Bang for your buck: must-do things for students in the month of October

With Halloween around the corner, here is what students should look forward to in and around Valley Glen.

By Matthew Royer, Political News Editor

Plenty can be done in and around campus during the month of October. (Graphic Illustration by Matthew Royer/The Valley Star)

Fright, cheer, study.

October is here and so are midterms, but do not worry, there is still plenty to be excited about this upcoming month.

Get in the holiday spirit from your own car. On Oct. 9, go see a Tim Burton double-feature at the Lake Balboa Complex. My Valley Pass is screening 2012’s “Frankenweenie” and 1999’s “Sleepy Hollow” for a night of fun supporting the local community. Tickets start at $20 and are available to purchase online and at the gate.

If not a movie, go check out Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood for a fair share of scares on their holiday-specific rides and mazes.

October is also a great time to support the Valley College athletics programs.

Head to Monarch Stadium as Valley football hosts three home games this month, including two leading up to Oct 31. On back-to-back Saturdays, Valley will play host to Santa Barbara City on Oct. 23 and Moorpark on Oct. 30, as the Lester Towns coached Monarchs will look to take an edge in the ever-competitive Southern California Football Association.

While not walking distance from Valley’s campus, be sure to check out the newest museum Los Angeles has to offer. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wilshire Boulevard is now open to the public with displays, screenings and exhibits. The museum, which opened on Sept. 30, features the works of filmmakers Haile Gerima and Hayao Miyazaki during October, as well as hosting an educational event on Oct. 31 where Academy Award-winner Howard Berger will teach movie makeup and transformation in the world of spooky movies. Film students and movie aficionados alike should check this out.

Do not let these events make you forget about a very important deadline this month. FAFSA has opened this month for the 2022-2023 school year and is due by June 30. Whether staying put at Valley or looking to transfer, be sure to fill out the forms as soon as possible, because according to CNBC, “schools often distribute student aid funds on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date the students complete the financial aid application.”

If looking to transfer, look no further than the California State University applications which have opened this month. Apply to any of 23 campuses, including CSUN, which is only a few miles away. Do not sweat if you need any help, Valley’s Career and Transfer Center is here to assist any student with their transfer needs. On Oct. 7, Oct. 13, Oct. 19 and Oct. 28, the center will also host live CSU application workshops for anybody who needs that extra push.

Whether going to the movies, cheering on the Monarchs, seeing LA’s latest museum or getting educational, be sure to have a spooky but fun October.