College is a magical place with all of its many, many freedoms. One of the most highly sought out freedoms, of course, is the right to actually choose your friends. College provides a clean slate, a place to make friends without mean girl politics and forced playdates with your mom’s best friend’s kid. But what seems like such an amazing thing, maybe, is a disguised curse. Here is why your college best friend is actually the absolute worst:

1. They don’t judge you

They love you so much they don’t care that you have weird quirks or horrible habits. With no judgment to pass, you aren’t forced to act like a normal human being—even in public— and you can do whatever you want. Want to order the large fries instead of the small? Your best friend won’t care—even though you know you shouldn't. Sometimes you think a little judgment would be beneficial to your health.

2. They will endorse your bad choices to justify theirs

So maybe you shouldn’t be stress eating that entire bag of potato chips at 3am, but your best friend will encourage it because, hey, they’re hungry too. At least this way you’re in it together.

3. They are a little too good at helping you rationalize bad decisions

Been watching a little too much Netflix lately? No worries. They will help you come to the realization that you’re not wasting away your time but rather showing an appreciation for the fine arts of acting and cinematography.

4. They put you in your place

This person sees the way you take on the world, and they’re not afraid to tell you that you aren’t handling things quite right. Sometimes it’s really hard to hear, but as your best friend, it’s their job to tell you, regardless. Eventually, you realize they’re probably right—even though it may be hard to admit.

5. They set impossible standards for any future romantic partner

They make you laugh. They know how to pick you up when you’re down. They treat you like the royalty you are. How can any future partner live up to the standard set by your best friend? It’s just not fair.

6. They keep you up way too late

You have a little too much fun together and without anyone enforcing a bedtime, you talk the night away and wake up with bags under your eyes. If your parents ask, you were up all night in the library studying for that exam.

7. You aren’t scared to argue with each other

The two of you have unconditional love for each other, so no one’s afraid to say how they really feel. No matter what goes down, you both know there will be hugs at the end—so bring on the fight.

8. There's intense separation anxiety

In college, you and your best friend—either actually or basically—live together, and somewhere along the way you became codependent. When they aren’t with you, you constantly wonder what they could be doing and hope they aren’t having any fun without you there. You long to be in one another’s presence once again for the endless laughs and good times.

9. You get enlisted as their personal tutor

As best friends, you’re expected to support each other’s academic struggles. So in best friend fashion, you dust off last semester’s French and edit their paper or help them work through that impossible calc problem. Even if you’ve never studied the subject before, you get handed the textbook and you read up on the subject because, well, an extra mind is always helpful.

10. You become enslaved as their mental health professional

Sworn to secrecy under the best friend code of conduct, your best friend comes to you with every detail of their life and expects guidance from you. Other times, you’re just there for them to complain to. Either way, it’s a taxing job.

11. They see past your brave face

No fooling them. They see how you truly are feeling. Even if you don’t want to talk about it, they have their ways of making you spill. And this is if you even have to speak. Best friends have a way of reading you like an open book—they usually know what’s wrong before you even know yourself.

12. You’re a lost soul without them

You’re completely dependent on them in every way possible. They’re your family away from home, your life coach, your partner in crime, your everything. Without them, you are not complete.