Lakeland Preparatory School is putting the future front and center this week as it hosts College App Week, September 14–18, giving members of the Class of 2027 a focused opportunity to begin turning post-graduation plans into action.
The week is designed to encourage students to explore a broad range of options beyond traditional four-year universities. Activities will highlight colleges and universities, technical and trade schools, scholarships, the Tennessee Promise program and military opportunities.
Each day will focus on a different step in the college and career planning process.
Monday – Map Out a Plan: Students will be encouraged to research colleges and technical schools and attend Memphis Area College Night from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Memphis Sports & Event Center.
Tuesday – TN Promise: Seniors will have an opportunity to work on completing the Tennessee Promise scholarship application, which provides an important pathway for Tennessee students pursuing eligible postsecondary programs.
Wednesday – Where Are You Going?: Students will shift from research to action by submitting at least one college application, requesting transcripts and preparing ACT scores for schools that require or accept them.
Thursday – Think It Through: LPS will host its College Fair from 1–2:45 p.m., allowing students to speak directly with college admissions representatives. Participating schools include the University of Tennessee, University of Memphis, University of Alabama, Auburn University, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Belmont University and Harding University, among others. Representatives from the military, technical schools and employers will also be available.
Friday – Finish Strong: Students will be encouraged to finalize their college lists and create a calendar tracking important admission and scholarship deadlines.
Courtney Bittick, LPS’s 12th Grade and College & Career Counselor, said the week is intended to make the process of planning for life after high school more manageable while encouraging students to consider all of their options.
“The state of Tennessee recognizes September as College Application & Exploration month. The purpose of LPS’s College App Week is to encourage students to explore all post-secondary options, to promote application completion for admissions and scholarships, and to give focused attention to their future plans,” Bittick said.
She added that the college and career planning process can be stressful for seniors and their families.
“Preparing for life after high school can be stressful, so my hope is that the dedicated daily attention and recommended tasks will help students make progress towards achieving their post-secondary goals,” Bittick said.
For Lakeland Preparatory School seniors, College App Week emphasizes that deciding what comes next is not a single decision. It is a process that involves researching opportunities, asking questions, meeting with representatives and ultimately turning those plans into applications.
For the Class of 2027, this week’s activities are designed to help make that process a little more focused—and help students take the next step toward life after high school.
