The worst kind of profile photo is a person sitting in front of a white wall, he added.
- Try an alternate method of asking out your date.
E-Cards.com will deliver around 300,000 cards worldwide on Valentine's Day alone, and there is no reason why your crush should not receive one.
If you find the Internet too impersonal, theromantic.com recommends several slightly more creative ways of showing your affections, such as writing a message at the bottom of a pizza box.
- Always keep in mind the intent of your invitation -- you do not want your love interest to get the wrong impression.
The most important thing to consider is what kind of message you want to get across to your crush. Whatever you are looking for, make sure you are communicating your feelings clearly when asking out your potential date.
