[Recommendations] Did I mess up?

I’m 26 and in the middle of a very real quarter-life crisis. I’m applying to a mix of grad programs (law, MPP, and a couple of poli sci PhDs all related to international law) and I actually think I have a shot at getting into some good ones. But the closer I get to finishing these applications, the more panic I feel that I’m committing myself to a life where I never give my art the attention it deserves.

I’ve been a pretty diligent artist for years, I paint, I have a coherent body of work, I’ve shown pieces here and ther, but I’ve always treated it as something I fit around my academic/professional life. Recently someone made a comment about how I’m “so talented but not as hungry as people who make it in the art world,” and it sort of stuck in my brain. Now I’m spiraling with this feeling that maybe I chose the wrong path, maybe I should’ve applied to MFAs, and that if I don’t go all-in now I’ll never build the life I actually want. I've been in NYC for the past two years and thats helped with a bit with connections and such but i guess im also worried to move away from the city or that i didnt make the most of the city etc etc...

But also don’t know if an MFA is even actually the answer? They’re super expensive, a lot of programs seem predatory, and I’m not convinced they guarantee anything in terms of career.... I’m also applying to a Fulbright for an art project, but I obviously don’t have it yet but since those programs are so selective, i think I'm terrified its the only lifeline to pursuing my art seriously rn and I’m terrified I'm just drifting away from being an artist.

So basically:

Did I screw up by not applying to MFAs this cycle? Is it actually necessary to be a sucessful artist?

If anyone has navigated being a serious artist and pursuing a more traditional career path at the same time I would love to hear how you approached these forks in the road. Also feedback from people who have done MFAs. I probably need an artist mentor of some sort. I feel like I’m trying to choose among 10 different future selves and it’s breaking my brain.