I think you need to weigh how much comfort you take in the "common route". That can mean getting the nice house, reliable car, good paying job. The other rout

I think you need to weigh how much comfort you take in the "common route". That can mean getting the nice house, reliable car, good paying job. The other route can mean traveling, working at startups, starting your own business, etc. You might take the quick route now and get another degree in a different school later. On the other hand, you might regret not finishing your advanced degree when money was available to pay for it. I went the direct route and got the quick degree (in comp sci). I landed a job programming when I was at a similar spot even though I could have snapped up a higher level degree within 12 months. 17 years later, I have never interviewed for a job where it would matter. I stayed with one company for 7 years and have worked for myself ever since. Though, a programmer I managed at that one company was denied a higher salary since he had no degree. In moments of weakness, I've looked through job listings and ones with higher salaries seem to require the "right" degree or the "right" experience. Those are usually corporate or headhunter jobs I assume I'd hate. It might be nice to make 3-4x as much money and program for myself at home. Though I might never have had some of the experiences I value most in my life. Side note: a few times I've jumped the queue and had to go back and fulfill a requirement that seemed like a step back. Invariably, I learned something of great value that I used later in life.