When you're on a date, who should pay? What kind of conversations should you avoid? These are just some questions people have been asking me lately about dates. So I decided to write an article about the rules of dating — things to avoid and things you should do.

For this article I thought it would be interesting to ask some students what they hate about dates and what they like. I compiled the most common answers into five categories to bring to you Dating 101.

Category 1: Start of the date. Always be on time. This doesn't mean you show up a half hour early — you don't want to make your date feel rushed if they aren't ready.

Always have the destination picked out and the date planned. Don't put your date on the spot, because if you're both indecisive people you could be spending the next hour in the driveway playing the "it's up to you" game. You also want to make it look like you put some thought into the date, such as finding out their favourite food and taking them somewhere that serves it.

Category 2: Conversation. This is usually the part that can make or break a date. You want to make sure to always have a conversation going, but at the same time learn when to shut up. You need to let the other person have a chance to talk.

A conversation topic you should avoid on the first few dates: asking your date's sexual history. Most people find this uncomfortable to talk about. Also never talk about an ex or an old fling; this is the worst thing you could do. No one wants to hear about how your last girlfriend broke your heart, or how your old boyfriend cheated on you. Conversations should not be depressing. Wait until you have been dating for a while before you tell him how messed up your family is. Also don't tell them you love them, or ask them to move in with you.

Anything that suggests you want a serious relationship after a couple dates will usually freak people out and you will probably never hear from them again.

Category 3: Eating. Try to stay away from anything messy that could potentially get caught in your teeth, splattered all over your face or cause you to eat in a way that looks like you've been raised by wolves. You don't want to repulse your date. Also please remember what your mother taught you about chewing with your mouth closed.

An important rule about food: never eat food off your date's plate unless it's offered. Who knows, maybe they want to take some home for lunch the next day, but now they can't because you just ate it!

Category 4: Etiquette. Do not text or answer a phone call — this is really rude. If you do this, you make the person feel like they aren't interesting enough or you don't enjoy their company. I went on a date where a guy had his phone out the whole time, and would constantly text, even when we were in the middle of the conversation. Needless to say, I never gave that guy a second date.

Be careful with how much you drink. No one wants to be stuck with a drunken person. Plus when people drink they tend to say stupid things, you don't want to be that guy that tells his date, "You look so much prettier in your Facebook pictures."

Category 5: Paying — the most complicated part. A general rule to follow after that is whoever asked the person on the date should pay. Although it's nice when guys still offer to pay, if a girl wants to pay, she will offer and insist on paying. When this happens, guys, take full advantage of this-it doesn't always happen.