For some people, deciding where to go to college is more than just looking at which schools best fit their needs academically and socially. The decision may also be shaped by a relationship and the consequences to that relationship if they were to go away to school. Is it over or will you try to make a long distance relationship (LDR) work?

There are a few things you need to ask yourself before you decide to commit to an LDR.

First, are you ready for the commitment that an LDR requires? If you ask anyone who has been in one, they most likely will tell you it's hard and can be challenging, but if you really care about someone it's worth the effort, time and energy.

Second, have you ever been tempted to cheat while being in the same city as your boyfriend or girlfriend? I know no one likes to admit it, so it's a good thing this isn't a written test, but if you answered yes to that question, then an LDR might not be for you. If you have considered cheating while you were in close proximity to your significant other, could you imagine the temptation you might feel when you go away to school in another city? Maybe you should do the other person a favour and end it before you break their heart or even your own.

If you know you are ready for an LDR, here are a few tips that will help ensure the survival of your relationship:

Trust: You need to trust the other person. You don't want to spend all your time wondering what they are doing when you're not around. It will not only consume all your energy, but will create tension between you and your partner, and when you are in an LDR, creating more stress on an already stressful relationship is a recipe for disaster. If you can't trust the person when you're together, how do you expect to trust them when you don't see them all the time and are in completely different cities? If you trust them and keep that trust, it will make the relationship less stressful on both of you.

Communication: You need to have communication with each other, whether it's talking on the phone a few times a week or texting daily. It might even help to schedule your time together like a phone date (phone sex, anyone?).

The beauty of new technology is that it helps us maintain communication with someone even when they are nowhere near you. One of my personal favourite things to use is Skype. If you don't have it and are in an LDR, I suggest you go download the program immediately. The best part is that it's FREE and you don't have to worry about long-distance phone calls that cost you a fortune. This program allows you to have a video chat with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and it's a good way to not only keep the emotional communication alive but the physical one as well.

These scheduled communication dates need to be treated like any other date. If you have to cancel, you need to let them know and give a reason why. Just because it's not in person doesn't mean it hurts any less being stood up by technology.

Visible end: How often will you visit? Is it a short distance, such as Toronto and London, or is it longer than a Greyhound bus ride? You need to have at least a date when you know you will visit each other, or when the long distance will end — it's something to look forward to. If there is no visible end, it might be difficult for the relationship to survive.

One of the good things that comes out of an LDR is that you learn to appreciate each other more. The time you spend together isn't taken for granted and you realize how much you really care for the other person. If it's a relationship that's worth the fight, you owe it to yourself and your partner to try.