Get Set at IVCC

Ready? Then GET SET…!

Are you ready for college? If you are, great! If not, you are like a lot of other people who start at IVCC – nervous and doubtful, but hopeful that this will be the start of something life-changing.

Readiness for college isn’t just about academics. It’s about knowing college lingo, processes and resources, having the right technology skills, and knowing how to manage yourself, your time, and your tasks. And it’s about feeling a meaningful connection to people at the college.

What is Get Set?

Get Set is a short college-prep experience that introduces students to what they can expect when they come to IVCC. This program is designed for any student who feels they need to build their knowledge of how college works.  In the past, dual credit students, new high school graduates, and returning adults have all participated and benefitted from Get Set.  This proactive program gets students ready for college before it starts, so those who are beginning or re-launching their journey are ready on day one. The confidence, competence, and connection fostered in Get Set helps students succeed and gives them the tools to persist toward their goals.  

Get Set Will Help You…

  • Build college knowledge and connections to resources
  • Gain confidence with basic technology needed at IVCC
  • Assess your readiness for college and introduce you to academic and organizational strategies and skills to help you meet expectations
  • Develop new relationships
  • Learn skills and resources to help you thrive at college

What You Need to Know

First, this program is free. This is a service provided byThe Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity and IVCC to help you have the best experience while you are achieving your educational goals. We are happy to help you enhance your potential and offer this college-prep experience to you at no charge.

Second, the sessions are in-person only, and attendance both days is strongly required. We are going to be packing lots of valuable information into a short time.  Being here both days will help you forge new relationships and give you the best chance to have a solid start to your college experience.

Also, Get Set is intended to build ongoing support and relationships within the college, so participants can be paired with a mentor that they will meet with regularly throughout their first semester. Lifelong friendships have been cultivated from this experience.

Finally, as a Get Set participant, you get an exclusive advantage of being here on campus so you can learn where your classes are as well as other key locations like the bookstore, Academic Support Center, counseling offices, and other student-focused spaces.

Application Process

Apply Here to register for this program. This will open a Microsoft Form that you will fill out and submit to register for this year’s session.

Once that is done, you will be contacted by staff who will confirm your participation status and provide further details and instructions.

This year, the program will be on Tuesday, July 28th and Wednesday, July 29th from 9am-2pm. Again, attendance for participants is strongly encouraged, so please make sure you have transportation to and from here each day.  If you have transportation concerns, please reach out no later than July 1st so we can try to connect you to resources.  

Questions?

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this program. We are happy to help you in any way we can. You can message us by using the Contact Us link at the top of this page or connect with us via phone at 815-224-0634 or visit our office on the Oglesby campus in C-211.

Testimonials

Still undecided? Participants from past classes have said they would OVERWHELMINGLY recommend this program to others. Comments we’ve received include that Get Set:

  • … left them better prepared for college,
  • … helped them to maintain strong GPAs,
  • … gave them the confidence to enroll in the next semester,
  • … and helped them gain skills in college knowledge, academic strategies, time management, and coping strategies.

Here are some testimonials from previous graduates of the Get Set program who loved their experience with us…

"It definitely puts you in a good place for starting classes!"
Mikayla Davies | first-year adult student

"I wanted to get a better understanding of how to work with everything that would be new and get comfortable with being in a new building and a new setting. Get Set was 100% worthwhile! Having that one-on-one and being able to come into school with familiar faces makes the experience easier."
Katlynn Kolesar | first-year student

A Picture Says a Thousand Words…

Here are photos from previous Get Set events – join us and be part of the fun!