I'm in my 30s going back to school and these comments are helping me as well. Thank you for your post.

Become an electrician.

Less likely to be taken over by robots.

Earn a ton of money so you can afford hobbies

In demand, unlike software developer.

More than something you’re passionate about, which can be stressful, the satisfying thing to do for work is something you’re good at. So I would choose your best, most lucrative skill. For me, when I went back for a career change after my divorce, the choice was between baking and a STEM field I’d always been interested in but abandoned at 17 on some bad advice. A friend of mine had just gone to culinary school and pushed hard for baking. I did start a tiny baking business (one bread delivery a week to a small, informal buying co-op) at the same time I started taking classes in the STEM field. The baking ended up being stressful and the money was terrible. I was so excited that I could still do math and science in my 30s that in the end my choice was clear and I haven’t regretted it. I do my job and leave it at work, then I come home and bake and sing and knit and go to the museum a lot.

Making it as a musician (is wonderful but) is probably not something to plan on, but music production, or more generally audio production (podcasts) is an adjacent field that might work for you. I heard an interview with a woman who was a composer. Until she became famous she didn’t want to write jingles for commercials, which some of her musical friends did, but she managed to get paid for music transcription (can’t remember the details).

Music would be a hard niche to actually generate an income with, unless you've networked yourself well enough.

I'd also err with a bit of caution, as I've seen heaps of friends (situationally, of course) pursue their interests in the form of a career, and the strain and pressure to meet deadlines nearly killed their passion for it overall (Tattoo artist & Singer in these cases).

I would never discourage anyone from pursuing it if their heart is set on it, so please, OP. If you're driven for it, do it. Don't stop for anyone,

Just take a very small grain of salt with you,

Also remember, that its not an 'end of the world decision' - expensive, so take it seriously. But not end of the world. So if you go for something that doesn't really stick, there will always more chances,

You make those decisions by sticking to your guns, and making a choice for yourself without anyone else interjection. Whatever gets your engine running hardest, your fire flaring brightly, and your legs moving.

Good luck on your choices!

I loved both philosophy & theater at your age, and chose to major in philosophy, and it is no more useful than theater would have been, and a bit less fun. I realize now, I probably would have ended up being a theater teacher instead of a philosophy teacher. So I'd think of it like that.

The majority of students won't end up as big-time world-changing sociologists or philosophers or musicians or actors, but as low-level examples of them who do a bit of local conferencing or performing, discuss with others who are also interested, publish or record some work, and then teach the trade to others. So which one will you most enjoy reading, writing, researching, practicing, talking about, doing, explaining, showing to people on a day to day basis...

A lot of schools do allow for double majors, or major-minor pairing, and you can find ways to balance what you pursue for a while. But try to think not just in terms of which one you would enjoy "making it" in, but which you'd be happiest in if you have a regular career. Would you be bored by music if you're teaching it to beginners, or be excited to see them becoming inspired? Would you feel deflated if you never had a hit record, or love getting to work on compositions even if they were only published in piano songbooks or used in commercials.. that kind of thing.

If you found a major you love, you should stick with it. As a former uni prof, I have some major qualms with sociology (I think there are better majors in this sort of line of thought). Also, how many people do you know who are actual sociologists? this is really only an academic field as a professor of sociology. there are good things about being a prof but you will have to get a doctorate.

Still, what soc does is teach you to think and write (again, better fields for this, say history or political theory). My fear is that it leads to things like Social work and /or DEI--heaven forfend. Though we def could use more GC feminists in this line of work. But, the best advice I ever gave or got as a professor was: don't think about education as a technical school. You go to uni to become a thinking person; to learn how to think, to foster intellectual curiosity (and humility) and develop a love for --and skill set for--learning itself.

You can combine them in this way.

As to joining the police? Well, if it is not an all-female cover band of The Police, I want nothing to do with it. Sarah Everard was raped by an active member of the force. Many are rapists and wife-beaters (I've posted a link elsewhere).

One thing to be cautious of is turning something you love into a job to the point you don't love it anymore. I like someone else's suggestion to pick something stable and tolerable that leaves you with plenty of free time enough money to pursue your loves during your own time.

Maybe you can do something like specialize in music therapy as a social worker. It's really hard work, but the ones at schools get to really help young people.

My advice is to try to shadow a few jobs if you can before making up your mind.

I’m 24 and I’ve been in your shoes!

I started college as a music education major after preparing for it through my four years of high school. Music school was HARD, even at the community college level. I have the talent, the passion, the motivation, the knowledge. It didn't work for me. (Actually it destroyed my love for my instrument for several years.) Now I’m in a science major (the same major I initially rejected in order to do music ed) and play in a community ensemble and compose when I have time. Music will inevitably be part of my life forever, but I am glad I’m no longer judged and critiqued on what my body and mind can create and perform. Music is so personal, and it can be surprisingly difficult to take criticism and not lose your passion!

My advice is, if you initially fell in love with and wanted a future in sociology, follow that! Double majoring would be fun if that’s an option for you. Or you can keep composing and playing on your own, join a band, or join a Uni/community ensemble. But if music is calling to you, pursue that. I really dislike the idea that you have to have everything figured out at 18. You have time to figure things out, make mistakes, get back on track. And there’s no shame in taking extra time now or going back to school when you’re older.

Zelensky I believe studied theater arts AND went to law school.

Major in something practical and minor in music. Maybe majornin business or econ and then you look great to music production companies

If you are interested in arts/tech stuff, during your gap year, see what the possibilities are of doing an apprenticeship with the film production union (for me, its IATSE). or production assistant (Director's Guild) There may be a spot for a sound apprentice/assistant. It would give you a taste / idea if that's a field you might like (film crosses over into to TV, events, resident tech etc. ) and instead of spending money, you'd be making it and meeting industry people.

I thought for a while I might want a music degree because I've done it all my life and still enjoy it, but realistically that experience hasn't been anything that has or will lead to solid income for me.

I don't know if this might be possible for you, but I dual-majored and had music composition as one of those. I enjoyed it because I got to take my composition classes and more in-depth music major courses, but still got a degree that I used to get my current job that is more for paying bills and supporting myself.

I don't think you should abandon music by any means--But you can still pursue it on the side and develop without banking everything on it. I grew up with connections in the music industry, and even with those I still don't think I'd be able to get a well-paying, liveable job. I still take lessons, compose, and perform in my free time, and I'm kind of glad I didn't turn a hobby into a career, since a lot of people I know who have done so have ended up hating their hobby/career because of it.

So most people I know who studied performance arts or music end up doing a lot of teaching to supplement their earnings while trying to make it as a musician or a performer. Often after school music lessons for kids, or running holiday courses for kids.

So an actual teaching degree might be an option - or doing music now, then a 1-year PGCE - because full-time working as a teacher isn't a bad career, plus you get the longer holidays (particularly in private schools). There are also opportunities to teach overseas etc.

Working for the police you'd probably have less holiday time to pursue music on the side but it's also a very good career.

I believe a formal/traditional music degree can be quite well-regarded generally but you'd need to look into it. Some more performance arts related degrees aren't so well-regarded but it depends what you want to do long term.

Another option at the end of a degree is the one-year law conversion course which effectively gives you a law degree. You might even find there are interesting opportunities in music-related law, eg copyright.

If you’re torn between subjects maybe look into dual honours degrees? I did one for part of my time at university and appreciated the diversity!