University of Maine - Overview
The University
When you start at the University of Maine, you can end up anywhere. Like Tanzania, working as a medical volunteer, or the Maine coast, working as a biomedical engineer. You don't need to leave campus to find inspiration, however. At UMaine, you'll be surrounded by groundbreaking innovation, inspiring scholarship and some of the most cutting-edge research anywhere. In other words, the world comes to you.
As for extracurriculars, the one thing we always hear from students is,"I'm surprised how much there is to do here." For starters, there's always something going on in the residence halls. The newly renovated Collins Center for the Arts brings national and international touring artists to campus and shows independent films. The School of Performing Arts always has plays, readings and musical performances planned, and Student Entertainment brings in national acts such as The Roots, O.A.R., Dropkick Murphys and The Decemberists. Students can get involved in more than 200 clubs and organizations -- academic and social -- one of 15 fraternities or seven sororities, Student Government, community service-oriented groups, intramural sports and much, much more. On campus, there are free events planned almost every night, including game nights, first-run movies, live music and karaoke. UMaine is the state's only Division I school, and athletic events -- especially hockey -- are a big part of student life here.
Location
Orono is a classic college town, bounded by the Stillwater and Penobscot Rivers, located in the heart of Maine. The University of Maine is 10 minutes from the state's third-largest city, Bangor, and its international airport.
UMaine's 600-acre campus was designed by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City and the White House grounds in Washington, D.C. It's a traditional New England campus, with ivy-covered brick buildings, towering pines and incredible fall foliage.
There's no place like Maine, and our students take advantage of the great outdoors whenever they can. There are 15 miles of walking, biking and cross-country skiing trails on campus. Some of the best skiing in the East is located within an easy driving distance of campus, as are Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
Majors and Degrees
Founded in 1865, the University of Maine is the flagship campus of the UMaine System. As such, it offers the state's most comprehensive academic experience, with more than 85 majors and programs across five academic colleges -- the College of Business, Public Policy and Health; the College of Education and Human Development; the College of Engineering; the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture. In addition, the Explorations program is designed to help undecided students identify a suitable major from across UMaine's colleges while making progress towards their degree. The Division of Lifelong Learning offers online classes and distance-learning opportunities for students who need a flexible class schedule.
Academic Programs
All students at the University of Maine benefit from a solid liberal arts foundation. Here, students develop and refine the qualities they need to more fully engage with the world around them -- critical thinking, curiosity, a sense of discovery, a broader perspective -- no matter what discipline they choose.
UMaine's Honors College -- one of the country's oldest honors programs -- provides an in-depth, academically challenging curriculum for qualified students in any major.
UMaine is one of the National Science Foundation's top 100 public universities for research, with annual research expenditures of nearly $100 million, which provides exceptional opportunities for undergraduate research.
Off-Campus Programs
In addition to state-of-the art research and classroom facilities, the University of Maine is also home to the region's cultural hub, the Collins Center for the Arts, as well as several museums and galleries. The new, spa-like Student Recreation and Fitness Center is a campus hot spot, while sports fans love Alfond Arena and Alfond Stadium. Fogler Library, the state's largest library, houses approximately 1 million volumes, subscribes to over 4,000 periodicals and serial titles and serves as a depository for over 2.2 million government documents. In addition, Fogler provides 24-hour access to countless online documents.
Undergraduates have access to campuswide wireless Internet and several computer clusters. In addition, students can take advantage of the newest and best technology through UMaine's Collaborative Media Lab.
Costs
The University of Maine System Board of Trustees adjusts costs annually. For the 2011-2012 academic year, tuition will be $279 per credit hour for undergraduate state residents; $803 per credit hour for nonresident students. The average credit load for full-time students is 15 credit hours per semester or 30 credit hours for the academic year. Canadian and nonresident students who qualify for the New England Regional Program pay $419 per credit hour. Required university fees (about $2,200 per year for a full-time student) include the Unified Fee, which provides a variety of health-care services and admission to cultural, recreational, and athletic events. Books and supplies averaged about $1,000 for the academic year. Room and board charges for the academic year were about $9,000. These costs are subject to change.
Financial Aid
The University requires all financial aid applicants to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and encourages students to file online. The priority deadline to apply for aid is March 1. Awards usually consist of a combination of several types of aid, ranging from grants and scholarships to work-study jobs and student loans. In addition, students who apply through the Early Action Admissions program (complete application submitted by December 15th) will be considered for UMaine merit awards based on high school achievement as demonstrated by high school rank and standardized test results (SAT and ACT).
Faculty
There's a common misconception that if students choose a university rather than a small college, they'll get lost in the shuffle. They'll never see a professor -- only teaching assistants -- until they're in grad school. But at the University of Maine, most undergraduate classes are taught by real professors -- and many of those faculty members go on to become friends and mentors to their students. Here, many students work alongside some of the most renowned scholars and scientists in the world. And they're not just doing grunt work. They're heading into the woods with wildlife ecologists to study bear habitat. They're researching harassment with leading sociologists and testing the strength of bridges with civil engineers.
Student Government
Student Government Inc. is the independent, representative body for UMaine's undergraduate students. An elected president, vice president, and vice president of financial affairs direct and coordinate Student Government programs at the University of Maine. Student Government works closely with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and appoints 200 student representatives to various university committees involved with the planning and implementation of residence hall programs, student discipline, athletics, and cultural activities on campus.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the University of Maine is a selective process. Successful applicants are those whose scholastic achievement, intellectual curiosity, and established study habits promise success in a comprehensive university environment. Strength of the high school curriculum, grades received, class rank, counselor recommendation, and either SAT or ACT scores are the primary criteria for admission. Essays and information regarding school and community activities provide additional information that may help the admissions committee evaluate potential for success.
The University recognizes advanced work completed in secondary schools by means of Advanced Placement tests. In addition, students who demonstrate advanced knowledge may be exempted from certain courses and requirements if they pass examinations specially developed by the University's academic departments.
Application and Information
Applicants may submit either electronic or paper versions of the Common Application or the University of Maine System application. The University requires a supplement for the Common Application. Additional required documents for all applicants include official high school transcripts and counselor recommendations. Traditional-age applicants are required to submit scores from either the SAT or ACT.
The University of Maine has an early action deadline of December 15. Students whose complete applications are postmarked by December 15 are reviewed by the end of January. Early action candidates are given first consideration for the Honors College and merit scholarships awarded by the Admissions Office. Regular decision applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and all supporting documents by February 1 and are notified by rolling admission. Students applying for the spring semester are encouraged to submit applications by December 1. Applications after these dates are processed on a space-available basis. Applications and all supporting documents should be sent to UMS Processing, P.O. Box 412, Bangor, Maine 04402-0412.
Contact Information
Office of Admissions
5713 Chadbourne Hall
University of Maine
Orono, Maine 04469-5713
United States
Phone: 207-581-1561
877-486-2364 (toll-free)
Fax: 207-581-1213
E-mail: um-admit@maine.edu
Web site: http://www.go.umaine.edu/