If you’re a recent college alum and you particularly enjoyed your time at school, it can be difficult to resist the lure of returning. College may have been the best and most fun four years of your life, and letting go can be hard. There are certain protocols to follow, however, if you’re going to visit and try to engage the college folk.
Now, if you’re a recent graduate — say, within the past year — chances are that you still have plenty of friends at school. Hell, the lunch ladies at the dining hall probably even remember seeing your face. That’s great. At this point, it’s not creepy. Trying to bag a freshman probably is, but being at the school, hanging out, and spending time in the dorms is not a problem.
Let’s say now that you’re two years removed from college. Going to visit still is not a crime, and you may still have friends here. So you’re 24 (more or less) and you still want to party with college kids — that’s just barely acceptable, provided you know enough people there and they welcome your presence. At this point, you should probably be moving on to bigger and better things, but as long as it’s a one-time deal and not something you’re endeavoring to do every weekend, you can get away with it.
What about if you’re three years removed and you still want to visit? It’s getting creepy now. You’re probably about 25 years old and have (hopefully) spent a number of years living in the real world. Perhaps you have your own place and are in a serious relationship. Some at this age are even married and have kids on the way. So, what the hell are you doing at college?
If you’re four or more years removed from the college scene and you’re visiting the dorms, you had better have a blood relative or a significant other there (and if there is a large age gap between you and the significant other, yeah, hanging out with them at college may be perceived as very weird). Otherwise, by this point, you should not be trying to party with college kids at college anymore. Your time at school might have been the best ever, but it’s at least four years gone by now. Find some friends your own age and let it go.
If you are below the cutoff age, remember, these experiences belong to the kids who currently attend the school, not you. You already had your chance at fun, and though it can be nice to go back and see friends a year or two after graduating, don’t make it a habit. You have to get out into the real world with people your own age and leave college behind at some point. Now, this is not to say that you can’t visit the campus for other reasons, like buying merchandise, attending adult functions, or seeing a sporting event, but when it comes to the dorms and parties, the window will definitely close on you very soon after walking across the stage.
