The University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) welcomed nearly 200 high school students and parents on December 6 for Discover the U, an immersive academic exploration program designed to showcase the learning environment shared by both the Asia Campus and the University of Utah’s home campus in Salt Lake City. Held just weeks after Korea’s national college entrance exam, the event drew significant interest from students preparing to make key decisions about their future studies.

Throughout the day, visitors moved through classrooms, studios, and laboratories as faculty members led hands-on sessions across a wide range of academic fields. Students participated in introductory classes in Accounting, Communication, Computer & Electrical Engineering, Film & Media Arts, Games, Information Systems, Psychology, and Urban Ecology experiencing firsthand the instructional approach and academic culture that define the University of Utah.

For many students, the event offered long-awaited clarity.

Hyunsoo Park, a rising senior preparing for next year’s college entrance exam, had been torn between two majors for months.

I’ve been unsure whether to pursue Information Systems or Computer & Electrical Engineering. Taking both sample lectures on the same day helped me understand the differences in a way descriptions never could. It eased a lot of the uncertainty I had.”

Parents echoed the value of this direct exposure. Hyunsoo’s mother shared how meaningful the day felt from a parent’s perspective:

There aren’t many places where high school students can experience university systems and majors this directly. It’s significant that UAC is offering this kind of access in the region, and the expanded scale of this year’s event made it even more rewarding.”

For others, the sessions bridged personal interests with broader academic ambitions.
Jiyeon Choi, another participant, came with a particular curiosity about UAC’s programs in film, animation, and games. She was initially drawn to the University of Utah after learning that Pixar co-founder and former Disney Animation Studios president Edwin Catmull is a U alum.

I wanted to see how the Asia Campus connects with the home campus and what kinds of global opportunities—like internships—students can access. Today’s Discover the U event helped me understand the process of studying in the U.S. and preparing for an international career much more clearly.”

UAC’s admissions team considers Discover the U an essential program for students exploring academic pathways and global education options.

We hope the event provided practical, realistic insight for students and families considering study-abroad pathways. We plan to continue expanding experiential programs that support students in their career exploration.”

said Brian Byun, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Marketing.