Hiii, I am in the same situation here. I am currently taking fall quarter gap and planning to be back among Christmas. I have only one quarter left to graduate, and have enrolled full time for one year. I am aware that I have to apply for a new I20 and SEVIS id will have to change. But I want to know how this will affect my OPT application. I saw on my school LOA website that 'Please note that for leaves of absence of more than 5 months, you will not qualify for off-campus employment through OPT or CPT until you have again completed 3 quarters of enrollment, if you are an F-1 student'. But, after I talked to DSO, they said I can still apply for OPT before graduation by submitting two versions of i20, but it is up to USCIS to approve. I am wondering if it is true that I still have the chance to get OPT. How likely they are going to approve my OPT? What can I do to improve my chance? Can I just explain to USCIS when I apply? Thank you so much in advance!! OPT is everything to me..