Hi everyone, it's Yuna Kawamura! Today I'm going to give you the real talk about university students and dating apps.
I've actually been using dating apps for two years now. At first, I was like 'Isn't that scary?' but now more than half my friends use them, and several have found boyfriends through apps.
But honestly, I've made SO many mistakes. Photo catfishing, almost getting tricked by players, spending too much on subscriptions and running out of living expenses... (lol). Through all these failures, I've learned **how university students can use dating apps smartly**, and I'm sharing everything!
Top 3 Dating Apps Actually Recommended for University Students
Pairs: The Classic Choice with Ultimate Safety
First up, my top recommendation is Pairs. With the most users, it's easier to meet people from your university or nearby schools.
It's the most popular among my friends, and three of them found boyfriends on Pairs. The best feature is the community function! Join communities like 'University Students Only,' 'Cafe Lovers,' or 'K-culture Fans' to connect with people who share your interests.
But with many users comes **players and scammers**, so be careful. Avoid people with empty profiles or those who immediately want to exchange LINE.
with: Find Your Perfect Match Through Psychology
with uses psychology-based matching. The psychological tests supervised by mentalist DaiGo are surprisingly accurate!
Tests about 'relationship values' and 'ideal date plans' help match you with compatible people, making post-match conversations flow naturally. I actually dated someone from with for three months because our values aligned so well (ended for other reasons though).
They have **student discounts** which is great for university students, and users seem more serious about finding relationships. The downside is fewer users than Pairs, so matching might be harder in rural areas.
Tinder: Easy to Use but Be Cautious
Free Tinder is a broke university student's friend! Simple swipe interface makes it perfect for killing time.
But honestly, **many people just want hookups**. Lots of 'anyone free tonight?' types, so not great if you want something serious. My friend said 'Tinder is nothing but players' and deleted it immediately (lol).
The plus side is it's easy to connect with international students. Great if you're interested in international dating!
Profile Creation Secrets: Triple Your Match Rate
5 Photo Rules You Can't Fail With
Dating apps are honestly '90% about photos.' But over-edit and they'll be disappointed when you meet; under-edit and you won't match... Finding this balance is so hard.
My **golden rules** from trial and error:
1. **Main photo should be a smiling photo taken by others** (No selfies! Ask friends)
2. **Include at least one full-body shot** (Shows your style and builds trust)
3. **Add photos showing hobbies** (Cafes, travel, sports, etc.)
4. **Only adjust brightness** (Animal filters are absolutely banned)
5. **If using group photos, make it clear which one you are** (Adding blur is polite)
The first rule is crucial. Too many selfies make people think 'Do they have no friends?' Natural smiles in photos taken by others make the best impression.
The Golden Bio Template
Your bio is super important! But too long and no one reads it; too short and you don't seem serious. I recommend **200-300 characters**.
Try this template:
'Hi! I'm a [year] student at [university].
Recently into [hobby 1] and [hobby 2].
[Specific anecdote]
[Dating values or ideal date]
Would love to start by getting to know each other through messages!'
For example, mine:
'Hi! 3rd year university student in Tokyo✨
Recently into cafe hopping and K-dramas.
Eating cheese dogs in Shin-Okubo while talking about my bias is happiness🧀
Looking for someone to eat delicious food with and enjoy relaxed dates.
Would love to start as friends through messages!'
The key is **including specific anecdotes**. These become conversation starters and show your personality.
The Complete Roadmap to First Dates
1-2 Weeks of Messaging is Best
The time between matching and meeting is crucial. Too fast seems suspicious; too slow kills the momentum.
From experience, **1-2 weeks is perfect**. First 3 days: 3-5 messages daily. After that: 1-2 daily is fine. Move to LINE after about a week.
For message content, expand on things in their profile. Like 'You like cafes! Any recent recommendations?' Ask **questions they can easily answer**.
First Dates Must Be Daytime Cafes
First date location is super important! Evening bars are absolute NO. Alcohol clouds judgment, and missing the last train creates anxiety.
I recommend **weekend afternoon cafes**. Meet for 1-2 hours, and if it goes well, suggest 'Let's walk around more.' If not great, say 'I have plans after this' for a natural exit.
Choose **busy places near stations**. Omotesando or Shinjuku - crowded places where you feel safe.
Dangerous Patterns University Students Fall Into
Spotting Players: Watch for These Red Flags!
Sadly, dating apps are full of players. My friends and I have had many bad experiences.
But knowing the patterns helps you avoid them. **Watch out for people who**:
- Have muscle-flexing photos or hidden faces
- Quickly suggest dropping formalities
- Propose evening drinks for first dates
- Suddenly ask 'Free today?'
- Make sexual jokes (absolutely unacceptable)
- Suggest home dates
'Suddenly free today, let's meet' is 99% a player. Serious people plan dates properly in advance.
Avoiding Photo Catfishing
'They looked totally different in person' - this happens SO often (lol). I've experienced it, but you can prevent it by checking beforehand.
**Check these if suspicious**:
- Only one photo (ask for more)
- Heavy filtering (blurred facial features)
- Only face close-ups (request full-body shots)
- Reluctant to exchange Instagram (SNS verification is best)
**Video calls** before meeting are becoming common. Suggesting 'Want to video call before meeting?' is valid. If they refuse, be suspicious.
Budget Management to Avoid Subscription Hell
You can end up spending so much on dating apps without realizing. I once spent over 10,000 yen monthly and got scolded by my parents...
**Smart spending tips**:
- Focus on one app (multiple subscriptions lead to hell)
- Turn OFF auto-renewal (you'll get charged even unused months)
- Limit additional 'likes' purchases to 1000 yen monthly
- Try premium plans for 3 months, cancel if ineffective
For students, **3000 yen monthly is the limit**. If you need more, either work more hours or switch to free Tinder.
Conclusion: Dating Apps Can Be Amazing Tools When Used Right
Dating apps can waste time and money if used wrong, but used smartly, they offer **chances for wonderful encounters**.
Many couples around me met through apps, and some are even dating with marriage in mind. 'Dating app relationships are...' - that prejudice is outdated!
But most importantly, **value yourself**. Don't meet if you have bad feelings, block suspicious people, don't force yourself. Follow these three rules for safe, fun usage.
Finally, dating apps are just **meeting opportunities**. What matters is building relationships after meeting. Take your time finding someone special at your own pace!
Next time, I'll write about 'Balancing Stan Culture and Dating.' Stay tuned!
