I started working as a carpenter's helper out of high school, learning the trade. A good friend of mine was a FDNY firefighter and insisted on signing me up for the next test. I went to the remedial classes, to learn how to answer test questions the way they want and worked out 7 days a week to get ready for the physical portion of the test. I retired about 5 years ago after 23 years working in a busy South Bronx firehouse. If you want to be a trooper , sign up for the test,go to the prep classes, sign up for similar civil service tests. Don't worry about how many take the test, over 20 thousand took my test.