Students at Illinois Valley Community College are finding support and success through the Get Set bridge-to-college program, which has now helped over 70 participants. Designed to ease the transition from high school to college, the free program teaches essential skills like time management, note-taking, and campus resource navigation. Recent graduates say they left with increased confidence and technology know-how, while mentors guide them through their first semester. The next session runs from July 28 to August 1, with spots still available. Organizers emphasize that both new students and adults returning to school can benefit. Details and applications are at ivcc.edu/readysetgo/.
Building confidence and connection before school starts “really helps students on Day One of classes. They have practiced technology skills, they know who their helpers are, and they know a few strategies for attacking school tasks,” said Tina Hardy, who coordinates the program.
“I was not sure how things worked in college. I just knew it was different from high school,” Nehring remembers. “Get Set showed me all the resources the College had and how to be effective using certain important skills.” He was able to boost his note-taking skills, which helped a lot in class. Now, the Ottawa native looks forward to starting his sophomore year.
Hardy said time management and organization are not subjects taught in school, so “students sometimes need explicit instruction in how to think about their time, how to visualize it and then how to create routines that support using time effectively. That is what Get Set tries to do.”
“Connection matters. I have seen how the connections that start in Get Set lead to leadership roles in college, new friendships, and collaborations between staff and students. That connection can be life changing!” Hardy said.
