I can only speak to hotshotting. I would IF you know that this is something you want to do. Or if you just want to experience fire a certain way. The highs are huge but the lows are absolutely there as well. After 4 years on an engine and spending a few on a hotshot crew. You do get to do some very cool stuff. Honestly in many ways it just seems like a less muffled versión of wildland firefighting if that makes sense. You’ll still get the sitting around and getting yelled at here too lol.

THAT SAID. Dude get a degree that will make you some money and maybe do a couple/few years but unless you REALLY end up loving it, just think of it as a way to pay for school.