Before INS making decision,your are legal,if your F1 was denied,if you still stay in USA more 6 months you'll be forbiden to enter USA for 3 years,if you stay in USA more than 1 year,you,ll be forbiden to enter USA for 10 years.If INS refuse your F1,I think you'd better go back to China to apply F1 visa,it's much better than changing status in USA,you may get one year multip visa & freely travel between USA & China.