This, and subsequent comments, are all experiences I’ve seen happen to my partner and three very close friends. I decided to pivot academic path ways and pursue

This, and subsequent comments, are all experiences I’ve seen happen to my partner and three very close friends. I decided to pivot academic path ways and pursue a masters, so they all wound up ahead of me by a year. Watching their experiences, I decided I’d rather pursue financial security and independence before pursuing a PhD. I think I’ve made the right call. It may be harder to get into a programme this way, I’m not sure, but I fundamentally do not want the worst case scenarios of a PhD combined with needing it as a next step in my career or a source of income.