Start the College Exploration Process Online

College exploration can be a daunting task. If you have not yet started the search process, now is the perfect time! Many websites help bring that college exploration to your fingertips. Here are a few sites that hopefully ease the process a bit.

U.S. News and World Report - Great starting spot for exploration process. Well known for their college rankings, U.S. News has great information about college. New rankings came out TODAY! Check them out at www.usnews.com/education.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) - We highlight ISAC in the college links on the right side of the blog because of what a great resource it is for students and parents. Contains a ton of information with regard to financial aid and scholarships. Descriptions of different loans and grants available to students. There is also help available for filling out FAFSA. www.isac.org.

Big Future by The College Board - This website is so jam packed with information that you could spend days and days looking at valuable info. Categories include: Finding Colleges, Exploring Colleges, Paying for College, and Getting In. www.bigfuture.org.

Becoming a Teacher? Check This Out!

The Golden Apple Scholars teacher preparation and tuition assistance program is now accepting applications for the Class of 2027! Priority deadline is December 1st.

Golden Apple Scholars Receive:

• Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance for college
• Extensive classroom teaching experience
• Instruction from award-winning educators and expert partners
• Academic and social-emotional support
• Job placement assistance
• Mentoring in first year of teaching

Click Here for Golden Apple Application and Info

ISAC Financial Aid Night Recap

Thank you to all parents who joined us for our annual Financial Aid Night on Tuesday. We do not currently have a PDF of the presentation, but we do have last year's. The link is below, and while the dollar amounts may be different, the information is still solid.

ISAC Financial Aid Presentation

Also, ISAC offers many programs and grants available to Illinois students that help cover the cost of, or cover all of, tuition for different circumstances (FREE MONEY!!). Explanation include the following programs:

• MAP Grant
• IL Veteran Grant
• IL National Guard Grant
• Nursing Education Scholarship
• Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver
• IL Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
• and more!

Click here to learn more

FAFSA Help

The FAFSA can, on the surface, feel overwhelming. This website from Sallie Mae does an excellent job of walking parents and students through the process step by step. The FAFSA opens on October 1.

Sallie Mae step-by-step guide
FAFSA Website

NCAA Eligibility Center Information

Interested in playing collegiate athletics? Make sure you know what steps to take to qualify! Click below to access the NCAA Eligibility Center to answer all your NCAA questions.

This website is full of timelines, resources, differences between the different divisions, course requirements, and so much more. If you are interested in playing DI, DII, or DIII athletics, this is DEFINITELY worth a look.

NCAA Eligibility Center

How to Manage the Stress of College Admission

Good video for parents of seniors to watch. College acceptance or rejection time can be a period of high stress for families so author Jennifer Wallace joins TODAY to share how families can navigate the extreme pressure high schoolers feel today.

🎓 Shape Your Future Week Is Coming—Are You Ready?

Shape Your Future Week is back again!

From September 28th to October 9th, over 20 schools will be visiting our campus, ready to meet with students, answer questions, and share what makes their programs stand out. And guess what? It’s not just four-year universities! You’ll also have the chance to connect with:

• Illinois Central College (ICC)
• Midwest Technical Institute (MTI)
• OSF College of Nursing
• Methodist College of Nursing

Whether you're dreaming of a traditional university experience or exploring career-focused programs in healthcare, beauty, or technical trades—this is your moment to discover what’s out there.

For Students:

• Chat one-on-one with real admission reps
• Ask about majors, campus life, scholarships, and career paths
• Get a feel for each school’s vibe and offerings
• Start building connections that could shape your future

You can sign up to meet with up to five schools—so choose wisely!

👉 Sign up now and start shaping your future.

For Parents:

Encourage your student to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. These meetings can spark new ideas, clarify goals, and even ease some of the stress around post-high school planning. Your support makes a huge difference.

2026-27 Off to College Guide

All seniors received this year's Off to College Guide at the senior meeting this morning. The guide is packed information such as: timelines, factors to consider, college open houses, keys to the process, important website links, and steps to writing a great essay.

Stop by Student Services to pick up your guide if you were unable to make it.

The guide can be accessed by clicking this link.

To see the presentation slides only, click here. To hear a voiceover of the presentation, click here.

Calling All Future Teachers!

🌟 Inspire the Next Generation! 🌟 Spend the day at WIU for Future Teachers Visit Day! Discover the rewarding path of shaping young minds and making a lasting impact. Meet passionate educators, explore WIU's innovative teaching programs, and get a glimpse into your future classroom. The event is held on October 23rd from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Participants will be provided with a t-shirt, WIU swag, and lunch. Click this link to register!

