There are no special rules for students.

Interline agreement does not necessarily trump individual airlines rules. Baggage has become an important source of revenue, some airlines say, that the rules that apply to the entire journey is the intersection of two sets of rules. In other words, most restrictive rules apply.
However, YMMV.

Welcome to the U.S. in advance.
IOf you have n ot bought your ticket, consider buying a ticket on an airline that can fly you to ATL, say delta, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways, Korean Air or Air Canada.