Sept. 12, 2025
Starting college can be intimidating. The Bridges to College-Raider Ready Program helps recent high school graduates planning to attend Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) get acquainted with college life. This free, nine-week summer program provides valuable insights before students officially begin their college career.
Getting a Head Start
Bella Sampedro, a graduate from City High School in Grand Rapids, completed the program this summer.
“I heard about the Bridges program during orientation,” Sampedro said. “They mentioned we could get $500 on our RaiderCard and earn up to six credits. I hadn’t been in any college classes yet, so I might as well find out what this is all about.”
Sampedro felt confident she was prepared for the next step, but she gained more than she expected.
“I was pretty confident I knew everything I needed to get started, but it sounded like a fun opportunity to get plugged in,” Sampedro said. “I was always on the GRCC website researching what I could, but the program helped broaden my horizons. It revealed just how many resources were really available to us. I’m so glad I was a part of this.”
Inside the Classroom
This summer, students in the program took a math or theater class as well as a College Learning Studies course. The in-person classes give students a chance to gain experience in a college classroom setting.
“It felt like a shift from being in class during high school,” Sampedro said. “The teachers dove right into the content. It’s very self-motivated and feels like you get more autonomy in your learning. The CLS100 class taught us how to accommodate our learning styles in ways that would be beneficial to us. I am starting in the nursing program with the plan to transfer to the University of Michigan, so it felt good to get an idea of how to prepare myself for college learning before I officially get started.”
Exploring Resources
The program also introduces students to GRCC resources with presentations on how to apply for financial aid and scavenger hunts to explore campus.
“We had several presentations that were really helpful,” said Sampedro. “Bank of America came in to talk to us and we were able to speak with them directly to ask questions about our finances. The scavenger hunts helped us become familiar with all the campuses which helped me feel more comfortable. I found really neat places to study on campus. Plus, I still felt like I had my summer. The obligation is very reasonable and I was done early in the day. I know I keep saying this, but I learned just how many resources we have at our fingertips.”
Sampedro’s journey in the Bridges to College program provided her with a stronger understanding of all GRCC has to offer. And, the program also helped her make new connections.
“I met this fantastic group of people,” she said. “We made a group chat and talked about hanging out throughout the year. The program helped me feel connected before even getting started.”
Students also had opportunities to take several field trips to Craig's Cruisers, the John Ball Zoo, Celebration Cinema downtown and Michigan’s Adventure. Other perks included free breakfast, lunches during the field trips and bus cards for transportation.
Sampedro’s experience in the Bridges to College program gave her a stronger understanding of what GRCC has to offer as well as confidence for the transition ahead.
Learn more about the Bridges to College-Raider Ready program
This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell.