22M, No College Since 2021 – Confused About Career & Feeling Lost. Need Advice

I’m 22M, I haven’t attended college since finishing 12th grade in 2021. I studied humanities in 11th and 12th grade, but there were no exams due to the pandemic, I passed just by submitting assignments. Because of that, I feel like I’ve only truly studied till 10th grade. Now, I’m finally applying to universities, but I’m unsure what course to pick.

I’ve applied for BA History/Political Science/Sociology (triple major), BSc Visual Communication, BSW, and Journalism & Mass Communication. Honestly, I don’t even know why I applied for these programs. My biggest passion has always been cinema I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker. But recently, I’ve been questioning whether I should pursue it directly or get a degree first as a backup.

I’m more into arthouse/independent films than mainstream commercial cinema, so I’ve always dreamed of attending film schools like FTII Pune or SRFTI Kolkata. But they require a degree and have tough entrance exams. I also worry about financial security since the film industry is risky and doesn’t guarantee a stable job. My therapist advised me to get a “safe” degree first and then switch to film studies later. But by then, I’d be 25, and pursuing another degree at that age without a job might be difficult.

I feel lost. Should I go for a “safe” degree like BA Political Science/Sociology or Bsc/BA Visual Communication or some other degree and build a career outside of cinema? Or Should I just follow my passion despite the risks? You can also suggest me some good courses or colleges. I've lost my mind and mental peace. I'm clueless rn, uncertainty in life, hundreds of questions and I don't have an answer.

All my friends are either studying masters or working meanwhile i'm 22 and doesn't even have a degree this makes me feel so bad. And now i'll have to study with 17, 18 year olds. I feel inferior. Am I cooked? Do I still have chance in life? I wasted 4 precious years of my life doing nothing. And that regret is eating me form inside.

If you’ve been in a similar situation or have any advice, please help. Also, any college/university recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

myquals