Gavra, do Syrians have a different yetzer hora? There’s no way to rationalize a 3-4 year relationship as a necessary prerequisite to marriage. The Syrians I know, who follow halacha, do things similarly to the litvish/yeshivish: approximately 6-15 dates over a month or two.
Maybe she becomes a pelegesh? 🙂
Put a comma in between. I agree with you regarding the Yetzer Hara, but don’t think the sem vs. college vs. getting married vs. going to Kollel is something I should opine on. For example, Satmar has its own derech for Kollel, and it is not for me to say that is right or wrong.