<p>I tried the Colleges site, but U-Maine has no activity. I'm hoping for any info at all on this school from someone who might live near it or have taken a college visit to it, to supplement what I can find in the College profile books and the school's own website. </p>
<p>I have a kid whose first choice is U-Maine based solely on one trip to Portland when she was very young, liking lobster, hearing me whine about wanting to retire there someday, and liking winter. She fixated on this school without having seen it (the University of Alaska is on her list too). She's a sophomore, but due to family issues we need to do her road trips this Spring and Summer instead of Junior year. I have no problem with her choosing a school far away if that's what she really wants, since it would be good for her to get away from a difficult situation. DH has a terminal degenerative illness, and I'll have to juggle a lot of time and money issues for her college visits. </p>
<p>This kid has a 3.65 GPA from a Newsweek Silver Medal High School, Math-Verbal SATs estimated at 1200 based on her PSATs, some good activities including learning Chinese at a Community College and being selected by the school to attend Rotary Leadership conferences. She already has 100+ hours volunteering at a hospital. She also has cheerfully helped to be a caregiver for her father since age 13, which says a lot about her as a person. She's tentatively interested in nursing, although a career working at the cosmestics counter of a dept store also appears to have some appeal (just kidding). </p>
<p>Key questions are (1) Any chance of out-of-state financial aid from U-Maine? I could probably handle the in-state rate, but if I have to pay the out-of-state rate, I'd encourage her to look at other schools. (2) Are there any stores near the campus? If she's going to be far from home, I want her to be able to get to stores. She also would like to be able to walk to a drugstore, pizzaria, etc. If the school is too rural, she'll take it off her list. (3) Is there anything magical about this campus? (4) Will she need a car?</p>
<p>Thanks for any responses. What can you do when your kid picks a school you don't know anything about???? Try College Confidential!</p>
<p>Hi Neon,
I have 2 nephews at U of Maine-Orono campus. One graduated last year and one is a Jr. Both boys were very happy there-both are/were in engineering program I believe. They are residents of Maine so I don't know about OOS aid.</p>
<p>A very good friend of mine has a DD who went to U of Maine/Orono - and she absolutely loved it there - from OOS - and got very good aid there also. She was in the honors college - did very well - and has had excellent opportunities in pursuit of her field - biology</p>
<p>She said that getting around was pretty easy in Orono/Bangor - good shuttle system etc... and small mall about 1 miles from campus. It is in a beautiful area and she had absolutely no regrets going north to Maine for her education. It certainly may be worth a trip - and a bunch of research - to see if it would be a good fit for your kiddo. It is a nice sized school with lots of great programs and people as well.</p>
<p>I know several friends' kids who went to Orono and have been to the campus a couple of times. In other words, my knowledge is pretty limited.</p>
<p>There is financial aid for OOS students, and U-Maine actually has some initiatives to attract students from "away," as they say in Maine. There are some stores near the campus, but I don't recall most of them being what you'd call an easy walk. The campus is not really rural, at least by the standards of Northern New England. Orono is a small- to moderate-sized town. It's hard to characterize these schools--USNews calls Bates and even Colby "urban" and Bowdoin "suburban" because they adjoin towns [!] so by those standards, UMaine-Orono is "urban," but if you drive 10 minutes, you're really in the middle of nowhere. There's not much north of Orono.</p>
<p>Some beautiful coast, including Acadia, the North Maine Woods, and lovely mountain and lake regions are all within striking distance by car, but Orono really doesn't offer any of these attractions. The campus is similar to other chronically underfunded public institutions: some impressive facilities here and there, including a nicely renovated student center, but others facilities are showing their age. Part of the campus borders the Penobscot River and some green open spaces near the river are pretty and there is a small botanical garden. Many Maine students bring cars (it's a bit of a suitcase school), so an OOS student could rely on friends for occasional transportation and get along quite well without a car. I hear very good things about the nursing school, which is more competitive for admissions than many programs at Orono. </p>
<p>Since you're traveling a long way, and geography seems to be a major consideration, it could be worth looking at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, which also has a nursing program. USM's right in the city of Portland and as urban as it gets in Northern New England. I think that OOS tuition is actually slightly less than U-Maine.</p>
