I went to BYU after getting rejected the first time before going to Ricks for a year.

I liked the people I went to BYU with and felt the students are a bigger bonus than the classes most of the time.

I like the focus on living the gospel and giving back.

I'm not sure how much BYU really helped my career. I didn't find a wife there. I might be close to the same person if I went to USU, BYUI, or BYUH.

BYU is 2/3 out of staters and opened me up to living out of Utah where I met my wife and advanced my career and did further schooling and all that. I think that is what I am most greatfull for. Friends throughout the US, good folks, good members.

That said I think people can get much of a similar experience in a lot of ways, though BYU makes it easier to stay active LDS in general for some folks.