Methodist College Open House

Methodist College will be hosting two fall Open Houses on Thursday, September 10th and Wednesday, October 7th from 3-5 PM both dates for any prospective students and guests. While there, you will be able to tour facilities, meet with current faculty and staff, learn about all academic programs available, and learn about tuition-free options.

Click this link to RSVP and learn more.

Service Academy Night

Congressman Darin LaHood is hosting a Service Academy Night on October 6, 2026 beginning at 5:30 PM at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, IL. If you are considering any of the 5 service academies, this is a meeting you will NOT want to miss! RSVP required by September 22nd (necessary for base access). Click on this link for more information and this link to RSVP.

💰 $500 Up For Grabs to an IVC Student 💰

One IVC student will walk away with $500 in this year's Voice of Democracy Contest sponsored by our
local VFW. Students need to create a 3-5 minute oral essay. The competition is open to all IVC students. The winning submission from IVC will move on to the state competition.

 
Topic: What a Veteran Taught Me About America
Grades: 9-12
Top Prize: $500
Second Prize: $200
Due Date: October 31st
For more details: Entry forms may be picked up from any counselor, English teacher or social studies teacher.

Basically students will need to write an essay and then turn it to an audio file. It is actually quite simple. You will need to create an account through Scholar's App and complete the application. Click this link for the application.

Shape Your Future Week - Coming Soon!

 

Parent Workshops - Fall 2026

 

JUNIORS: PSAT/NMSQT Sign-Ups Happening Now

What: PSAT/NMSQT Test

Who: Open to any junior

When: October 26th

The PSAT/NMSQT is a great way to preview and practice for the SAT and other standardized tests. When you get your test results, connect your College Board and Khan Academy® accounts to get free personalized SAT study recommendations. In addition, when you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you’re automatically screened for the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.

There are only 20 spots available. Deadline to register is September 21st. You can sign up with Ms. Welch in the counseling office. The test will cost $20.00. Checks can be made out to IVC. Payment must be received before test day. We will test on October 26th at 8:00 am.

Discover Illinois Colleges with No Application Fee

Applying to college can be an exciting yet daunting process, especially when considering the costs involved. Fortunately, many colleges in Illinois are making it easier for prospective students by waiving application fees. Here is a current list of Illinois colleges that do not charge an application fee, helping you save money while exploring your educational options.

Augustana College
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Greenville College
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Knox College

Loyola University Chicago
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College

North Central College
Northern Illinois University

Quincy University
Rockford University
University of IL - Springfield

Wheaton College

This is not an exhaustive list. For more colleges including ones outside of Illinois, visit Common App's explore tool.

College Board's BigFuture College Search

Struggling to find a college that is right for you?

College Board's College Search can help! On here, you can narrow down choices based on size of school, location, majors offered, 2 year or 4 year, campus life, and much more! This is a great starting spot for any student who is at a loss for where to begin. Click below to start searching!

College Board College Search

Linking Common App to Naviance

If you are a senior using the Common App, you will need to link your account to Naviance for us to send all Counselor Documents as well as Teacher Recommendations. Below are the steps to link the two:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
    *If you do not know the password, you can log in using Clever.*
2. Click on COLLEGES --> COLLEGES I'M APPLYING TO.
3. Click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
4. Enter your Common App Email address and click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
5. You are done :)

Stop by the Student Services office with any questions.

SENIORS: What is Parchment?

Parchment is the electronic transcript site that makes sending transcripts simple. It is completely free for all students currently in high school. The best part...it takes about 2 minutes to go on the site and request a transcript. The counselors then click an approve button and the colleges have the transcript. It is the only way that transcripts will be sent to colleges, universities, NCAA, etc.

Reminder to seniors: You must register using the email that was sent to your school email from Parchment. Registration takes about 5-10 minutes but will only need to be done once. After you are registered, ordering transcripts couldn't be simpler.

Note to Parents: The student must sign up for Parchment using the link to his/her school email address. Any accounts using other email addresses will not work because the account will not be properly linked to our school. Please encourage the students to set up the account as soon as possible. It is the only way transcripts will be sent.

Get Involved!! What does IVC have to offer?

🎉Want to actually enjoy high school? Get involved. Seriously. Science says it works. Whether
you're into touchdowns, trombones, theater, or tech, there's something here with your name on it.

This guide gives you the inside scoop on most of the sports, clubs, and activities our school offers—aka your gateway to fun, friends, and finding your thing.

