My BIL went to BYU his freshman and wanted to study engineering. While on his mission, his president (former Ute professor) told him to transfer to the U because he’d have more opportunity to stand out and at BYU he’d just be another number.
He did, married a girl from Bountiful and went full Ute. After three years of marriage she left him, now he’s a single dad struggling to finish his final year of school (he’s on the 8 year plan).
A couple of months ago he did admit to me that he wonders how things would have turned out differently if he’d stayed at BYU.