Are you still basking in the joy of graduating from college? Soon, you’ll need to send out job applications to the companies you’re interested in. But have you ever wondered, “Do college emails expire?”
When you become an official college student, you are given a college email address that you can use as long as you remain an active student. These email accounts are useful during your time in university, making communication with professors, classmates, and staff much easier. They also offer perks like premium access to certain software.
But what happens to your email address once you graduate?
What Happens to Your Email Address?
Some schools have alumni email programs that allow you to keep your student account after graduation, but with limited access to Gmail and not other school resources. Other schools may give you a grace period of at least one year before deleting your account.
Even if your student account is active, it’s best to avoid using it, especially for job applications. Employers may view it as unprofessional, and it can create confusion about whether you are still a student or not.
Why Emails Get Deleted
Your email address won’t be deleted immediately after graduation, but expect it to be discontinued within a year for the following reasons:
Network Protection
Soon after graduation, your status as a student will be removed from the school’s network ID. This means you’ll lose access to your email and other essential services provided by the college.
Server Optimization
Colleges have a large number of registered students in their network, and managing all the accounts can be challenging. To optimize their servers, schools may delete inactive student accounts to ensure accurate service delivery.
Resource Management
Once you graduate, you are no longer a paying student, and the college will revoke your access to services provided through your email address, such as premium accounts that require payment.
What to Do Before Your Email Gets Deleted
If graduation is still fresh, you have some time before your account is deleted. However, if you’re nearing the one-year mark, it’s time to start preparing. Here are some steps recommended by the University of Illinois:
- Password: Keep your password updated and set up recovery options to ensure you can access services before your account is deactivated.
- Forwarding Email: Set up a forwarding email address to receive emails sent to your university email address after you’ve been removed from the college’s server.
- Access Keys: Save your WebStore access keys/codes to continue accessing software. Some subscriptions may expire before your student account is deactivated.
- Online Data: Save or migrate important data stored in your university account’s G Suite apps to ensure continued access even after deletion.
Saying Goodbye to College and Your College Email
College was undoubtedly a memorable experience, but it’s time to consider getting a new personal email account for your job applications. A fresh email address gives you a clean slate and a fresh start. Wishing you the best of luck in your first real job!
