Life Advice Needed - how to work abroad (preferably Latin America) as a Math/CompSci/Econ person

If you don't like it here why don't you just leave?

Just swim over the Rio Grande. Why do you gotta make it so complicated?

Tell Trump that you're here illegally and he'll ship you there for free!

Point misser wrote:

If you don't like it here why don't you just leave?

Wish I could. Unfortunately I have been told that leaving before I finish my degree and graduate would be unwise.

So you hate the career oriented culture (which I get) yet you are set on finishing your degree in order to pursue a career and be around those same type of people?

If your desires and vision ran deep that wouldn't bother you and you would be happy to take off now and work your way through Latin America as a surfer, working at hostels , as a waiter etc. Or quit school , grab a decent paying construction job,save for a year or 2 then travel like a king.

You lack credibility in your convictions

First major trip? What you described is vacation goggles. Everyone thinks that when they go on a trip somewhere nice. Cuba is a great visit but doesn't seem like a great place to live imo but to each his own. Even if you hate it you can just return home and it will still be a good life experience though. I google'd it quick out of curiosity and it was hard to find much solid info but the consensus seemed to bet that its not a good place for cs majors. Most cubans don't have computers/internet and most things related to the tourism industry have been outsourced so theres not a ton left. Sounds like many graduates have to leave the island to pursue professional work

I just read something that made me think there are opportunities in Latin America selling iPhones. You should check into that.

Good luck but you'll find it nearly impossible to "help people" while living in a country with an incredibly corrupt centralized govt. There are reasons those countries are poorly developed and there isn't a thing you can do to change that.

It's also pretty obvious you've been successfully brainwashed by your university by making remarks like "I need to get the hell out of the US". As far as what most schools are looking to really teach their students, it looks like you've already been converted and should be given your degree ASAP.

I was a math major as well and graduated from medical school not long ago. I have done several international trips and can relate wholeheartedly to your sentiments. There is something distinctly numbing in today's culture that has been brought on with the latest technological revolution(s) of the last 10 years or so. If you truly want to work or even permanently live abroad, you have to plan it. In your position, there are two things I would suggest, in order of importance: 1. You must have or acquire good connections to successful people in your country of interest. 2. You should look into pursuing a graduate course of study that interests you or which is known to propel individuals into high-paying foreign jobs. An MBA from an Ivy or equivalent (Stanford/Chicago/NW + couple more) does this quite well. Prior to applying, you'll need 3-5 years of work experience. A high-tier MBA will afford you the connections you need for a successful career abroad. Good luck.

Don't get an MBA. This is horrible advice. The only place for an MBA is if you already have a solid job or a ton of work experience where it can advance you business acumen in a specific industry.

I agree with not getting an MBA for the most part, except if you go to a top-ranked school.

Teaching is probably the most accessible way to get to Latin America straight out of school. There may also be some opportunities with NGOs doing development work. But if you really want to be effective, you may need to work in the private sector in the US for a while and acquire skills that are needed in Latin America. There are plenty of people in Latin America who can code and have similar skills to you. But many of those people do not have the opportunity to work for a well run company with good access to talent and capital. Once you gain that experience, you will be in a better position to take on leadership roles in development projects in Latin America whether in the private sector, government or NGO.

I was also a math/econ major and ended up working overseas for a few years. The easiest jobs to find will be teaching, but that doesn't do a lot to advance your career. Your best options are to: 1) hustle by reaching out to people in your destination countries who may be looking for someone with your background; 2) join a company in the states and look for opportunities to transfer to an international office (I did this); 3) go to a top MBA program where you'll have lots of opportunities for well-paying corporate jobs overseas (I also did this, but you need to work for a few years first); 4) start up your own web-based business and work from wherever you want.

Serious answer--what about Puerto Rico? It's the US but it has that Latin America feel. It would feel like leaving without the hassle of actually leaving.