FARMINGTON – Over the past week, the University of Maine at Farmington has been filled with 171 eager freshmen getting a jump-start on college life through the summer experience program.

Students live together in a dorm for one week, take a one-credit class for two and a half hours each day and really get to know the campus, teachers and each other.

Doug Rawlings, assistant to the provost and director of the program, started it 14 years ago. He said it has grown from 50 students with three faculty and a vague schedule of events to last year’s high of 250 students with 11 faculty, a tight schedule of events and an anthology as the basis for the course.

Rawlings meets with the students every day and helps direct them and make sure they are on track for the day.

The comments he receives from students are “99 percent very very positive,” he said

Each teacher presents the same materials in the course, but each comes from different backgrounds, teaching everything from biology to English, so discussions in the classroom may vary.

Teacher Kristin McLaren said students are eager to share their own thoughts and ideas on the readings, and she has gotten to know the personalities of some of the students a little better.

Student Corey Ford of Augusta said the amount of homework they have been getting has really helped him learn how to manage his time.

Student Sarah Shores of Waterville said, “We’re one step ahead of all the other freshmen.”

During the week, students are able to get their picture IDs, library cards, start searching for jobs and get familiar with the campus.

Shores set a personal goal of meeting two new people every day. She and Ford have met many people whom they plan to keep in touch with this summer and look up when they get to school in the fall.

Student assistants live in the residence halls with the students and attend classes, helping to facilitate discussions.

Student assistant Aline Potvin, a senior majoring in biology, has been involved with the program for two years. She said one reason she decided to do it is because she did not attend summer experience as a freshmen and really wanted to be a part of it now. She said she acts as a mentor for students, encouraging them to create study groups, helping them with homework and answering questions they have about college.

“I tell them where all the cool things are in town,” Potvin said.

On Thursday, the last full day of the program, students attended a barbecue, a students-versus-teachers softball game, and prepared to say goodbye to their new friends.