Colleges in Maine.. please help!

[puntin]

did you mention what your major is? You've had a lot of suggestions, and I'll throw in a couple more If you are a business major then Husson or Thomas may fit your needs. They are both small schools, private, but tuition is much less than Colby. Husson is in Bangor, so lots of activities, and near Hermon Mountain, a small ski area. Thomas is in Waterville, not as big as Bangor, but still stuff to do, and if you are willing to travel a bit your are still within driving distance to ski areas.

[61-OH]

I was looking at Husson College, because I'll be headed off to college next fall, and I've always wanted to go to Maine. I live in Pennsylvania now, and am seriously looking at Husson as my #1!

[jazzman0202]

There is a lot of good information and experiences being shared on this post. As stated, it boils down to a college's size and location, your potential majors, academic qualifications, and cost.

Colby, Bates, (Lewiston) and Bowdoin (Brunswick) are often grouped as 'similar' liberal arts, small, private, expensive, selective colleges. The guidance counselors tell us kids looking for this type school often visit/apply to all 3. About one out of three that apply get accepted these days. They are all very highly rated by those that do the ratings.
As stated, all 3 are all in the mid to high $40's/year if you read the guides.
I've not heard of the Colby $ program for in state students (as we're from MA) but it sounds interesting.

UMF may be a good alternative, as a smaller sized school that's reasonably priced. UMO is about 9000 undergrads, and is actually less costly (by several thousand per year) for out of state students to attend than UNH, U Vermont, or UConn would be for out of state students. UMO also seems to a great variety of clubs/activities, a great music program , a new rec center and a new/remodeled performing arts center that's opening up in February (if that's your thing).

Rule of thumb they tell the kids (common sense 101 !!), if you're totally undecided about what you want to study, a larger school/university will usually give you more academic options to explore, and you may not need to transfer out once you find a major you want to focus on.

The other key is visit, visit, visit ! Make sure you see the schools, and talk to lots of students to make sure it feels right to you and you think you could live there for 2/4 years.

Sorry for the long post, but we are going through this process now with our HS senior.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by jazzman0202

There is a lot of good information and experiences being shared on this post. As stated, it boils down to a college's size and location, your potential majors, academic qualifications, and cost.

Colby, Bates, (Lewiston) and Bowdoin (Brunswick) are often grouped as 'similar' liberal arts, small, private, expensive, selective colleges. The guidance counselors tell us kids looking for this type school often visit/apply to all 3. About one out of three that apply get accepted these days. They are all very highly rated by those that do the ratings.
As stated, all 3 are all in the mid to high $40's/year if you read the guides.
I've not heard of the Colby $ program for in state students (as we're from MA) but it sounds interesting.

UMF may be a good alternative, as a smaller sized school that's reasonably priced. UMO is about 9000 undergrads, and is actually less costly (by several thousand per year) for out of state students to attend than UNH, U Vermont, or UConn would be for out of state students. UMO also seems to a great variety of clubs/activities, a great music program , a new rec center and a new/remodeled performing arts center that's opening up in February (if that's your thing).

Rule of thumb they tell the kids (common sense 101 !!), if you're totally undecided about what you want to study, a larger school/university will usually give you more academic options to explore, and you may not need to transfer out once you find a major you want to focus on.

The other key is visit, visit, visit ! Make sure you see the schools, and talk to lots of students to make sure it feels right to you and you think you could live there for 2/4 years.

Sorry for the long post, but we are going through this process now with our HS senior.

We told our daughter(now a college sophomore) that looking out of state was not an option due to finances. We wanted to be able to swing college wth no debt!!! So far so good!

[rfield01]

Am from Maine, maybe 12th generation. Went to Colby College (4th generation) for my BA, then to UMO for my MA. Have two nieces at Bowdoin. I do not know of many who pay for full tuition/room/board at private schools. Do the research and you'll find support provided you pass a means test. My neices, whose mother is a pediatrician in her private practice and is head of a hospital ped. dept do pay full costs. They work at the school. One in the library and one... heck I forget.

All Maine schools are give you some aspect of small city/town life. That's the nature of the state. You also have good instruction and with the net and net based libraries, if you are serious about your education, the world is open to you. Best of luck. Pls post what you've found out. I'd be interested.

[Unhappycamper]

I am at UMFK now and I love it here. But first to get rid of lousy roommates...