University of Maine | Alexa Flash Briefing

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges, including this week’s School Spotlight, University of Maine. With over 200 student clubs, outstanding undergraduate research opportunities, and some seriously hands-on majors in the School of Food & Agriculture, the University of Maine is an attractive home for over 9,300 undergraduates – approximately 40 percent of whom are from out-of-state. Students interested in animal science will love the chance to manage dairy cattle and standard-bred horses at the University’s Witter Farm, while sustainable agriculture majors can get their hands dirty (literally) working on UMaine’s Blueberry Hill Farm, the only university-sponsored wild blueberry research facility in the country. If your goal is to become a teacher or athletic trainer, know that the Maine College of Education and Human Development is one of the most competitive divisions of the University. This past year, more than 160 students graduated with a degree in child development while more than 240 majored in kinesiology & physical education. And all of these graduates were eligible to receive their Maine provisional teacher certificate, bringing them one step closer to their professional goals. The Center for Undergraduate Research is open to students of any major interested in conducting original research under the support of a faculty mentor. This summer, five students will receive $3,300 each to study everything from adolescent depression (in psychology) to bioaccumulation and nanoplastics (in marine sciences). Fun fact: active students will appreciate that there are nearly 30 club sports available here, including alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, and sailing.