Prom is regarded as the quintessential high school experience, so couples and singles alike would naturally want to make the most of it. Getting a date seems to be of the utmost importance for many students, especially girls, many of whom obsess over every minute detail—this included. Even being set up with some one allows people to branch out, make new friends and have a good time.

Many feel insecure about not having a date for the big event. Going as a couple means having someone who’s willing to go out to dinner, take pictures and be by your side at all times.

"I’d never go without a date! I want a good date that I get to hang out with on prom night," junior Claire Bland said.

While many students believe in the necessity of a date, some feel that having a good time and scoring an attractive date are not always mutually exclusive.

"Since I have a boyfriend, I’m going with a date. But if I were single, I’d actually prefer going with a group of friends because you have more fun with your friends! You don’t need to worry about what you look like at all times, and it’s more comfortable being with a fun group of girls," junior Amethyst Tinsley said.

Some people would rather just have fun and stick with a good group of close friends. The idea of coordinating plans, matching outfits and buying corsages and boutonnieres seems too cumbersome to bother with. A group of friends, big or small, provides a more relaxed environment and removes the hassle of having to deal with niceties.

"If you went with friends it would be just as fun, if not more fun, than going with a date," junior Cordell Rainock said. Raincock plans on going to Prom with his girlfriend, junior Mara Nelson.

Contrary to popular belief, some students simply may not want to be asked in the fear that a date would create unnecessary awkwardness.

"I’m really happy that I’m going with a group of friends! It’s awkward to get asked by a person you’re not interested in, and it’s even more awkward asking the person you would like to go with! Plus, it takes way too much effort to match," junior Kayla Moberg said.

Moberg is one of many juniors and seniors who prefer flying solo on Prom night.

"I think going with a date goes hand in hand with dealing with way too much pressure. I just want to have fun!" junior Amy Thurston said.

However, there are some students who prefer to stick with a traditional Prom night, including a date.

"If I were going to Prom, I would much rather go with a date, because it makes you sound awkward and pathetic when you just go with friends. I would just feel weird being in a huge group with a bunch of people who didn’t have dates. I mean, that’s pretty much the main purpose of Prom, to go with someone," junior Diana Damian said.

To these students, it is important to have the Prom experience with one person, versus a large group of people. For many of these monogamous Prom-goers, they feel that going with too many people makes Prom feel less like the special dance that it is intended to be, and more like a night on the town with a group of friends.

"When I think of Prom I think of the pictures, and going out to dinner, dancing, and having a good time… all with a date. If someone wanted that ‘Prom’ experience going with a bunch of people would take away from the whole point," junior Kathryn Mayes said.

However, though many students’ views on going with a date may seem ridiculously traditional, some are starting to put a new twist to the term "date." Recently, people have strayed away from going with their high school boyfriend or girlfriend and turned more to going non-romantically with a date who is a friend.

"I am going to Prom with my best friend Alexandria Burgess because we have been friends since we were a year old, and we wanted to end our senior year with Prom together. Plus, she took me to her Homecoming last year, so I thought she should come to my school’s Prom, since she had never been here before," senior Michael Ferguson stated.

Though to many this may seem odd, it’s actually become a fairly popular trend.

"I’m going with my friend Matt; the main reason I wanted to go with a date was so I’d always have someone to talk to and someone who won’t look at me weird for my strange, funky dancing," senior Sydney Sprenkle said. "I am going with a friend, as a date, because friends are more important to me and I think you can have more fun with a friend," she concluded.