First "don't give up hope, talk with everyone, ask for suggestion, request-beg for excuse for your mistake" IF NOTHING WORKS, don't get "PANIC" "WEL COME TO LAND OF OPPERTUNITY, LIBERTY" 1. don't think that when you go out of status and when they will give deportation notice-they will hand cuff you and take you to airport-WRONG. they will give only notice, it is upto you whether you want to leave the country or not. there are hunderd of thousand of illegal aliens who came here with different means (coming in F1 is most prestigious) and now they are having PR/citizen. laws are changing every day, it is not only you who is facing such a dilemma. there are many brother/sis/frens with the same row and who knows there might be some luck coming up around the corner. 2. don't think that "LIFE IS DONE". You still have all previlages like attending college, driving, renting etc etc. Go to big cities like NY, Maime, Chicago, LosAng etc. you won't see any difference being out of status or in status. 3. last but not least: Always remember that this is a "LAND OF IMMIGRANT". Long back George Bushs'/Bill Clintions/etc etc ancestor also came from foreign country. He is also an immigrant. this is just my view pokharily