<p>The most famous non-LDS who is a BYU alumnus is the former Chicago Bears quarterback, Jim McMahon. As you’ll remember, McHahon was not known for being a conformist. Twenty-five years later I’m still trying to figure out how he got to that campus and how he stayed on that campus.</p>
<p>Academics:
BYU is an excellent academic institution with very low tuition. Graduates from BYU attend the best graduate and professional schools. There is a lot of support for pre-med and pre-law. Support for PhD depends on the department—the department of economics provides excellent advising for students thinking about PhD (some recent admissions are MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, etc)</p>
<p>Social:
The LDS religion permeates every aspect of the school since a significant portion of the student population is LDS. However, non members are welcomed and they are not under any pressure to convert. You will also find that some of the students are not religious. There over 25,000 students at BYU, so you are sure to find your niche… </p>
<p>Things to Do:
Hiking, skiing, mount biking and climbing, Scenic Mountain drives, etc. Art, Music, Dance, sports.</p>
<p>If you have specific questions please do not hesitate to contact me.</p>
<p>It is a wonderful place.</p>
<p>I believe that every student has to take religion there. Correct me please if I am wrong…</p>
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</p>
<p>Yes. 8 credits in Doctrinal Foundations: (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants (6 credits) and New Testament (2 credits))</p>
<p>6 Credit in Elective (Old Testament or the writings of Isaiah, etc)</p>
<p>Religion is 14 credits out of over 120 credits you need to graduate…</p>
<p>This is part of the general education requirement.</p>
<p>Here are BYU’s general education requirements, including religion:
[University</a> Core: Fall 2012 - Summer 2013 | General Education](<a href=“http://ge.byu.edu/ge/universitycore]University”>http://ge.byu.edu/ge/universitycore)</p>
<p>ucbalumnus, thank you for posting the link… The breath of classes is amazing. </p>
<p>BYU also has an honors program. [Honors</a> | Honors](<a href=“http://honors.fye.byu.edu/]Honors”>http://honors.fye.byu.edu/) </p>
<p>You can create your own liberal arts education within the university.</p>
<p>My ex-H went to BYU because he doesn’t drink and was looking for a non-party atmosphere. He said the pressure to convert was relentless. When it became clear that he had no intention of converting, none of the girls would have anything to do with him. It was pretty miserable for him socially.</p>
<p>I just messaged my roommate and asked her about this; she was raised Mormon and went to BYU for her undergrad. </p>
<p>She says: Academics are very strong overall, certain departments (econ, history, anything pre-law) attract highly motivated students, and classes within those departments (especially the ones for majors only) can be pretty amazing. Social life: you can find stuff to participate in that’s not specifically religion-based, and you can make friends who don’t talk about religion 24/7, but there’s an overall assumption among the students that everyone they meet is LDS and that it’s OK to try to convert people who aren’t. Some will back off if you’re committed to another faith, some won’t. Dating: forget it. Even if you find a non-Mormon person to date, you will have a hard time finding other friends who are willing to socialize with someone in a mixed relationship or someone in a relationship that’s not necessarily leading to a Mormon marriage/lifestyle.</p>
<p>Sorry not to have more encouraging field report for you. :(</p>
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<p>I knew people in missed relationships who did not find it difficult to socialize with their friends. Operative word here is ** friends. ** There are all sorts of people at BYU; people who truly believe in the teachings of the church to people who are atheist (but are still registered members of the church). </p>
<p>Although there are many students who are judgmental and, for them, not living your life according to their standards means you should be avoided, there are many more students who are more accepting of people of different faiths. The student population is large, as such; the probability of finding like minded people to socialize with is quite high.</p>
<p>Many Mormons from other states and even overseas come to BYU to find LDS partner and to marry. </p>
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An expectation to marry while at college is very, very high in LDS society, so people will be nice to you and all, but they won’t socialize with you if your “goal” for college is not to start a family 
BYU university is the only one I know that regularly hosts bridal fairs, you can also find tons of bridal catalogs on campus…</p>
<p>I think that this can make sense if you’re part of a different conservative religious tradition. If you would want to follow the essence of the Honor Code anyway, and if you have your own faith to rely on and discuss with LDS members, then it might be an interesting immersion experience. No question, it’s academically strong and a bargain.</p>
<p>If you’re just an average American kid looking for a good education at a low price, BYU would be very tough. Some folks imagine that it is similar to Notre Dame or SMU in religious affiliation and culture, and it is not. A kid who grew up in Utah and is accustomed to being surrounded by LDS culture and assumptions would know what to expect, but for anyone else, it would be very isolating.</p>
<p>My in- laws are LDS, originally Catholic and converted in the late 60’ or early 70’s. Some of their children practice, some are Catholic, some non- religious. They are always accommodating to me when we visit - coffee pot is out & ready, Lone Star or Corona in the fridge. They never made me feel uncomfortable about religion & never pushed the issue of conversion with me ( a very lax Catholic). Their dentist, who became a very good friend of mine converted to LDS when he was in Dental School. When we played golf, we always has a $2 Nassau bet going & he drank several cokes/round when thirsty. I asked him about the drinking of coke (caffeine) & betting and he said " I came into the church when I was an adult, some of my habits I’m just not going to change". His daughter was a very good amateur golfer & attended a well know southern college on a golf scholarship. After a year she transferred to BYU to finish out her career and degree. Too much partying at the “well known golf school” for her. She did get married at BYU prior to earning her degree.</p>
<p>Thanks all for your reply, it is really useful.</p>