What Older Guys Really Think About Dating College Girls

It’s summer! Which means a few great things: no classes, the chance to meet new people outside of your college and more free time on nights and weekends (how great is not having homework?). Stepping away from your college bubble also means you are re-entering the “real world,” at least for three months. Whether you’re living in a city away from home for a job or internship, traveling or just living at home, you’re much more likely to face “real world” situations – such as dating older men.

The chance to date older guys who are no longer in college can be very exciting, especially if you’ve been feeling tired of the on-campus dating scene. Yes, post-college guys wear suits! And have money to take you out to dinner! And are mature enough to talk about things other than chugging Bud Light in their frat houses (well, hopefully)! But should you be wary if a guy in his mid-to-late twenties or thirties approaches you at a bar? Her Campus lays out the dos and don’ts of dating an older man – read on to find out what he’s really thinking when he asks for your number! 
 
Why older guys like us
The “older guy dating younger girl” phenomenon is nothing new (hello, Hugh Hefner). But you may be wondering, why do these guys seem so interested in us? And why don’t they just date someone their own age? Well, as it turns out, college girls are pretty appealing to older guys. Here are some of the reasons they like going for younger girls:

1. We know how to have fun 
Yes, it’s true. To older guys, college girls mean one thing: FUN! (Complete with capital letters). Kevin, 23, spells it out: “College girls are often more fun and more exciting than older women, some of who become dull, boring homebodies [after college]. A lot of the girls I know don't go out as much as they did in college, and even when they do, it's not quite the same as partying with current college people.”
Older guys may also think that college girls are wilder than older women, even if it’s not true. Patrick Wanis, a human behavior and relationship expert, explains, “From the guy’s perspective, the college girl might be very free-spirited, she’s very experimental, she tends to be wild – she’ll do things that an older woman wouldn’t necessarily do.” When it comes to anything, from hooking up to trying a new restaurant, guys think we may be more willing to try new things than an older, more experienced woman.

2. We remind him of his college days
 Dan Lier, relationship expert from ASK Dan & Mike and co-author of the book Dan & Mike’s Guide to MEN, explains how older guys associate college girls with their fondest college memories: “Generally speaking, when they see a college girl, all guys start remembering the good old days of college. He’s thinking about the parties, the football games … and he’s thinking about sex.” It’s important to realize that many guys who are out of college may still feel nostalgic about their college experiences. By dating a college-aged girl, the guy may be attempting to relive the college experience and recreate the feeling of sexual liberty he experienced as an undergrad.