Is Dating in College Worth It?

Dating in college is as exciting as it is nerve-racking. Most people in college are in their early 20’s and are still growing mentally and emotionally. There are so many things that can be said about dating while in your young adult years, and I’m here to talk about some of them. 

I gathered some of my closest friends’ thoughts on the topic of dating while in college. I asked them the simple question: “Is dating in college worth it?” This generated a few complex answers. I had the question answered from two different viewpoints—that of women and men. 

I began from the women’s perspective. Most of my friends had similar sentiments, while others did not. One response I got was this: “College is about exploration; it’s about learning to uncover your interests, your feelings and just everything that life can present to you. It’s a time of constant and consistent change. Getting involved in a relationship at a time of consistent change can be a good thing if it’s with a person who is willing to accept your growth and consistent change. For me personally, I’d much rather focus on myself and learn about who I’m becoming.” 

An opposing thought was this: “Dating in college is worth it when you’re aware of what you and your partner want and the constant communication of that evolving is there. Loving someone day by day is important but knowing how to communicate and look towards the future with them, no matter how scary, is what makes the love worth it.”

I personally agree and resonate with both. I think college is most definitely a time to grow into yourself, but that’s not to say that it can’t be simultaneously done with a partner as well.

The men’s perspective was eerily similar, but there were some differences. One response to the question of whether dating in college was worth it or not was simply no. This person further explained that dating to marry is always ideal, however, that may not happen in college. He mentioned how “there’s more vulnerability when it comes to dating in college. You’re heavily influenced by your significant other because it’s a new environment and you don’t have parents, for example, to counteract your partner’s actions. But dating for fun is a chance for you to fully embrace someone who’s looking for the same things you are.” 

Another response was this: “I believe dating in college is definitely worth it even though it’s not the norm in society right now. There’s nothing like getting a chance to build with someone while you are still growing and learning about yourself. The consistency and trust you’re able to create is way better than casual relationships. I feel like our age group no longer believes in it because everyone always thinks the grass is greener on the other side but it’s important to appreciate what’s in front of you. One thing I will say is that you have to mature first before you’ll see the benefits of being in a relationship.” 

Although I see the points made in the first response, I’d have to agree with the second one the most. I think college is such a special time in our lives and it would be nice to have someone to share that with. Maturity and responsibility are definitely two things I’d say are absolutely necessary for making a relationship in college worth it.

Though dating in college can be scary, you never know what may happen if you don’t go for it!

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