Hey everyone—
We spend so much time trying to avoid shady programs, confusing policies, and visa landmines… I figured I’d flip the script.
Which Day 1 CPT schools or setups have actually worked for you?
Like—real academic value, clear structure, DSOs who know what they’re doing, and not constantly fearing a knock from ICE 
Not looking for promotions—just honest, real-student feedback. Let’s help each other cut through the noise.
— Jill
Totally feel you — it’s hard to find schools that don’t feel sketchy or robotic.
For me, westcliff actually turned out okay.
• Classes were real (not just filler),
• Professors were responsive,
• And the DSO actually explained things clearly — like CPT timelines, reporting, and travel rules.
Still had to stay on top of documents and keep my employment aligned with the degree, but I never felt like I was “hiding” anything.
Wouldn’t say it’s perfect, but compared to some horror stories I’ve heard, it felt stable.
Have you travelled internationally? How was the experience?