Its also noteable that the 20 thousand master's or higher earned degrees may have been filled up in the 150,000 petitions received till April 2nd afternoon. Still they are in limbo. STUDENTS PLANNING TO GRADUATE WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE THIS FALL OR SUMMER MIGHT BE SAFER IF THEY START THEIR OPT BY OCTOBER 1. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO APPLY FOR NEXT YEAR WHILE WORKING SAFELY TILL SEPTEMBER 30.