College Station Embraces New Dating Trend with Innovative Marriage Pact Initiative

College Station Sparks New Dating Trend with the Marriage Pact

College Station, Texas — This semester at Texas A&M University, students are stepping away from traditional dating apps and cheesy pick-up lines. Instead, they’re diving into a more scientific approach to finding their perfect match through an initiative called the Marriage Pact. This unique matchmaking survey, designed to boost compatibility, aims to help Aggies connect with one another on a deeper level.

From a Class Assignment to College Phenomenon

Back in 2017, two Stanford University students developed the Marriage Pact algorithm. What began as a simple class project quickly blossomed into a popular phenomenon that now spans across college campuses nationwide. By now, over 400,000 students from around 88 schools have participated in this one-of-a-kind initiative.

The process is designed to be quick yet exciting. It lasts just one week a year, capturing the whirlwind of emotions that comes with the search for love. Students answer over 50 questions covering a range of topics, from morality to those tricky taboo subjects. Once completed, participants are paired with someone who shares similar responses, and each receives an email introducing their match.

A Friendly Atmosphere for Connecting

Katelynn Healy, a sophomore studying hospitality, hotel management, and tourism, was instrumental in bringing the Marriage Pact to Texas A&M. She understands the challenges of making connections in such a large school. “A&M is such a big school,” Healy said. “It can be hard to meet other people. The Marriage Pact is a great way to meet people that you could get along with… that you otherwise would have never been able to meet.”

Interestingly, the survey isn’t limited to romantic pairings. It also serves as a tool for students to find new friends, shattering the stereotypes that make socializing seem daunting. Healy adds, “People don’t understand how easy it is to make friends. I feel like bringing it to a college campus is really helpful to kind of break the stereotypes around unfamiliarity and shying away from it.”

Overcoming Obstacles for Participation

However, attracting students to take part in the Marriage Pact has had its fair share of challenges. The team quickly realized that relying solely on word-of-mouth wouldn’t be enough to reach a substantial number of participants. Aman Anoop, a sophomore in biomedical sciences, didn’t back down. He took an innovative approach by advertising in different ways, even dressing up as Cupid to entice students to join in.

Anoop noted, “The word ‘marriage’ kind of scares people. Even though there’s nothing marriage-related that we’re doing, it’s more like trying to find your person in a sea of 60,000 people.” He first heard about the Marriage Pact through a cousin at Rice University and was determined to make it happen at A&M.

Taking the Leap While Keeping It Light

Now, before you get cold feet at the mention of “marriage,” it’s important to remember that participation in the Marriage Pact comes with no strings attached. Healy clarifies, “It’s not like a real pact. It’s not a contract you have to sign or anything, but that’s how it started. One of its big marketing slogans is that it’s the optimal backup plan.” So, think of it as having a scientifically compatible friend to lean on, should the need arise.

Even with the name, some students, like biomedical sciences freshman Nicola Chukwuemeka, find the concept intriguing. “I think a lot of people are going to be excited about the test,” she shared. “Because I have never heard of something like this, and I think it’s a new way to get people more connected with each other.”

Fostering Connections Beyond Romance

The social experiment doesn’t end once the survey closes. Students eagerly awaited their matches until the Marriage Pact concluded on October 21. “I’m kind of nervous,” Healy admitted, with some students feeling the thrill of the unexpected matching experience. Anoop echoed this sentiment, “The mystery of it is kind of weird because there’s some tension on you…But then that’s what makes it more fun, right?”

A New Tradition on Campus

What started off as a fleeting survey has quickly become a cherished event on college campuses, and A&M is no exception. “It is like a big tradition at the colleges that it works at,” Healy said. She believes this could become an exciting ritual for Aggies, who value tradition deeply.

As the Marriage Pact wrapped up this semester, it managed to attract over 1,500 participants, with hopes for even more in the future. Anoop emphasized, “It’s really not that deep. Fill out the forms, do your part, go out and meet those new people. You can always make friends out of them.”

As College Station embraces this innovative dating trend, who knows? Your next friend or partner could be just a survey away!