Career Pivot: Starting a new Data Science degree after dropping out, How to land $30k-$50k/year Global Remote roles?

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Hey everyone,

I’m starting from scratch and could really use some honest guidance from people who’ve already made it into remote roles.

A bit about me:

I recently withdrew from my previous degree and I’m now starting a new BSc in Data Science. I have roughly 2 years, and my goal is simple become job-ready for a remote role by the end of it.

I’m willing to go all in. I just don’t want to waste time doing the wrong things.

So I’d really appreciate if you could help me with a clear direction:

1. Skills roadmap (from zero):

If you had to start again today, what exact skills would you focus on first, second, third?

(For example: Python → SQL → Statistics → ML… or something else?)

1. Projects:

How should I approach projects as a beginner?

– When should I start making them?

– What kind of projects actually impress recruiters?

– How many solid projects are “enough”?

1. Platforms like LeetCode & GitHub:

– How important is LeetCode for data roles vs dev roles?

– What should I actually be doing on GitHub to stand out?

– Any mistakes beginners usually make here?

1. Hackathons & competitions:

Are they actually useful for getting remote jobs, or more of a bonus?

1. Internships:

– Are internships necessary for remote roles?

– If yes, what kind should I target and when should I start applying?

1. Applying for jobs:

– Should I wait until my degree is completed, or start applying as soon as I have skills/projects?

– Roughly how many applications does it realistically take to land a remote job?

1. Degree value:

How much does a BSc in Data Science actually matter compared to skills/portfolio in remote hiring?

1. Going “all in”:

If you had 2 years and no prior background, what would your day-to-day strategy look like?

I’m not looking for motivation — I’m looking for realistic, practical advice.

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to respond 🙏 Edit:

Also wanted to ask — how important is picking a niche early on?

Some people I know are combining data science with finance, others with healthcare, etc.

How much does choosing a niche matter for remote jobs, and should I try to figure this out early or just focus on core skills first?