What's another word for 'the only option?'

Question

Looking for a specific word for 'the only option?' Phrase in my head is:

Graduating from college shouldn't be the ________ in telling whether a person will be successful.

For some reason, I have zero-sum/end-sum in my head but I am not convinced that is the right word — but perhaps sounds like it.

Shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all in determining ... — Jim, Commented Aug 15, 2017 at 6:49
... shouldn’t be the essential factor in determining ... — Edwin Ashworth, Commented Aug 15, 2017 at 10:32
Are you talking about options that lead to success or options for telling whether someone will be successful? Your sentence is confusing. — Green Grasso Holm, Commented Apr 13, 2018 at 21:36

JJJ · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-13 04:16:57Z

0

Decisive / deciding / determining factor, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary:

the most important reason

Their example sentence:

Cost was the decisive/deciding/determining factor in their decision.

Attribution: "Decisive/deciding/determining Factor." Merriam-Webster. Accessed June 13, 2018. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decisive/deciding/determining factor.

answered Jun 13, 2018 at 4:16

JJJ

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lbf · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-14 18:12:51Z

0

yardstick. dictionary.com

any standard of measurement or judgment: "Test scores are not the only yardstick of academic achievement."

As in:

Graduating from college shouldn't be the only yardstick telling whether a person will be successful.

answered Mar 14, 2018 at 18:12

lbf

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