Marriage and College Students

Posted by Naomi Rockler-Gladen May 19, 2008

Is it a good idea to get married as soon as you graduate from college?

Sometimes. I certainly know people who have been together since college. My sister in law got married right after college, and she and my brother-in-law are now expecting twins-- and I can't imagine a couple that's more compatible. And a good friend of mine who got married during college has been with her husband for almost 15 years.

But I also know quite a few people who got married right after college who got divorced, and quickly. I was so excited to attend the wedding of one of my students last summer, only to find that they split up less than a year later. And this story is not the least bit unusual.

Students, if you are considering getting married, please think about putting it off for just a little while-- even if you're pretty sure you know it's the right decision. This is such a major commitment, and the last thing you want to have going on as you start your new life is a bad marriage and/or a divorce. Take the time to get to know each other in a setting outside of school, and spend a little time getting your career and your life outside of college together before you make this huge commitment.

In some places, it's common to get married young, so people feel pressure and get married because it seems like the thing to do when college ends. I taught at a little college in small town Minnesota for a few years, and those rings started popping up on girls' fingers like a fashion trend. Thankfully, many of those marriages are going strong. But others are not.

Here are some things to think about regarding marriage after college.