Green Means Go, Red Means No: 6 Signs to Swoon & 9 Reasons to Run

By: Atiya Dasté

No one understands the struggles of college dating more than a Temple student. Maybe you’re still recovering from a bad semester with the wrong guy, or maybe you’ve had one too many scary nights that ended with an Uber ride home.

So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m serving up six green flags (the rare gems) and nine naughty red flags (the ones we love to ignore). This is all subjective and just for fun—so don’t stress if your special someone checks all the wrong boxes. And if you’re single? Consider this your personal game of swipe left or right to see if your roster is waving too many red flags.

Get it? Six green, nine red… for Valentine’s Day? Wink wink…. Okay. 

Green: 

Communicates clearly 

They text back consistently, express their feelings openly, and don’t leave you guessing. News flash: if you have to worry and play the “he left me on delivered, so I have to do the same but longer” game you can change that green flag to a hot hot RED.

He’s in a different outfit the next time you see him 

Not class shaming at all. I would hear out a hot homeless man. But a person who has a closet full of clothes and demands to wear the same hoodie and sweats without washing them cannot be trusted. Period. 

They have under 500 followers 

They’re not obsessed with clout or posting the perfect dump. Instead, they focus on real connections and more importantly, you! 

He engages with your friends 

They don’t isolate you from your friends or act jealous of your social life. Maybe they even want to meet them?

Respects boundaries 

Whether it’s emotional, physical, or time-related, they honor your limits.

Plans dates

Not just a “wyd” or “come over and chill,” but real effort: coffee dates, study sessions, or exploring the city together… at least a candle. 

Red: 

He only text you after 8 pm 

If someone only texts you after 8 PM, it could be a sign that you’re not a priority in his life. While it’s normal for people to be busy during the day, if he never initiates conversations earlier or makes plans outside of nighttime hours, it might mean that you’re not a priority and only a convenience. 

He only asks to hangout after 10

If a guy only asks to hang out after 10 PM, that’s usually a red flag—it likely means he’s not looking for anything serious and just wants a late-night, low-effort situation.

You’re unaware of intentions 

This is not too much of a red flag but if you’re unaware of his intentions, especially if you’re hoping they’re yours, then they may be different. That or they're unsure either and they're just going with the flow with you, and that’s up to you to figure out if you’re okay with it or not because they might turn out mal. 

You’re just another “little” on his roster 

LEAVE THE FRATERNITY MEN ALONE

He’s not asking questions about you 

This is more for the talking stages but if you’re the only one asking questions, then they may be subconsciously telling you they do not care for your answer. More for later on if they make fun of what you love or don’t support your passions, they don’t respect you.

He asks for your Snapchat instead of your number 

Anyone who asks for your Snapchat at this age instead of your number is probably not looking for anything serious. Immature guys prefer Snap over iMessage because it’s low-effort and temporary—and don’t be surprised if they start hinting at “streaks” just to ask for something you don’t want to send. Red flag!

Gym Rat OVERLOAD

If he’s so obsessed with the gym then that’s hot. But how obsessed? If every convo turns into his calorie deficit or if he schedules his entire life around his workout routine—even canceling plans to hit a new PR—it might be more than just dedication. When his protein shakes and gym selfies dominate his identity, and he barely makes time for classes or genuine connection, that’s a sign he might be more invested in his gains than in you.

Bad mouthing ex 

Constantly talking about how “crazy” their ex was is a red flag—it’s likely they were the problem.

Jealousy disguised as love 

If they guilt-trip you for going out with friends or accuse you of things without reason, that’s control, not care.

At the end of the day, let’s be real—we’ve probably all checked off a few green and red flags on this list at some point. Dating in college is a learning curve, and sometimes the lines get blurry. But remember, it’s always up to you and your standards—never lower them for anyone. And don’t stress too much about the dating scene here. Because once you leave Temple Town, you leave the boys behind… and step into a world of REAL men.