University of Maine — Local services in Orono

The University of Maine at Orono has the syndrome of being a big fish in a small pond. Due to the fact that they are the "Land grant" University in Maine, they present themselves to the rest of the State to be the academic Harvard of Maine while at the same time, athletically, they act like they are the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in Maine. In fact, it could not be further from the truth. It is too bad, because it has the potential to be a much better school than what it is, but the school's administration, tenured professors, as well as coaches have an attitude demeaning to many; and have a pretentious and pompous presentation that reveals an inferiority complex, just by the way they deal with many other. When I went there in the 1980’s, most of the student body that would interact with me, and would invite me to social activities were from out of state. Most were from Massachusetts or Connecticut. I did notice that most of the in-state students kept to those whom they knew, from either their own high school or another high school from the same county or region they were from. Academically, I found that a good portion of my classes were taught, not by the professor whose name was on the syllabus, but by graduate students who were covering for these professors so they could spend more time on research and development, or on their writing requirements, in order to maintain their tenure. I did have one bad experience with a well know professor named Dr. Vandamar, who taught elementary physical education at UMO. This class had a lab, in which the professor assigned young children to each college student for instructing, with the result of their learning to be tabulated for grading. He assigned to me a 5-year-old girl to work with, in order to develop certain physical activities for her to perform independently by verbal instruction. I was not able to get this poor girl to perform any sort of task. I, nor the childcare services that brought her to the University, could even get her to speak to us. She would just cringe and start crying to the caretaker who brought her to me. I complained about this to the professor multiple times. However, he would just tell me to use different techniques that he was teaching us in class. I was never able to accomplish anything with this child, and ended up failing my lab. At the end of the semester, when I received a passing grade on my final written exam, but a failing grade on my lab, the professor came up to me and told me that he had found out that the little girl I was working with had been abused, and that was the main reason I was not able to get anywhere with her. Unfortunately, he had already posted the grades for the lab and could not rescind it. Therefore, if I wanted, he would let me take his lab during the following spring semester without cost, if I was interested. I told him I would get back to him in January to let him know. When I contacted the registrar, near the end of winter break about attending Dr. Vandamar's lab, I was informed that Dr. Vandamar was no longer with the UMO and was now an instructor at the University of Arizona. Talking about being burned. After that, I withdrew from UMO and transferred all my credits to USM, where I changed my major to History and Economics, and a minor in electrical technology. A few years later, I graduated with honors from USM and have had a successful career in the electric power industry. There are no perfect schools; I can assure you of that. However, I would recommend USM over UMO. In addition, if you do not want to spend all outdoors on private college tuition and want a “Land grant” education experience, than I would go to UNH or UVM. They are much better schools. They existentially, provide a better human experience and study environment to be subjected to, while, at the same time, seeking healthy social...

Terrible school that will suck you dry!! Like David said, this place will nickel and dime you. I'm a very disappointed Native American student that was told I would have my tuition waived and receive a scholarship for room and board because of my tribal membership. Then, I can only assume because I also got the Dean's scholarship, they lowered the amount I was awarded. Ended up paying over 2k a semester, which I know doesn't sound like much, but it's alot for somebody who was expecting to be getting a full-ride scholarship. And I'm left to wonder where that scholarship money went? As far as the coordinator of the Native American Waiver and Educational Program believes, I was awarded my full scholarship. The staff at both the admissions office and bursar's office are extremely rude and unhelpful. The whole time I attended this school, I felt discriminated against and was treated like a criminal trying to cheat them out of money when it was clearly the other way around. Students there know about the weaknesses in administration and take advantage of them to get alcohol and drugs onto the campus undetected. While they were worrying over theft and bomb threats, drug dealers were getting away scot free. More importantly, professors spoke too freely of their opinions about certain professions and even made some students feel ashamed of their reasons to be getting the degrees in their chosen fields. It's not their job to determine how successful we'll be in life because of our chosen career path. Not the majority of the professors were like this, but too many of them were just jerks who were clearly on a "nerd revenge" path. I would never suggest my future kids go to this school. Two thumbs...

Horrible school. That place ruined my life. I wish I had all that time and money back. Vicious two faced people that love to say mean stuff all the time and the one's that are nice to your face can be mean behind your back, that goes for both student and staff. The Bangor Daily news posted an article in 2010 that stated that a conservative think tank gave UMaine-Orono a Failing grade (F) across the board for University standards, which proves my point. It also appears to be a cheap school for a state U but when you get there they nickel and dime you to death. Also all too often when I would compare statistics from professors to that of actual research I found discrepancies that lead me to believe that their professors let their bias lead them to fudge facts. Specially when it came to politics. I'm no conservative, I'm an Independent but the campus is filled with Liberals that seem to fudge their data but they get away with it because they do it only a little here and a little there. But if you look close you'll see it. Also I hated living in the dorm the campus obviously gave special favors to students that had more money or ties to certain levels of the government, or if they had a parent that was a public figure. When I first went to UMaine I was a fun loving bubbly person but after spending too much time there the life-force was sucked from me and I am now left resentful and bitter. Too many drug addicts, drunks, and mean people....