@FROMTHESOUTH3 , Colby was definitely my son’s first choice. He applied ED but was deferred so he also applied to Bates, Middlebury, St. Michael’s, and our state flagship. The common theme (with the exception of our state U) is a small, selective northern New England LAC with proximity to skiing! Colby, Bates, and Midd were reaches, St. Mike’s on the safety side of a match, and the state U a safety. Ultimately he was admitted to Colby and to St. Mike’s, as well as the state flagship. Other than the cost, Colby was an easy choice (my thread discussing that: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1880691-cobly-vs-st-michaels-d-day-is-coming-p1.html).
I think all the things that @5050mom1618 relayed from her daughter equally apply to my son – the sense of community and everyone is really friendly, academic but not overly serious, the interest that the faculty take in their students, etc… My son is very active on a club sport team as well, and he will be a COOT “Dad” in the fall.
Central Maine probably seems pretty remote and foreign to somebody “from the south,” but I would say it is probably worth taking a trip up there to visit if you can swing it.