University of Maine Top Questions

Those who attend classes are generally attentful and respectful of those around them. Students will walk around campus and pass each other with a smile as a quick greeting.

My classmates are a good mix of different backgrounds.

My classmates are hardworking, determined people.

My classmates were very friendly.

The students at the University of Maine are all very friendly and are definitely wiling to help you if you need it.

The university is highly focused on preparing students either for employment or grad school, depending on your major. However, students are fairly laid back and many, if not most, try to slide by on the minimum, even in the Honors College. The Honors College itself is a fairly unique institution, operating in the rapidly-vanishing tradition of the liberal education, focusing on the ethical and cultural rather than strictly academic. While it is an excellent idea, and provides the opportunity to read and engage with a number of classics that you would not have read otherwise, the Honors College lives and dies by its student body, many of which probably shouldn't have accepted their invitations and contribute very little to classroom discussion. Those Honors students who find themselves in a room populated by these individuals needs only to console themselves until the third-year tutorial, where topics ranging from aesthetic marine biology to James Joyce await the intellectually engaged. At the Union and in the dining halls you'll probably hear more about Call of Duty than musings on the latest research, but there are many classes that draw the intellectually adventurous - ranging from Human Sexuality to Beekeeping to Marxism. The open-minded will invariably find themselves with more courses of interest than schedule space.

Umaine students, from my experience, have always been open to all different backgrounds, political views, sexual preferences, etc. We have a strong LGBT group and a strong multi-cultural group. Granted it is Maine and there isn't much diversity in terms of race in the state in general, there have actually been quite a few asian exchange students through out the years. Most students are definitely from around the area and grew up around the area their whole life, but that's just how most state universities seem to be. Even so, there is quite a diverse group of people at Umaine and I certainly do not feel that anyone would feel out of place, especially coming from personal experience as an Asian-American at Umaine.

I was originally told that the UMO (UMaine Orono) campus was not racially diverse, and that everyone here came from Maine. I was also told that some out-of-state students have trouble fitting in because they're not from Maine. What I have found is that there are many students here from outside of the United States: especially Canada and the U.K. I was surprised to find so many international students here, and even more surprised when I found that a relatively large proportion of students are not from Maine. Most out-of-state students are from the East Coast, but I have met several students from California and other western states. I haven't encountered any radical groups on campus (religious or otherwise). UMaine stresses tolerance towards everyone. There are many different religious groups, a well-established LGBT group, and groups for different political philosophies. I think students who feel at home in big cities might not like it here. The area surrounding our school is somewhat suburban, but mostly rural. Apart from the setting of the school, I think any student would be able to find friends here. Most of the students here appear to be from middle-class families. Students here are also quite politically aware, and you'll find people from both sides of the political spectrum. Most students, regardless of their political parties, have an interest in keeping the school green. Most of the social groups at the school interact, although some tend to stick together more than others. Members of the football team mostly seem to hang out with each other, and the fraternities and sororities can be very cliquey. In addition, members of the Honors College tend to keep to themselves, and can be elitist and condescending to non-members. Everyone else, however, tends to be friendly and accepting, and there aren't any really unfriendly groups that I know of.

As far as campus is concerned, it is one of the most diverse environments I have ever witnessed. The LGBT presence is strong, and their opinions are heard and supported by many. Every racial group is represented here on campus, with a great deal of variation even among them. We have students here from hundreds of countries, of all different socio-economic stature. No two people seem alike here at the University of Maine, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

UMaine students differ in wealth and in stlye. No one seems to notice these differences though. We're all here for the experience and the degree. Nothing else matters, and it shouldn't! Umaine does offer many different types of groups (religious, LGBT, racial etc) for those student who want to get involved in those areas.