Over 100 seniors at Dixie High School had the opportunity to attend a tour of the local college in St. George UT, Dixie State University on the morning of Sept. 28.

Mrs. Angela Atkinson, one of the Counselors at (DHS) who attended the tour said “just under 130 students attended, which is about a 3rd of the graduating seniors’ class. Not as many as we hoped but, there was a pretty good chunk of students that were there.”

Some seniors who went on this tour aren’t planning to go to Dixie State University (DSU) or even college in general.

However, for many of them, this tour influenced eye openings and gave them a better understanding of college and how it could be for them, as well as, learning about the different kinds of career pathways DSU and other colleges had to offer, including careers that they might want to pursue, requirements for certain scholarships, with different kinds they offer.

They talked about how seniors might be worried about going to college because of price, or because their classes could be boring and might cause them to lose focus on their grades.

But, that is not a problem if they go to DSU. Notwithstanding, it’s one of the cheapest and most affordable colleges in the state of Utah. It also has a 100% acceptance rate meaning they accept everyone that applies.

They offer many extracurricular activities that can help students improve their GPA. Many of these extracurriculars involve the amazing landscape surrounding the southern Utah area such as hiking, rock climbing, biking, and so much more.

These actives can also improve students’ emotional and mental health. College may not be for everyone but it’s a great way to start a career and grow towards life goals, leaders said.

DHS senior, Darrell Zamacona, was looking forward to going to DSU because of the programs they offered there, he said.

“I want to be a dentist, so I’m looking at Dixie State’s Pre-Dental Program, and I’m looking more at how good the program is and if it’s the right fit for me,” he said.

DSU’s programs cover everything from history to medicine, the website shows. The average classroom size is about 23, which allows a more interactive and hands-on learning experience.

Overall, many of Dixie High’s seniors had a positive experience during the tour, they told the Flyer Flash.

The deadline to apply to DSU is March 1.