Career switch to computer graphics programming
I am student looking for good advice. I appologize if this post is slightly off topic in this forum, but I figure that some of the knowledgable folks in computer graphics know the answers to my disperate questions.

Right now I am a graduate student originally from Eastern Europe studying
mathematics(differential geometry) at a well respected university from the Midwest. My
research has not much to do with computer science. 

Although I love
mathematics, I have come to understand that the academia is NOT what I
thought it would be and now I am looking for different career options
after graduation. Since I am a fourth year graduate student, changing
research topic at this point is out of the question unfortunately.

I have always liked computer science (I have a BS in Math and Computer
science from my home country), especially computer graphics. I am willing to
take up this past hobby of mine and will try forge it into a career in
computer programming. But I have a few questions in the back of my
mind ...

I will most probably graduate two years from now with  a Ph.D in Math
and I will look to take a lot of computer graphics classes to try to
increase my knowledge and credibility in the subject of computer
graphics. I have no doubt that I can master this area of study since
this is something that I actually like and I have prior undergrad
level experience with it. My GPA in case of both Undergrad(from
my home country) and Graduate(from US school) studies is 4.0 and it will probably
stay close to that.

My problem is that summer internships are out of the question in my
case, since my department(mathematics) will likely not approve
anything that has nothing to do with my thesis topic, and this would
be required to maintain my visa status.

So two years from now, if everything goes well, I will hold a Ph.D in
math(Differential geometry) and I would have taken a lot of graduate
level computer graphics programming courses, without any internships
or other work related experience to my name.

Given this situation, do you think that after graduation computer
science companies will give me a chance to work for them?

Do you think employers will consider me overqualified with my Ph.D for
entry level programming jobs?

As strange as it sounds, do you think employers will consider me
under-qualified given that I will have no prior CS work experience and
a BS in computer science from a foreign country?

What advice can you give me to increase my credibility/knowledge in the field?

I don't have anyone around me that made this kind of career switch. I would appreciate any kind of advice. Any chunk of information is highly appreciated ...

Thanks a lot,
a graduate student.
Career switch to computer graphics programming
===

I am student looking for good advice. I appologize if this post is slightly off topic in this forum, but I figure that some of the knowledgable folks in computer graphics know the answers to my disperate questions.

Right now I am a graduate student originally from Eastern Europe studying
mathematics(differential geometry) at a well respected university from the Midwest. My
research has not much to do with computer science. 

Although I love
mathematics, I have come to understand that the academia is NOT what I
thought it would be and now I am looking for different career options
after graduation. Since I am a fourth year graduate student, changing
research topic at this point is out of the question unfortunately.

I have always liked computer science (I have a BS in Math and Computer
science from my home country), especially computer graphics. I am willing to
take up this past hobby of mine and will try forge it into a career in
computer programming. But I have a few questions in the back of my
mind ...

I will most probably graduate two years from now with  a Ph.D in Math
and I will look to take a lot of computer graphics classes to try to
increase my knowledge and credibility in the subject of computer
graphics. I have no doubt that I can master this area of study since
this is something that I actually like and I have prior undergrad
level experience with it. My GPA in case of both Undergrad(from
my home country) and Graduate(from US school) studies is 4.0 and it will probably
stay close to that.

My problem is that summer internships are out of the question in my
case, since my department(mathematics) will likely not approve
anything that has nothing to do with my thesis topic, and this would
be required to maintain my visa status.

So two years from now, if everything goes well, I will hold a Ph.D in
math(Differential geometry) and I would have taken a lot of graduate
level computer graphics programming courses, without any internships
or other work related experience to my name.

Given this situation, do you think that after graduation computer
science companies will give me a chance to work for them?

Do you think employers will consider me overqualified with my Ph.D for
entry level programming jobs?

As strange as it sounds, do you think employers will consider me
under-qualified given that I will have no prior CS work experience and
a BS in computer science from a foreign country?

What advice can you give me to increase my credibility/knowledge in the field?

I don't have anyone around me that made this kind of career switch. I would appreciate any kind of advice. Any chunk of information is highly appreciated ...

Thanks a lot,
a graduate student.