On November 7, students from seven Atlanta and two DeKalb County high schools will get a taste of college life by shadowing volunteer college students for a day at area universities. The "A Day in the Life" events on the campuses of Clark Atlanta, Emory, Georgia State and Georgia Tech gives students a chance to visit a college campus, experience a class and get answers about college.

"While being exposed to the campus atmosphere, these high school students can learn just how their hard work in school can pay off with well-earned success in the real world," said Christopher Olinde, Georgia Tech sophomore.

The four research institutions comprise the Atlanta Outreach Consortium (AOC) -- an effort to pool the universities' community outreach resources in metropolitan Atlanta area. Last year was the first year for the "A Day in the Life Program" and involved about 230 students from eight high schools. This year AOC anticipates 320 students from nine high schools will visit the university campuses. Also new this year, the host universities will follow-up with the participating high school students and track their progress, graduation rates and whether they go to college.

"When students can see themselves on a college campus, in a college classroom, and enjoying college life, they reach for higher goals. The Atlanta Outreach Consortium is helping Atlanta Public Schools' students dream bigger and work harder for a college career after high school," said Dr. Beverly Hall, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools.

The sophomore high school students, who would not otherwise get a glimpse of college life, will shadow volunteer college students on each campus on Friday, November 7. Clark Atlanta will host 10th graders from Douglass and Washington High schools; Emory will partner with Druid Hills and Clarkston High schools; Georgia State will sponsor Carver, Crim and Southside High schools; and Georgia Tech has adopted Grady, Mays and Southside High schools.

"I found the experience useful, especially going to a college class and lab. I got to meet cool college students and to walk the campus like I was one of them," said a Southside High student who participated in the 2002 program.

Each school plans to have a keynote speaker for the students. At Georgia Tech, radio personality Porsche Foxx of V103 radio will provide the highlight of the day when she speaks to the students at 12:15 p.m. Emory plans to have the Rev. Bridgette Young, associate dean of the Chapel and Religious Life speak to the students.

"'A Day in the Life' is an important experience for high school students as well as our students from CAU. This program gives going to college a 'face' and is designed to make it both personal and possible," said Dr. Collette Hopkins, associate director for partnerships at the Research Center for Science and Technology at Clark Atlanta University.

The AOC, formed in 2000, is composed of outreach professionals, public policy faculty and the presidents of each university. This year's program is sponsored in part by Publix, Johnson Controls, Krispy Kreme, and Arby's.

For specific information about the AOC or "A Day in the Life" events, please contact:

Clark Atlanta University
Darius Jones
(404) 880-8357

Emory University
Jacquelyn Anthony
(404) 727-5166

Georgia Institute of Technology
Andrea Ashmore
(404) 894-5189

Georgia State University
Linda Calloway
(404) 651-3545