I have a master’s degree in Computer Science and have already used up my OPT at the master’s level. Now, I’m debating whether to pursue a second master’s or go straight into a PhD program.
Has anyone gone through a PhD CPT program and successfully applied for OPT afterward?
Would love to hear your experiences!
Yeah, I’ve seen a few people go the PhD route after using up Master’s OPT. You can get CPT during the PhD (usually after the first year), and you’ll be eligible for a fresh round of OPT once you complete the PhD — since it’s a higher degree level.
Just make sure the school’s PhD program is legit and SEVP-certified. And if you’re thinking CPT from Day 1, that gets a little trickier and may raise flags later.
that means you need to work ft on cpt less than 12 months, dba program usually lasts 3-5 years meaning you can work up to five years, while opt is three years at most and I dont think any of the DBA are stem as I’m researching DBA programs as a backup as well. So i think its better off doing cpt and let go opt