University of Southern Maine (USM)

The two main campuses of mid-sized, "cost-effective" University of Southern Maine are about 10 miles apart, and they bridge "a country town and a city." (There's also a satellite campus in the Lewiston-Auburn area—Maine's twin cities.) Highlights at USM include a "very reputable" and "very demanding" nursing program as well as "extremely strong" business programs. Lectures can be "big" at the lower levels, but "smaller classes" "and one-on-one time with professors" become more readily available as you get into higher-level courses. The faculty here is a mixed bag. "Some professors are fantastic while others are atrocious," sums up a biology major. There are plenty of "really insightful," "knowledgeable, fun, inspiring, and devoted" professors who "provide critical feedback that affords room for growth" and are "quite passionate about their subject matter (even on the topic of algebra!)." However, other faculty members "show a clear lack of enthusiasm" or are just "kind of boring." Also, though course schedules are "flexible," the advising process "could use improvement," too. "It is really hard to register for classes or to have a question answered," protests a social work major.

The typical student at USM is a local, either from one of the surrounding towns or Portland proper. Beyond that, though, "there is no typical student at USM." There are thousands of traditional college-aged students. "Commuters who attend part-time" and older students with jobs and families are a large percentage of the population. "Every class is a mix of fresh-faced dorm dwellers, nerdy brains, arty alterna-kids, returning veterans, nontraditional adult students," and international students. "In just my group of friends," observes one student, "there is an African-American athlete, a nice girl from a mill-town, an aspiring rock star, an electrical engineering major, a stoner, and a girl who works full time at the mall." "Everyone is friendly," but the student population is disparate and "not particularly united." "One of the weaknesses of USM appears because of the environment created by the commuter-based population," elaborates one student. "There's not a lot of community, but I'm not sure they can do much about that."

The first thing you want to know about life at USM is that you are going to have to deal with two campuses here. The majority of the younger, traditional students live on the Gorham campus, but many classes occur on the Portland campus, "a good 30to 40-minute drive or bus ride" away. "Shuttle buses are available at no charge," but "commuting between two campuses can be a huge pain." On the plus side, "USM really offers every type of college life if you know where to look." "The Gorham campus is where the dorms are," and it offers a more "traditional undergrad experience." "There are constantly events being held." "The performing arts community is huge and fun." You'll also find a nominal frat scene and a smattering of parties, though "a lot of people leave on the weekends because everyone lives very close and still have friends in their home towns." The "commuter campus" in Portland has a more urban feel. Students tell us that Portland is "the coolest city in Maine." It's got "oceanfront scenery," "an old New England feel," "great night life," "fabulous restaurants," and "one of the best arts scenes in New England." "You honestly can't not have fun here" but, in the event, Boston is "less than two hours" away. Skiing and snowboarding as well as "hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, and the beach" are also nearby.