Advisor and student

Student Support

Welcome to Early College Student Support

Welcome to our Early College student support page! We encourage you to fill out one of our forms below to help you navigate to the best resources for you!

Fill out our Early College Support Navigator Form (Coming Soon):

Early College Support Navigation Form

Use our Self-Help Guide below or student handbook to learn more about:

  • Early College at UMaine: The Basics
  • Exploring What Class(es) Make Sense for Me
  • Navigating the ExplorEC Application Portal and Course Applications
  • Early College for Students Who are Home-Educated or Live Outside of Maine
  • Technology and Class Resources
  • Ordering Course Materials
  • Taking a course through another UMS campus or through a community college?
  • Working Through Challenges and Making the Most of your Class(es)
  • Finding Final Grades and Transcripts for Courses

Navigate to the UMaine Early College Pathways page to learn more about signing up for an Early College plan based on your goals and interests. Pathways offer a structured plan that enables you to make well-informed choices throughout your Early College journey.

UMaine Early College Pathways

SELF-HELP GUIDE

Make use of our Self-Help Guide! There’s a good chance you’ll find what you’re looking for here, without waiting for an email response or scheduled appointment. You can also find this information in our Student Handbook.

  • Home-Educated Families
  • Start with our Systemwide Early College Resources:
  • Step-by-Step Guide
  • Home Educated Student Application Guide
  • If you’re applying for your first Early College course with UM (Orono or Machias campuses), we ask that homeschool parents/educators complete our New Home-Educated Student Form.
  • NOTE: This is only required for homeschool students new to UM Early College classes. Returning students or those applying to courses through other UMS campuses do not need to complete this to be enrolled .
  • Out-of-State Students
  • Please review our systemwide Early College Step-by-Step Guide to navigate your next steps.
  • How to Purchase Course Materials.
  • Option 1 – My course won’t begin for two weeks or more.
  • Find your instructor’s name within ExplorEC (use the “Application Status” page).
  • Search your instructor’s name within our UMS People Search tool to find their contact information.
  • Important Reminders:
  • Use your @maine.edu gmail account when reaching out.
  • Introduce yourself as an Early College student and what class you are enrolled in with them.
  • Option 2 – My course begins within the next two weeks.
  • You can either:
  • Use our online bookstore tool prior to the start of the class.
  • How to use UMaine’s Bookstore Tool
  • Purchase textbook(s) directly through your Brightspace classroom on the first day
  • UMaine’s AMP Program
  • You are automatically opted out of this to save costs.
  • If you think your course materials with UMaine (Orono/Machias campuses specifically) will exceed the AMP cost, you may opt in.
  • For opt-in instructions or questions about AMP, please contact our bookstore team at um.bookstore@maine.edu.
  • Identify Your Challenges
  • Are your challenges with the course itself or with something outside of the course altogether?
  • Take time to consider this, and then make use of the ideas below based on that.
  • Use Your Resources.
  • Within-Class:
  • Review your course syllabus.
  • Make a connection with your instructor.
  • Reach out to a classmate.
  • Connect with a support at home or at your school.
  • External:
  • NetTutor
  • Writing Center
  • Review strategies for how to manage your time in a college course.
  • Communicate
  • Make sure to communicate when you need help. Reach out to any of the following:
  • College Instructor
  • Our UMaine Early College Team
  • A teacher or counselor at your high school.
  • A parent, guardian, or mentor figure in your life.

Questions?

Email um.earlycollege@maine.edu.