Well, this is awkward.

Guilford College was recently ranked one of the most socially awkward colleges in America by Inside College, a website that provides lists and rankings of universities in a variety of categories. This one made it to the headlines of the Huffington Post.

At least we got some recognition?

“It’s interesting,” said Director of Marketing Communications Camilla Meek. “There are a lot of reasons people choose a college. Who knows? This might interest some people. … At the very least it draws attention to us and brings Guilford to light. It’s awareness on a national level and this puts us on their radar.”

Other notable institutions that made the list include: Carnegie Mellon, Boston University and Tufts University.

Unfortunately, there is no mention of the criteria considered for placing schools on this list. “Socially awkward” means different things to different people.

“I guess the question is, what list would we rather be on?” said Meek. “I can’t see Guilford being on the preppiest college list. I think it’s good that we’re not on the top ten slacker college list, either.”

Urban Dictionary’s definition of socially awkward, nestled between “socially acceptable sweatpants” and “socially awesome,” is “an individual excessively afraid of social interaction due to some form of peer rejection or personal choice.”

The Huffington Post sees it as being uncomfortable at parties and hopeless at small talk.

“I heard about this from a friend,” said first-year DeShane Green. “It didn’t really surprise me. No one on campus — as far as when you’re walking to class — no one talks to each other. There’s no communication among the students.”

Green’s understanding of socially awkward is a lack of communication. We have all done this. You are walking around campus and see an acquaintance in the distance. Rather than wave and wait until you are closer to talk, you pretend you have not noticed them until they are a foot away.

“I looked this up when I heard about it,” said sophomore Keenan Lorezato. “There’s no scientific ranking to this. How do you quantify awkwardness? If you hug less than five times a day, you contribute to social awkwardness. No, but really. Part of it makes me mad. I’ve worked in the Learning Commons and found that Guilford has one of the most diverse populations in terms of learning disabilities. So I hope that doesn’t play any part.”

Maybe the list just means that Guilford College is one of 47 schools that would be welcoming to socially awkward students. Who really knows?

“It could just be some random person who created this list,” Meek said. “The whole world is socially awkward nowadays. I think we have to take it with a grain of salt.”

Junior Ivy Baharian is not surprised to see Guilford on the list.

“That’s what makes Guilford Guilford,” said Baharian. “We’re very unique. I don’t think on another campus you’ll have people, I don’t know, walking around with dolls. I’ve seen that here, and it makes me happy. I can just be free to be myself and not worry about anyone else judging me.”