As a Brandeis student, you probably ended last semester in one of three ways: swingin' single, about to plunge into a long-distance relationship (or maybe not-so-long-distance, but still holding down a relationship during the summer time) or, most commonly, not quite sure what you are-single, attached, dating-does it really matter? Can something as simple as a warm season away from the 'Deis affect your relationship meter? Most definitely. In the first situation, you're freshly single, have just survived two weeks of grueling finals and are ready to welcome the beauties of summer with open arms. With a fresh bronze tan comes the confidence to date (or just hook up) for the summer. What happens at home, stays at home (or in Europe, or Cabo or wherever else), and summer is the perfect time for a temporary relationship.

Left frustrated and feeling they'd exhausted all possible dating prospects at Brandeis, many of my friends opted to pursue the summer fling and enjoyed every minute of it. If you're feeling unfulfilled by your summer trysts, however, try to begin this semester with a different mindset. That doesn't mean you should stop going out and pull a personality 180, but consider assessing your actions in different ways-a drunken hookup, for example, will almost never lead to a long-term relationship. Use your confidence and experience from the summer to narrow down what you're looking for, and pursue it. There's no better time than the first month of school, when everyone is still open to meeting new people. At this point, you have nothing to lose, so don't hesitate to start a conversation with that cutie you've been eyeing across the Boulevard everyday for the past week.

Pursuing a long-distance relationship is much rougher. Last semester, you might have basically lived with your significant other, and the walk from Ziv to North seemed the farthest you were ever apart. When summer began, the quick strolls across campus didn't seem like much of an issue-but staying emotionally close with hundreds of miles between you and your boyfriend or girlfriend isn't easy. Distance leads to distractions, and that's where things get tricky: summertime lends itself to less clothing, and one's eye can't help but wander occasionally. It doesn't mean you don't care for the person you've committed yourself to for three months; it just means that three months might be a bit longer than you thought.

From my experience, good things are always worth the wait: there's nothing better than finally spending time with someone you've gone so long without. If things aren't what you thought they would be, however, don't fret: it's totally normal. Over three months, pressure and anticipation can't help but build up for the fall. Give your relationship some time to fall back into the swing of things.

Entering your summer ambiguously can prove the stickiest situation of all. With no strings attached and no pressure, you have your freedom for the summer. Yet you know that upon returning to school, you'll have a special someone waiting-at least potentially-to pick up where you left off. You can enjoy the summer, relax with your friends, and while you may experience some relationship drama, it's only enough to subtly remind you of things to look forward to. These relationships greet the fall in one of two ways-either way, it's your decision. Don't kid yourself and assume you'll just "end up" with someone: work is required from both sides for a relationship to resume successfully. You can take a shot at dating and seeing if things work out (never doubt the maturation one can achieve over a mere summer) or agree to leave last semester's relationship in last semester and seek out something new and perhaps a bit more compatible.

Fast-forward through the three months of heat, beaches, bikinis and attractive interns, and you're right back at your second home, school. Whether the three months flew by or crawled past, it's time to begin a new year-one filled with relationships, dating and plenty of awkward moments, all of which make college the best dating time of our lives.