It is never too early to start thinking about college and the College for a Day program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is hoping to start that process with students before they even enter high school.

About 200 Pre-AP 8th grade students from Driscoll Middle School in Corpus Christi, Memorial Middle School in Kingsville and Falfurrias Junior High School will spend the day learning the ropes of college life during the College for a Day program, Wednesday, Jan. 27, at A&M-Kingsville.

College for a Day provides students the opportunity to observe college classes, meet with professors, students and staff and discover the value of higher education. Classes will cover Pre-AP course subject matter including, English, math, history and science.

Students will arrive on campus at 8 a.m. and after orientation at the Memorial Student Union Building, will venture out onto campus to their assigned class.

“We are trying to partner with middle school students to help them see the importance of studying hard and going to college,” said V. Betti Tanner, founder and director of the College for a Day program.

For 6 years College for a Day has brought more than 3,500 AP students from across the area to the campus of A&M-Kingsville. This year’s program is part of the GEAR UP program—a Texas Education Agency grant that links the university to six area middle schools and seeks to encourage low income students to pursue higher education, said Dr. Warren Miller, assistant professor with the A&MKingsville Department of Curriculum and Instruction and director of the A&MKingsville director of the GEAR UP grant. The Jan. 27 College for a Day is one of two Gear-Up seminars this semester.

College for a Day began as joint effort between A&MKingsville faculty and area AP faculty and students and is now open to qualified Pre-AP 8th grade students. The next College for a Day seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24. Deadline to register is March 10.

More information on College for a Day is available at http://my.tamuk.edu/cfad/ index.htm.