Continuous and never-ending deadlines might be driving you mad this semester. This goes along with a bottomless pit of finals to study that you desperately need to pass to transfer. 

It piles on, leaving everything to the last minute trying to catch up on college applications, seeking for letter recommendations, and completing FAFSA. Who has the time to manage all of this? But we still manage somehow. To get through this invigorating process here are the most important deadlines to put on your do to list. 

Make an Appointment With a Counselor

 The Counseling Center located in the Student Services building is offering express counseling for students. This is the best time to find out if you’re on track on your degree plan, missing classes, or other inquiries. 

Expect wait times from 30 minutes to an hour. Rio Hondo College counselors are working efficiently and their best to help every student. Be patient.  

Cal State and UC Applications

If your plan is to transfer to a California State University or in a University of California, you’re in luck. The transfer center is holding an application workshop to help you complete your application and verify all your information is correct. 

Bring an unofficial copy of your college transcripts from the schools you’ve attended. You might be there for a while so plan ahead of time and get there as early as you can. 

Assistance with private college applications will not be excluded and the transfer center is always willing to help. 

Lastly, Workshops will open Nov. 26-29 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Nov. 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Workshops will be available on campus in rooms SS250 or SS350. 

Deadline for Cal State applications is November 30th.

FAFSA Deadlines

As a college student, we should scrap every bit of cash we can get. Although FAFSA filing is now open, there are other dates to take note of. 

•The state deadline for priority is March 2, 2019

•Submissions for Cal Grants are due Sept. 2, 2019

•Federal deadline is June 30, 2020 (Last Call)

•Deadline for Corrections and updates on your FAFSA is Sept. 12, 2020.

Noncitizens can still apply for Financial Aid without a Social Security card. Fill out the California Dream Act Application found at caldreamact.org. You do not need to fill out a FAFSA form to be eligible for California student financial aid. 

Follow Your School on Social Media

Following your future school’s account on Twitter and Instagram will help you keep track of updates, housing applications dates, and more.  Additionally, you should check your email regularly if your school needs additional documents for you to submit.

Letter Recommendations

Time, patience, and hope is the best advice I can give when seeking letter recommendations. Especially given the least amount of time to build a relationship with a professor, but there will be someone out there to give you a helping hand. Once you’ve found someone, give your recommender enough time to write your letter. Provide them with all the details and accommodate what date works best for them to work on your letter. 

Lastly, send them an email reminder a week or two in advance when the deadline is to submit your college application. 

Petition for Associate Degree for Transfer

The deadline to file a petition for an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) is Friday, November 30, 2018. Your Petition for Degree and any supporting documents must be received by this date. 

Incomplete petitions will not be evaluated. Visit a counselor at the beginning of next semester if you are earning a degree for transfer in Spring. 

There is a lot to consume, so keep your deadlines organized in your planner or your phone’s notes. 

Post sticky notes all over your wall if you have to. Now that you have that out of the way, hopefully, your mind will be at ease for the remaining of the semester.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Nov.27 print edition. Email Erika Suarez at [email protected].