❓ Got questions? Wondering if there's a club for underwater basket weaving or competitive kazoo? Hit up your counselor. They're basically your personal GPS for extracurricular awesomeness.

👉 Click here to explore Sports, Clubs, and Activities – Your future favorite thing might be one click away.

WE ARE BACK!!

Life gets busy - we get it! After a hiatus in the spring, we are relaunching our blog to keep you informed of all of the happenings in the IVC Guidance office. Check back here regularly for information on colleges, careers, scholarships, and so much more. We are excited for an awesome 2026-27!

Local Scholarships Announced

The counselors met with the senior class this morning to present all of the local scholarships available to the students for the 2025-26 school year. All scholarship applications will be due on April 7th. No late applications will be accepted.

Any student who was not in attendance is encouraged to take a look at the presentation by clicking here and stopping by the counseling office to pick up the scholarship list.

All scholarships must be accessed through Naviance. Students can log in to Naviance using Clever.  The list of scholarships can be found by clicking here or the link in the Scholarships Section to the right. All scholarships must be filled out by the students using their email accounts.

A How-to-Guide to Freshman Registration

Planning a schedule for freshman year can be quite an intimidating process. Hopefully this blog post will help students and parents through the process. Registration sheets are due by Tuesday, February 19th to the student's grade school main office. Class selection should also be inputted into TeacherEase before Monday (for those students with access to TeacherEase.)

The front side of the registration sheet is the demographic portion. It is important that it be filled out completely since the information will be entered into the computer system.

Please click below for further instructions...

Ready to Work Expo

 

Ready to Work Expo

February 20 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Ready to Work Expo is an open-house-style event designed for prospective students who want to explore hands-on career pathways at ICC. Attendees can experience equipment demonstrations, tour high-tech labs and classrooms, connect with faculty, and speak with industry professionals.

This event highlights a wide range of programs focused on preparing students for high-demand, higher-wage careers while providing clear next steps toward enrollment.

Details

Date: February 20

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Venue:

East Peoria Campus, Agriculture & Industrial Technology Building

1 College Drive

East Peoria, IL 

MTI Scholarship Information

If you are a senior planning on attending MTI in the fall, you do not want to miss this opportunity! Check out the flyer here for more information on MTI scholarships for Fall 2026. There is no GPA qualification - all students attending this fall are eligible. The biggest criteria is your passion for higher education and learning. Please contact Megan Krowlek at mkrowlek@midwesttech.edu with any questions. Deadline to apply is March 20th.

Scheduling 101

 The Scheduling 101 presentation at IVC High School provided parents with an overview of the scheduling process. Key points included:

• Sequencing of Classes: Core subjects like English, Math, Science, and Social Studies were discussed, along with academic pathways and prerequisites for advanced courses.
• Graduation Requirements:  Detailed information on credit requirements, mandatory courses, and standardized tests needed for graduation was provided.
• Electives Offered: A wide variety of electives, special programs like AP courses and Dual Enrollment, and extracurricular opportunities were highlighted.

Parents were encouraged to engage with their children’s academic planning and use school resources to ensure a successful high school experience.

Click Here For Presentation

🎉 Shape Your Future Week Success! 🎉

Shape Your Future Week was an absolute hit! We had a fantastic turnout with 23 colleges and schools visiting IVC, and our juniors and seniors took full advantage of the opportunity. A whopping 88 students attended at least one college visit, totaling an impressive 233 students at the presentations. On average, each college session had 10 eager minds ready to learn about their future possibilities. 

The top crowd-pullers?

ICC
Illinois State
U of I - Urbana/Champaign

Iowa
Bradley

SIU-C
Iowa State
St. Ambrose 

Mizzou

Thanks to everyone who made this week such a success!

How to Earn College Credit Now

 Last night the Counseling Department met with interested students and parents about how to earn college credit as a high school student. If you would like to check out the presentation, CLICK HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the counselors.

IVC Financial Aid Night Recap

Did you miss ISAC representative Jordyn Hanson discuss all things financial aid? Were you able to attend but still have more questions? We've got you covered! You are encouraged to email your counselor or Jordyn at Jordyn.Hanson@illinois.gov with any questions you have. You can also click this link to access a PDF of her presentation. 

Becoming a Teacher? Check This Out!

The Golden Apple Scholars teacher preparation and tuition assistance program is now accepting applications for the Class of 2026!

Golden Apple Scholars Receive:

• Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance for college
• Extensive classroom teaching experience
• Instruction from award-winning educators and expert partners
• Academic and social-emotional support
• Job placement assistance
• Mentoring in first year of teaching

Click Here for Golden Apple Application and Info