Ask HN: A 19 year old, what should I do?

Consider it as a time to sharpen and shape your personality, not so much to gather lots of knowledge. You can do that, too, but it's not the only thing you'll learn in college.

Working for a company will be taking enough of your time later on.

I had a great time at university. I studied abroad for a year in the States (I'm German) and I started my business by accident. It was merely a side project, a hobby. Now, almost 8 years later, it's my main source of income and gives me all the freedom I want.

I didn't plan for it, it just happened, maybe because I was in an environment that allowed time to "play".

10 years later I haven't regretted either decision at all. I got much more out of university the second time around since I actually wanted to be there and the work experience I got working those years not only really helped me land my first couple of jobs, but provided invaluable experience that I still rely on. And while I never had much trouble finding jobs without a degree, the jobs I found with a degree are much more interesting and fun.

So my advice is that while university on the whole probably is a good idea, there is nothing that says you have to go to university right out of high school.

Another piece of advice is to remember that there are a lot of courses offered at universities and just because you love programming doesn't mean you have to study CS. I, for example, got my degree in mathematics with a side order of economics, and have found that the combination has opened up a whole avenue of opportunities I probably never would have had if I'd just stuck to programming, while still being able to use my programming skills. So take a step back and reflect over if perhaps there is some other area in addition to programming that you find fascinating and perhaps consider getting a degree in that, when you feel ready..

Do not drop out unless it's for an opportunity you have right now, that can't be postponed or repeated and you're self-critical and objective enough to be realistic about that assessment. Everything else you can do just as well afterwards, without a sacrifice you'll regret.

Context: I formed a company during secondary school (age 16), completed my GCSEs, left to focus on my company which was purchased leaving me as CTO for a 3 year stretch. Dropping out for me was a hard choice, those three years were great, and despite ultimate failure of the company, I'd repeat the experience again in a flash. Those three years give me a CV that demonstrates a motivated, self-starter able to learn technology on the job.

That being said, I've dealt with hiring often enough that I've met way too many of my age group that dropped out without the self-motivation, skills or intelligence to make it work for them. They dropped out because it was the easy and lazy choice. They dropped out because they thought mastery of a single trending technology or process would drive the rest of their careers. They dropped out because delusions of competency reinforced the belief that in comparison to another person of equivalent skill, ability who completed their education, for some bizarre and irrational reason the Universe would weigh in on their side.