“Cradle robbing” isn’t the right term for your friend’s concern. It’s the idea that you (probably) have a more mature and well-rounded view of life.
As someone who went to grad school, I have noticed that I frequently find that I don’t have enough in common with men who only went to college for me to want to sustain or pursue any kind of romantic relationship with them. That said, last year I dated a man who never went to college at all.
The only way to find out the answer to this question is to ask the girl out.
As long as you’re not her TA, there’s definitely no problem. If you were her TA, then I’d say it would be better to wait until she wasn’t in a class with you, but otherwise, go for it!
6 months?! That’s it?! When I saw the title I expected to come in here and read about something that one of my friends (who is in college) does: dates high school girls. I was all ready to project my disapproval of who my friend dates on to you, and then I find out it’s just 6 months? Don’t sweat it, man. I don’t see any problem here.
When GonzoGal and I started dating, I was a college senior, and she was a freshman. Was that “cradle robbing?” Well, you might see it like that, but we’re only 1.5 years apart in age. Heck, my parents are 8 years apart!
So the year after that: guess what! I was a 1st year grad student and she was a sophomore. Sound familiar?
5.5 years later, still no problem, and we’re engaged.
The only “life experience” issue we ran into was easily solved by sitting her down and making her watch the Star Wars Trilogy.
Like StGermain said, unless she’s in the class you TA, go for it.
I’m an undergrad (though it is my fifth year) and I’m dating someone 6 years older than me. One could say that our situation was even worse–as he’s been in the “real world” and has completed grad school. Or, one could say that things are just fine. I choose the latter.
Thanks everybody for your responses. Basically, I just wanted my fears allayed, and you have done a splendid job of that! You’ll all be glad to know that I plan on going for it, hopefully this Friday. Go me! (well, maybe)
I started university this year when I was 16 and people who were the same age as me would have just started yr 11. I managed to visit my old HS for speech day about a month ago and I just could not imagine going out with any of the graduates there. There was just this fundametal gap in thinking even though most were a year older than me. Even though there were a lot of very intelligent people who I respected in that group, I couldn’t imagine holding a relationship with any of them. Even some 1st yr uni students I find to be still at a level where I just find too immature. So, yes, I would caution it but by all means give it a try.
