6 Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing a College

Congratulations! Your hard work, persistence, and all of that excessive lying subtle padding on your applications have finally paid off: you got into college! Now it’s time to kick back and relax with many, many burritos and all of the Netflix: your work here is done.

EXCEPT IT’S NOT, and you’re going to have to give those burritos to us (the chips and guac too, please). Getting into college is a killer achievement, but now you have to decide where you want to go, and it can be difficult to narrow down your options. But if there’s one thing we’re experts at, it’s making mistakes—so here are a few you should definitely avoid when it comes to picking a school.

Mistake 1: Picking a school for its name or reputation.
You might think that having Harvard, MIT, or the Vincent Clortho Public School for Wizards on your resume pretty much guarantees that you’ll have your pick of fantastic jobs after you graduate, but as it turns out, employers care far more about your applied skills, your character, and your drive than they do about your university’s name. So don’t attend an Ivy League school just because you think it’ll score you your dream career; instead, choose a place you love, and then focus on soaking up as much knowledge and experience as you can.

Mistake 2: Choosing it because your friends are going there.
As cliché as it might sound, college is an opportunity for you to break out of your comfort zone and figure out who you really are—like a nerd with the voice of an angel who looks amazing in a velvet blazer, or a genius who invents Facebook and betrays his best friend (you kinda look the second one, tbh). If you’re surrounded by a bunch of your high school friends, it can be much harder to meet new people, and you’ll probably miss out on a lot of great experiences.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the $$$ factor.
As much as it sucks, money should definitely be on your mind: stuff like tuition, student loans, and that inexplicably expensive meal plan (why does it cost so much if the cafeteria doesn’t even have fro-yo machines?!) are definitely important. But if you really, really love a school, don’t give up on it just because of its price tag: many colleges offer financial aid in the form of grants and/or scholarships, so do a little research and see if you might be eligible for assistance. Don’t be oblivious about the financial aspects of college, but don’t let them make your decision for you.

Mistake 4: Choosing a college because it’s where someone else wants you to go.
We know that things can get complicated when emotions—especially emotions like guilt—come into play, but please, please don’t pick a college just because a parent or an S.O is pressuring you to. The next few years of your life will be spent at this place, and you have the right to choose a university you’re truly excited and passionate about, and one where you feel you have the best chance at being happy.

Mistake 5: Putting too much emphasis on your major.
If you don’t change your major at least four times by sophomore year, are you even a college student? (Rhetorical question: You are not.) Unless you’re planning to focus on something like neuroscience or engineering, don’t pick a school just because it caters to a major that you’re not even entirely sure you’ll pursue. After all, you might lose interest in electronic dance music and furniture upholstery halfway through your first year, and when you do, you don’t want to be stuck at a university that can only give you the skills to become a DJ at Pottery Barn.

Mistake 6: Going there because the school colors match your eyes.
Did Draco take into account the fact that green Slytherin robes would really set off his sneer? Of course he did—but he was also involved in a plot to murder Dumbledore, so he’s not a great role model. Unless taking cute IG selfies are the extent of your college goals, your university’s color scheme really shouldn’t be a deciding factor. (OR SHOULD IT??) (It shouldn’t.)