meltrust
Im 33, I live in Mexico and I want to switch careers as I just realized that programming is what I would like to do for the rest of my life.

I'm planning to:

-Study a 4 year bachelor's degree in computer science.

-Help/contribute for free with projects for local software companies.

-Learn/write code at least 15-20 hours every week while I get my degree.

-Perfect my english along the way.

-Do some personal software projects.

-Once I get my degree and have some money saved, apply to Harvard Extension School and get a

MLA in Information Technology with concentration in software development (online mostly, 2 summers in boston are mandatory though).

-Study really really hard to get good/better than average notes along the journey.

-Once I get my MLA, look for those US companies which hire software developers from Mexico

(staying here would mean getting paid like US$1500 a month for the rest of my life no matter how good I am compared to the US$6000 they usually offer in the US to good Mexican developers ).

-Get hired and move with my wife and little girl.

-Work really hard, be a good teammate, be responsible and get the job nicely done for my employer, and be loyal in order to be successful.

-Be a good citizen, be an asset to the country and not a liability.

-Offer a better future to my wife and daughter, while i'm doing what I love to do.

By the time Im really good and start searching for real paid work in the US as an experienced programmer (im mexican and I live in Mexico) I'll be 40... Is it difficult to be hired in the US software industry as a good programmer at that age?

Am I missing something?

Thanks a lot for the advice.

From Mexico
teamgrouphr
107

Dear,
Greetings!!!
There is nothing wrong in doing what you want to do, but be prepared for a lot of hardship. Managing family, education, personal finance, all at one go is easier said than done. On the top of it, age is always a barrier in software industry, younger the better is the mantra (Although discrimination on the basis of age is banned from legal point of view). However, as is famously said "impossible is nothing but I Am Possible".

From India, Delhi
Raj Kumar Hansdah
1426

Dear Meltrust
I entirely agree with the above.
I also appreciate your courage and determination;and also the fact that you have planned meticulously and intend to do what you wish to.
It is never too late for "Be What you Want to be" and there are several equal opportunity employers who do not discriminate on account of age.
Moreover, you"ll still have the option to be an entrepreneur or "self-employed".
Best wishes.

From India, Delhi
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