STEM OPT ending soon — questions about Day 1 CPT timing & university location

Hey everyone,

My STEM OPT is ending in June, and I’m exploring Day 1 CPT options. I had a couple of questions and would really appreciate insights from people who’ve gone through this:

1. Is it okay to choose a semester start date that begins after my STEM OPT expires? Is there any risk if there’s a gap between OPT end date and CPT start?

2. Do I need to enroll in a university located in the same state where I work (I’m currently in Texas), or can I attend a university in a different state while working full-time?

3. I am considering Westclifff, Texas Wesleyan and Concordia. Any idea if these unis are good to avoid RFE?

Would love to hear your experiences, especially around compliance, risks, or anything to watch out for.

Thanks in advance! 🙏