<p>Neonzeus - It's difficult to provide advice, because as previous posters have said some OOS kids really like it there. Your D will get in for sure, and based on my D's experience (last year) your D will get a good aid package at UMaine/Farmington or USouthern Maine. UMaine is typically not a top choice those seeking a winter sports environment.</p>
<p>What I can say for certain is that Orono is cold, a bit isolated, and definitely hard to get to-and-from. Round-trip it's a 12-hour drive or $500 flight from central Connecticut --- and Connecticut is already in New England!</p>
<p>NEONZEUS - if you do end up planning a trip to Maine - you could check out U of Maine in Orono - U of S Maine in Portland - and while you are at it - take a gander at Bowdoin - right in Brunswick (right up the road from Portland and on the way to Orono - kinda LOL - then it would be worth the trip - at least to check out more than 1-2 schools. Could be fun LOL :D</p>
<p>There is train - bus - plane from Portland - so pretty easy to get to/from that area also</p>
<p>The SATs of this student don't sound like Bowdoin would work, but I realize they are only projected SATs.</p>
<p>USM is right in Portland but also in Gorham (a suburb of Portland). Can walk to A LOT from the Portland campus, a few things from Gorham campus. </p>
<p>UMaine Orono is neither really "rural" nor really "urban." It's not isolated and not a 12-hour drive to get to from anywhere you'd sensibly fly to. Who would fly to Connecticut when heading for Orono, Maine???!? It is ~2 hours from Portland's airport.</p>
<p>School has great spirit, especially surrounding the hockey team (perennial contender for the Frozen Four), attractive campus with an atmosphere of Georgian/Federal buildings. Honors College has good reputation; several strong majors. Great place for those interested in outdoors/skiing/winter sports.</p>
<p>If she is competitive for Bowdoin, it's likely more the town atmosphere she'd like. Bowdoin is in Brunswick which is NOT a "suburb", but rather a vital thriving college town of some size. Great walking street for shops/cafes/restaurants is adjacent to campus. Bates IS urban, but in a city where there is not much "there" there. Colby is rural. I believe all of these are SAT-optional (FairTest</a> Home) schools, so they might be possibles for the OP, but then as LACs, they do not have real nursing programs (that I know of).</p>
<p>Alums of UMaine-Orono whom I know are generally very high on the school.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm not dumping on UMaine. But I do think it's fair to let prospective OOS students know that its location presents some, um, challenges.</p>
<p>Mapquest driving time from Central CT to UMaine: 5:55 (each way).
Travelocity cheapest flight Hartford/Springfield to Bangor: $488 midweek.
Weather: Well I think the Bangor Tourism Website says it best ---
"By late March, Maine's rivers and streams begin to clear of ice from the long winter."</p>
<p>UMaine may be the perfect choice for the OP's D. Obviously it's an excellent choice for lots of kids.</p>
<p>Agreed that it's not for everyone and, most definitely, the "missing" season in Maine is Spring - it doesn't show up in March when people are expecting it.</p>
<p>However, I still don't get the fixation on the driving/flying time and cost from Central Ct. This student is coming from Pittsburgh, is she not? Legions of students choose colleges that, basically, involve a day's travel by car of air from their home - whether it's from Maine to Baltimore/New Orleans/California; California to Massachusetts or whatever. If this kid wants Maine, she will just be another of those.</p>
<p>Anyway, on a totally different tack, I was thinking about this student and wondering if she might not want to check out University of New England's Westbrook College campus (<a href="http://www.une.edu)%5B/url%5D">www.une.edu)</a>. This school has long been known for outstanding health professions programs. The Westbrook College campus is in a nice area of Portland - walkable to a number of casual restaurants etc. In other parts of Portland, which she could easily get to on occasion (not necessarily walking) are the Arts District and Old Port - really dynamic shopping/restaurant areas. Quite nice, not overwhelmed with touristy tee-shirt shops etc, although right on the water. Portland is a great small city, which might be her cup of tea. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Colby alum here -- not sure about the other schools mentioned in post #10, but Colby is not SAT-optional. We used to joke about going from winter to mud season. Waterville (Colby's town) isn't all that much, but there are stores & eateries. UMaine Orono is about 1 hour up the highway from Colby. Obviously a larger student body. I grew up in western MA -- winter at Colby was no colder/harsher/worse.</p>
<p>Thanks for the other Maine suggestions too. Last night my older kid mentioned that he found out that U-Maine has a law school with a certificate in his area of interest.......it's all my fault! Be careful when you talk about states you'd like to retire in someday....you never know what's settling into their subconcious/little peanut brains...</p>