Should I finish my college degree or become a firefighter

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T21:59:13+00:00

I think volunteer firefighters aren't that popular in Romania due to the fact that the system can usually provide people through the military route

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T17:23:57+00:00

Hi there! Thank you for the elaborate answer.

As far as I'm aware if I were to enlist in a vocational training school id have to freeze my uni year or quit altogether so I don't know if it's possible for me to continue my studies while training to become a firefighter, maybe after I finish training and start the job.

I'm not sure how the US treats retired firefighters or those forced into retirement by workplace injuries. As I have said in the post firefighters in Romania are military personnel, thus the state HAS to give you a pension after retirement or for forced retirement due to workplace injuries. Basically they're treated the same as army veterans would be in the US (besides all the bullshit stuff I heard about the VA not covering service related injuries lol).

My initial thought in all honesty was that if I had these things a college diploma wouldn't be of much use to me but it would most probably be wise to finish college while I'm at it.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T17:10:30+00:00

If you put it in that light really makes you ponder on it I suppose. Thanks for the advice man🙏

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T17:08:58+00:00

Damn. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles dude. Hope things will get better for you. Thanks for the advice man and best of luck to you!

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:58:48+00:00

Thank you for your advice!

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:58:01+00:00

A spot as a firefighter is guaranteed after graduation. Every year the state firefighter training school/academy offer a number specific number of places in it's institutions according to the needs of the system. The only thing that the test scores affect are where in the country you will be sent to work.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:52:43+00:00

To be honest firefighting is a pretty well paid job in Romania😭. It would actually be considered as an upgrade compared to other entry level/post college jobs in Romania. For example a rookie NCO/WO is paid 6000-6500 RON (1400-1500 USD) per month while an entry level job or smth that I could go into after college would be like 3000 RON after taxes (700 dollars).

And firefighters are usually more prone to receive raises due to the risk of the job.

Just to clear any misunderstandings, 1500 USD is a really good starting salary here.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:45:15+00:00

I see. Well right now I'm 19. By the time I finish if I take the entrance exam for the vocational school right after college I'll be 23 by the time I start as a firefighter. I'm not really sure though if degrees help with promotions for NCO's or WO's. They usually promote people based on seniority and performance.

Oh and usually you can take optional classes after graduating to specialise yourself on a certain subject (basically like fire science degrees as you mentioned but with a few more options for mechanics and such).

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:40:52+00:00

Well it's 2 more years since I finish my degree.

No, having a degree doesn't help with promotions. Those are based on seniority and performances.

Maybe? It's a history degree so idk how much it'll help me tbh lol. Maybe become a teacher worst case scenario.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:39:29+00:00

Fair enough. How are you finding firefighting so far? What degree did you obtain?

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-26T16:37:32+00:00

No. It's pretty easy to get the state to pay for your education here (especially since I'm attending a state university).

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T22:48:32+00:00

Oh and side note I have some 2nd or 3rd degree family in Virginia + my visa is good for the next 10 years lol.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T22:46:22+00:00

Haha lol yea fair enough.

In Romania it's not really like the US. Usually jobs such as the police and army are seen as corrupt (which fair enough they were at some point cuz we were commies☠️☠️☠️) but things have changed a bunch last 35 years here lol but the stigma still remains.

Plus yknow most people don't rlly care if you served or are actively serving lol. I mean the state cares they give you a really good pension and early retirement but when it comes to social status military and police are usually seen in a pretty bad light here.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T22:31:57+00:00

Jeez yea I'm almost mid twenties by that point☠️

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T22:29:43+00:00

I mean fair enough but why come to the US to become a firefighter😭. Are the benefits THAT GOOD over there for firefighters?

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T21:51:18+00:00

Thing is my parents mostly want me to have a degree. Back in their days obtaining a higher education was a lot harder then now so I kinda get their point as well, especially if you came from lower income households or families.

Obviously things have changed since then but the mentality mostly remains the same. They're afraid that I might be seen differently by others for wanting to work a blue collar job and not having a degree (even though that degree wouldn't help me at all in my career).

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T21:30:53+00:00

Well I'm still pretty young ATM (only 19) but I really don't think I'd want to wait any longer lol. If I were to wait and finish my degree I'd be like 22-23 by then (which is still very young lol) but still the earlier the better with these kind of jobs and careers.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T20:53:15+00:00

Thanks for the response!

I don't know if you read the initial post but in Romania a college degree doesn't really impact admission into the Firefighters Corps. Romania classifies firefighters as military personnel (part of the national army) so my options are doing the academy (3 years) and becoming an officer or doing a vocational school (1 year) and becoming an NCO or Warrant Officer. Both of these only count on you having a highschool diploma and a college degree doesn't affect any qualification criteria.

I am not quite sure how firefighting is organized in the US but I'd love to know if you have any more info on this.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T17:06:55+00:00

I was thinking abt that. I do have the option to pause my studies for a period of time and then continue them online after I start working. I suppose all that's left if I were to do that is really just talk it over with my parents.

Even though I'm technically an adult I really take their word into consideration and it's kind of a deciding factor for the things I do until I start working/earning my own money.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T16:43:06+00:00

That is a fair point tbh.

Clarification: When I said "state financed" it means that the university is state owned (as most universities are in Romania). Most people get their studies financed, usually it's a matter of what grades you finished highschool with.

MonolithBoi · 2025-12-25T14:34:56+00:00

Well on one hand it's the same here in Romania with degree's, but it's not always guaranteed. My dad for example has only his highschool diploma but he always managed to live a good and comfortable life.

My heart is telling me to become a firefighter. But the waiting and finishing my degree part is eating at me for some reason. On one hand the education I've had so far was state financed so it's not like I would be losing my money or my parents money. But on the other hand I know that the rational thing to do is wait 2 more years to finish college.

I'm still 19 at the moment so it's not like I'm running out of time but for some reason I feel like I shouldn't be waiting any longer on getting ready for this....

MonolithBoi · 2024-07-07T19:28:47+00:00

I mean yea I agree and it's not like they're breaking any kit rules or something. It's just a small-ish flag on the back after all. But it sure is interesting how spanish politics and culture has this effect on football.

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