Long Distance Relationships

<p>Has anyone ever tried it in college? I live in Wisconsin and next year I'll be going somewhere far away (Stanford, Duke, Brown, Penn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, etc...). I have a girlfriend here who's only a junior this year. How's the long distance thing going to work out next year?</p>

<p>I was in a LDR all throughout college and even now into medical school. How it works out really depends on you and your girlfriend. You've got to like each other enough to want to make it work, you've got to be mature enough to handle the rough patches, and you've got to have the communication skills to keep your relationship alive.</p>

<p>My girlfriend is a college freshman in NYC, I am at SUNY Binghamton4 hours away. We see each other every 2-3 weeks. It's not definitely easy, but very worth it.</p>

<p>to be brutally honest with you, and surveying from people that I know, your chances of making this relationship last are 1 out of 20, at best.</p>

<p>my boyfriend and i tried it over the summer when he was studying abroad and it pretty much ruined our relationship..we're still trying to work it out, but things aren't the same at all.</p>

<p>two words phone sex</p>

<p>Well I guess I should elaborate a little more. It's a LDR right now as it is since she's three hours away. I only get to see her once or twice a month, but we're both crazy about each other and really want to make it work.</p>

<p>My honest opinion is that you should break up. Obviously, I don't know you or your significant other, but as someone mentioned...these things usually don't work out. Also, why would you want to make your first year school more difficult than it already will be? You're likely going to change a lot your first year (most people do) and you're going to want to experience different things. Having a girlfriend way back at home is going to make it a lot more difficult. Additionally, relationships in high school are pretty much meaningless in the whole scheme of things. People rarely stay with HS sweethearts (some do of course). Move on and enjoy freshman year.</p>

<p>The odds are not really good. Of the many people I know who tried it, only one couple lasted over a semester. And I assume that was because long distance in their case just meant a few hours apart, allowing for more frequent visits than is normally the case. </p>

<p>Now, if you are already in such a position, as you now state, the change won't be that drastic. You will however likely wind up ending your relationship regardless, and look back on the time wasted on a long distance relationship that could've been spent exploring new college options.</p>

<p>LDR's have a high failure rate.</p>

<p>I was in an LDR during my senior year of high school and my freshman year of college. Things more or less went well during the first year, but then things started going downhill from the following summer... and eventually, it all just fell apart.</p>

<p>Especially when it comes to college, it can be really hard to maintain an LDR because college is such a huge transition. You'll be surrounded by new people, and it can be difficult to balance a relationship with everything else that goes on. It's the same sort of reason why people in high school tend to lose touch when college rolls around.</p>

<p>What's even worse is that even the strongest of intentions are subject to change. Back in the day, my ex and I were both really into making it work, and there was much evidence to show for that. However, circumstances change, priorities change, feelings change, work and school change... there are just so many changes that take place, and most LDR's simply can't endure it.</p>

<p>So, it's a judgment call on your part. Strong communication skills are essential, and you guys really have to have matching priorities and an equal willingness to make things work. Even then, it can still be a tossup. There's no one right answer to it. Don't let a high failure rate kill what would otherwise be an amazing relationship, but don't take it too easy and let things fall apart, as LDR's require a lot of extra care and attention.</p>

<p>It all depends on your lifestyle choices, too. Some people think relationships are huge obstacles that hold you back from enjoying time at college, while others think that such intimate relationships make for a more rewarding experience. Again, that sort of judgment is for you to make. Be realistic, be honest to yourself and your girlfriend, and make the best decisions that you can.</p>