Life after college is a whole new ball game. On one hand, people expect you to be accountable and responsible (something that was always understood to be a desirable quality, but not a necessary one while in school). On the other hand, there is a significant dearth of homework and a lot more of you calling your own shots.
Although classes and frat parties are left on campus, sometimes relationships can span the gap. What happens to couples when one partner graduates and the other still has some credits to go? How many relationships survive the great divide, especially when the graduate has moved to another city to begin a career or go on to further schooling?
There are certain factors that will help determine the chances of success of a long-distance relationship post-graduation:
1. Length of the relationship.
It may seem obvious that the longer a couple has been together, the more likely they are to stay together after graduation, but this is not always the case. In reality, the strength of the relationship is much more important than the length. Some couples who have been dating for years will break up within the first summer after graduation; whereas, some couples who have been dating for only a few months will be able to go the distance.
Overall, longevity is an indicator that the relationship is strong, and it is more likely that people who have been in one relationship for over a year will be up to the challenges that a long-distance post-graduation relationship will present.
2. Optimism.
Studies have shown that couples that are optimistic about their future together are more likely to go the distance. If you believe in the relationship and think that the future looks bright for the two of you as a unit, your LDR will be easier to weather - even if the time apart will be significant.
3. Communication.
LDRs are hard; there’s no disputing that. Couples who have successfully beat the distance factor find that communication is key to keeping the romance alive. Talking on Skype, Facebook chat, and on the phone are important ways to stay connected when you can’t be physically in touch. Couples who lose this communication inevitably lose each other.
4. Commitment to the relationship.
A successful LDR takes work. It is easy to get caught up in your respective lives and, after a few months apart, start to forget to bring the other person into your day-to-day. Both parties must be equally committed to making the relationship work, or your love is SOL.
5. Trust.
LDRs take a lot of trust. There will be temptations on both ends, and you need to trust each other. Without this trust, insecurity and doubt will creep into the relationship, your communications will become strained, and things can go downhill very, very quickly.
In sum, post-graduation relationships can be difficult to maintain if one of the parties is still in school; however, it is not impossible for these relationships to succeed. A little over fifteen percent of couples who date in college end up getting married to each other. Of the college sweethearts who end it after the diplomas have been passed out, most of the people survive and go on to love again.
Good luck!
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