I recommend you get a PhD, because PhDs have all sorts of positive outcomes that pay dividends over time. Some programs will help pay for your school so you don’t come out of it with a bunch of debt.
The only reason to not get a PhD is if you could earn $100k a year doing something else instead -- in that case, go make money. But if you’re not planning to make that much, get the PhD -- it is the Deep Left thing to do.
When I was a very sad little boy, I was listening to Ryan Faulk, who was telling me to never go to college. I ended up going to college anyway, but I neglected grad school, which I now regret. Grad school would have given me a boost in:
self-esteem and identity
friends and romantic partners
status and earning power
Learn from my mistake, especially if you didn’t get a degree in STEM. Computer programmers can do whatever you want, but if you’re in chemistry, biology, the humanities, or social sciences, you basically need to go to grad school. For God’s sake, at least take the LSAT and apply to a few places. Then see if you get accepted and make a decision.
When I was 22, I was basically totally alone in the world and had no friends or trusted elders to counsel me and advise me. Sadly a lot of the friends I made graduated a few years ahead of me, and the few internet people I listened to told me that school was gay.
Sometimes you just need someone who believes in you and is willing to encourage you. I know there are many decisions in life where, if I just had one person in my corner rooting for me, I would have been able to take the risk, but because I had no positive feedback whatsoever, I gave up and later regretted it. Like when:
