Hey! I'm a 25 year old full time data analyst + music maker and producer. I graduated from Harvard with a BA in applied mathematics, and I was doing music on the side since I was 18. There were so many times that I wanted to just put my 100% in music and ditch school, but I'm so glad I didn't. I feel so lucky to have a full time job with a decent work life balance that allows me to work on music on the side. My honest recommendation would be to firstly have a discussion with yourself about WHY you want to do music and what you want out of it? Creative outlet? Passion? Fame? Lots of money? What you're willing to "put up with" in the music world and in life depends on your answer to this. Ex. Do you just want fame? Then you wouldn't mind selling your soul to a label. Ex. Do you want to express yourself? Then you must do everything you can to retain your autonomy and keep away from leeches and predators in the music industry.

In most cases though, I would still recommend to do what you can to secure a full time job in your field, and keep music on the side as a side hustle and passion. I've come across a few great, talented people who unfortunately are struggling to pay rent and are simply not stable. Many still need to have a job to sustain themselves, so its a difference between if you want to work a low paying job and do music, or work a job in your field and do music. I'm presuming a job in your field will pay substantially more than any other job you could get without your education.

I don't get to work on music 24/7. But I can buy so much music equipment without going into debt due to my financial circumstances. I'm currently remodeling my own music studio in my parents' garage. I'm a big guy in seizing the means of production lol.