We’re all guilty of it – ogling googly eyes at that pretty someone on the opposite end of the classroom, fantasizing of a whirlwind romance. Data from onlinedivorce.com said that a third of students meet their long term partner during their college years. A survey conducted by theknot.com said that 15% of married couples were college sweethearts. College is insular and this is bound to happen, especially when dating within the same major.

I think people would be wise to consider other options when looking for a romantic partner, such as a partner within a different major or even a different school. Opposites attract is a saying for a reason.

Those kinds of relationships can be risky. Risks can be exacerbated by a smaller class size and the drama that comes with any relationship. Conflicts can arise when competing for grades, during dreaded breakups and by confining oneself to a small section of campus.

I concede it would be nice to have a study buddy or someone to bounce ideas off of that doubles as a makeout partner. However, if one person is doing better than the other, resentment is bound to build. Especially if they work together for the same amount of time, on the same things. A little competitive nature isn’t a bad thing, but when dealing with the complexities of relationships and with the competitive nature of university, things can get ugly.

Breakups are rarely amicable and emotions run high. If there’s a breakup in a study group and they’re all in the same major, it can affect their ability to work together and get school work done. Sabotage, dropping out, tearing apart friend groups and suffering grades all seem like an extreme outcome for something as trivial as a break up but can be seen frequently enough for it to be observed.

As students evolve out of prerequisite classes and into focused programs or majors, there’s a tendency to stick with the same group of students. Having that same population spend so much time together, people are bound to form friendships. That proximity also makes it more likely for romantic relationships to bud.

Dating someone from a different major can prevent this type of isolation. It broadens social networks and can expose people to things they never would have seen. College is the time to explore and become more well-rounded. Being insular doesn’t necessarily help that.

If a breakup occurs, it lowers the risk of seeing an ex in the same classes or buildings. That could create distractions that could affect grades and the ability to focus. In theory, you would only have to avoid a different area on campus.

While not every case of dating within the same major will have such drastic outcomes, it is something to consider. In the moment it might not feel risky, but if things were to crumble then an whole friend group tcould fall apart. It’s important to look out for the future, and whether or not dating happens, try to be surrounded with diverse individuals who are challenging and enriching.