What Students Really Say About Farmington


Myanmar is a long way from Maine, how did you end up at Farmington?
I applied to six colleges and my counselor picked American universities she had affiliations with, and she was a friend of Theo Kalikow [President of UMF], so that’s how Farmington got on my A-list.

What were your first impressions?
When I first came here I was pretty homesick but later on I loved the people here because they’re so friendly. And my roommate is so nice it’s like living with a family member. In college, I think you need a great roommate and good friends to help you get through the stress and workload.

Was there anything else in looking at the school that you thought was cool?
The thing I like best about Farmington is the professors — they’re very accessible. You don’t have to make appointments to visit with them, you can walk in and chat. Very early on, you get the impression that they’re willing to help and they’re very friendly.

What has been your best experience at UMF so far?
Every day is a learning experience in one way or another. And the classes are great.

Do you have a favorite class or a professor?
I like them all, in general. I love my Psychology professors, they’re all great. And my academic advisor, Dr. Oplinger [Professor of Sociology] is friendly and helpful.

Have you had any learning experiences outside the classroom?
Yes. I really like my job at the Student Health Center. We’ve done different projects to raise student awareness on health topics, such as body image. Unfortunately, too many women think they have to be thin, but it isn’t about being thin — it’s about being healthy and having high self-esteem. Now, I’m creating a pamphlet for the Health Center on routine gynecological exams. We publish the information on campus bulletin boards, in pamphlets, and the Student Health Center’s Web site.

What has your residence hall experience been like?
I like Mallet Hall a lot. The building itself looks like a home, not an institution. It isn’t concrete, it’s wood and has carpeting, like a home.

Was Farmington what you imagined it would be?
To be honest, I imagined it a little worse, having watched movies about students in American high schools being mean. I prepared myself for some mean Americans but when I came here everyone was just so friendly. They open the door and hold it for you here — I guess it’s kind of a UMF tradition — and I love that. It’s funny, you can tell whether a person is just visiting UMF or is a UMF student by whether or not they hold the door open for you. Maybe it's a metaphor.

Has your perspective changed from your first semester to now?
It has a lot. When I came here I was kind of narrow-minded about college, thinking I’m just going to get a degree and that’s it. But after taking 15 electives I found there were so many things I wanted to do. Right now I’m interested in nutrition, health, psychology, and sociology and I want to be in every class. After some time in college you become open-minded and you learn things you thought you weren’t interested in.

Is there a particular class or a professor that stands out in your mind?
I really like Professor Gunn [professor of English]. I come from a culture where you just go in and sit down and listen to the teacher, memorize everything and then take a test. In my English Composition class my first semester, Professor Gunn encouraged us to talk in class and to participate and discuss. He tries to bring everyone into the discussion. After having a topic to write about you’re filled with ideas to write. He’s inspirational.

What will you take away with you?
What I like is that people here are very open to everyone — they don’t look down on anyone or discriminate. They’re so kind to everyone. That’s what I will take back. Back home there's a lot of class segregation but here everyone is equal. I like that the most.