Along with two of my roommates, I’m a not-so-proud founder of the “Single Pringles Club.”  Some days we’re happy not to be obligated to another person.  Most days we watch sitcoms on Netflix and lament our single status.  And some days there’s even Ben and Jerry’s. But those are the dark days.

As someone who frequently and dramatically bemoans my romantic lot, I’ve compiled various suggestions offered to me over the past few years:

I’m fond of option number four.  I’ve never been one to activelysearch for love – mostly I wait it out until someone comes along, I become woefully attached, and then I spend a good month or two pining until I awkwardly state that I’m interested.  I mean…that’s one way of going about it – but not necessarily an efficient one.  For people who don’t want to have about one flirtation a year, option number five is becoming a more popular option.  

I know, people hear “online dating” and refuse to even consider it, thinking it’s desperate, nerdy, pointless or just plain sad.  But hasn’t that worn off now that it’s become a more popular option that yields positive results?  In my opinion, it’s no different from a blind date – you’re just doing the legwork on your own, and you have a better idea of what to expect.  You’re not using it to get an “online boyfriend/girlfriend” who you never actually meet – the relationship is still in “real life” and takes place offline.

The best free app I’ve found that has the most positive feedback from my friends is OkCupid.  It’s a popular dating website that’s, fortunately, readily available as a free app for your iPhone or Android. 

OkCupid takes into account your information and allows you to input your preferences for your matches (such as gender, age, religious preference, ethnicity, and distance).  Whereas other free apps and sites at best barely skim the surface of compatible variables, and at worst determine interest based purely on dubious shirtless profile pictures, OkCupid makes a point of being thorough in finding out what exactly you’re looking for in a match.

So, to explore this option I looked to the opinions of a friend who has successfully gone on several dates initiated by OkCupid.

Of course my first question was: “Is it effective?”  Because if not, we’d all be wasting our time here.  “It is effective,” she replied, “depending on your persistence and willingness to wade through a few odd matches.”  Even online dating takes effort, and of course not every match will be appealing; but with determination this free app helps you make headway a lot faster.  After all, deciding not to respond to an online message takes a lot less time than searching for an excuse to walk away from the less-than-appealing person encroaching on your personal space. 

My friend went on to explain, “You make it work. You answer questions, fill out a profile, and determine the qualities of people you’d want to interact with. It’s simply a tool to find people. It's about your effort and action.  At the end of the day it's what you make of it.”  

Finally, I asked if she felt it was only used for short-term hookups, or if it could make for a committed relationship, to which she responded, “I have known both to come out of it.  My brother, for instance, is a user looking for something more serious.”  OkCupid’s versatile service helps various types of searching singles and also caters to their intended purposes.

So is this free app going to immediately find you “the one” based on facts and formulas?  Probably not (if you could orchestrate it that easily, the Single Pringles wouldn’t exist), but OkCupid is an effective jumping-off point, allowing you to reach out to potential interests, set up a date, and ‘see’ where it goes.  A screening process, if you will.  A great way to avoid that awkward conversation when he asks, “Are you planning to settle down?” and “Do you want kids?” when you find yourself on a first date with a possible life partner who wants five children.

Essentially it makes dating easier.  In this day and age we’re constantly stressed, and pressed for time.  Shouldn’t a date put a hold on all that stress and provide a few hours of peace?  I believe the getting-to-know-you process has two stages – and the first stage, learning the facts and basics, can sometimes feel like a job interview – rapid-fire surface level questions to cover all your bases (Where are you from?  What do you do?  List all of your hobbies right now, go!).  The check might arrive before you can actually have a conversation.  So why not get the paperwork done beforehand, so the date can be a date, focused on the other person and his/her presence.  An actual getting-to-know-you, beyond concrete facts, which the app has already taken care of. 

You never know what this free app could incite.  So if you’re looking for love why not give it a shot?  It’s okay to start things up with online communication – it’s not any less genuine or valid.  The most important distinction is that OkCupid doesn’t provide a forum to prolong an online relationship - it simply provides a service to help you meet people, in person.

So don’t let anyone make you feel embarrassed because you’re “online dating” and they think it’s “desperate.”  Why should it be so different from hanging out at a bar every weekend?  At the end of the day, if you want out of the Single Pringles Club, get out there and go for it.  It could be a long time if you’re waiting for love to find you – trust me.

I’ll let you know how my first OkCupid dates goes!