The University of Utah is one of the most expensive universities in Utah. Housing in Salt Lake City is more expensive than in Provo, home to Brigham Young University. Yet, The U still manages to compete with BYU when it comes to attracting incoming students.
There is more to The U than not being an LDS-affiliated school in Utah. The U offers unique opportunities to its students that focus on their success in academics and personal lives.
BYU is nationally ranked higher than the U. However, there is much more to the college experience than the level of academic rigor. To make the most of their time in college, students must consider more than just an academic ranking when picking a university to attend.
School-Life Balance
Experiences outside of academics are emphasized heavily at The U. There are over six hundred different Recognized Student Organizations on campus. Whether it’s leadership in Student Government, academic growth through Debate, or shared interest clubs like The Melomaniacs, there’s something here for everyone.
In contrast, BYU only offers one hundred and eighty clubs. This is because BYU maintains high academic rigor.
While universities should have an emphasis on education, students at BYU find that it is nearly impossible to balance academics with extracurriculars. With fewer students having time to run clubs, the campus lacks student organizations.
“I think sometimes [BYU] assume[s] that you are exclusively a full-time student … I think people whose parents are paying for everything … [are] able to take a lot more advantage of the opportunities on campus.” said Paige Murphy, a student studying International Relations at BYU.
Involvement on campus is invaluable. It helps students create networks, get internships and experience more hands-on learning, all of which put them above their peers in terms of job opportunities post-graduation.
The U’s push for involvement on campus outside of academics creates opportunities for students to better secure their future. This factor is something students must consider when considering their future university.
Out of State Experience
Roughly 27% of The U’s students are from out of state, compared to 62% at BYU. It’s worth noting that 99% of BYU’s student body are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their student body largely shares similar beliefs, values and perspectives. Across the state itself, about 42% of Utah’s population identifies as LDS.
With such a large portion of Utah being LDS, in-state students attending BYU have a very similar experience to their predominantly Mormon hometowns. For some, this is the very reason they choose BYU. Yet, there are also Utahns who wish to experience different beliefs and more diverse experiences. With this being the case, they turn to The U, a non-religious affiliated public university.
The U offers a space where Utahns can experience an out-of-state feeling with an in-state price. 82% of students at The U receive financial aid. This allows students to escape student debt while seeking out these new experiences.
The atmosphere of a school is incredibly important to one’s future. It determines one’s peers, possible choices and opportunities. Knowing the difference between the atmosphere at BYU and The U is essential to students in making their college decisions.
Admissions Ease
BYU proves to be a nightmare for students who took AP or CE credits in high school. To receive credit for AP classes, most BYU courses require students to have received a four or higher. In addition, some students find that their CE credits don’t transfer to BYU.
This is because transfer credits must equate to the same level of credit hours, course level and seat time. Because of BYU’s more rigorous courses, they don’t consider credit from other universities as meeting their criteria.
At The U, most CE credits transfer, and only a three is required to receive AP credit for most Gen Ed courses. No one wants their hard work in high school to go to waste. This makes The U’s more relaxed transfer credit policy alluring to incoming students.
The U’s admissions process is also more user-friendly than BYU’s. The U uses the Common App, a college application platform used by most universities. It saves time by holding onto information such as the student’s name and address, automatically filling out those questions on each application.
BYU has its own application portal, forcing students to figure out how to navigate the website and reiterate information they have already filled out on the Common App. Additionally, BYU also requires five unique essays, each varying in word count.
High school seniors already have homework, jobs, extracurriculars and other college applications to worry about. Requiring five essays for admission, which could ultimately be a waste of time if not accepted, is daunting to many incoming freshmen.
The U’s easy, essay-optional application proves to draw students in. Ease of admission is important to students because it sets the tone for what will be asked of students during their time at this school.
The rivalry between The U and BYU goes beyond football. Both schools offer many opportunities unique to their student body. However, there is more to a university than their academic ranking. Potential students must consider all facets of student life before making their college decision.
