It seems like once you get your driver license, the next pressing question is “Where are you going to go to college?” There are many ways to go about deciding what your college career will look like, but there are also a few tips you should follow regarding how not to decide. Whether you are interested in an online college or a university setting, ask yourself what’s important to you long-term. Don’t let things like prestige or a couple of great seasons of football persuade you, consider what your major might be and whether or not the university offers it instead. Consider things like tuition costs and how strong the alumni relations department is when it comes to job placement after graduation. Below are a few other reasons that aren’t really reasons:

1. “I want to be with my boyfriend.” First love is a powerful motivator, but we’re talking about your education here. Love can survive distance, but if you end up at a university that doesn’t offer a major that you’re interested in, your entire future can be at stake. Try to remember that going off to college is a great time to reinvent yourself and meet new people. Old friends (and loves) will always be part of your life, but there are many new people to meet and learn from.

2. “I hear it’s a great party school.” While this isn’t something you’d likely admit to your parents or high school guidance counselor, it’s also something that shouldn’t factor into your decision either. Going to college should have elements of fun, of course, but a bars-per-capita ratio isn’t what you should be researching. Consider job placement stats of recent grads, instead.

3. Your parents went there. It’s hard to deny that once you graduate from a certain college you’re a bit biased toward it. If your parents are still enthusiastic about their alma mater, that’s great. But, don’t make a blind decision to go there without considering colleges for your own reasons. Have a frank conversation with your parents about your reasons to look elsewhere so that they understand.

4. “The tuition is cheap.” Okay, so that particular combination of words has probably never been spoken, but relatively speaking some tuition amounts are considerably lower than others. Try really hard not to let the cost of the education be your deciding factor on where you go. There are grants, work-study programs, scholarships and financial aid programs that vary from school to school. Take in account the cost of housing and transportation, as well.

Going to college is likely one of the first big decisions that you’ll ever make for yourself. So make sure that you do it for your purposes and no one else’s. The future is yours to create and it should be based on your goals.

Brian Goode is a PhD candidate who writes on college admission, online college programs, and online degrees for young adults.