Hendrix College (HC)

���Generous��� financial aid and ���a strong reputation for science��� are two hallmarks of Hendrix College, ���a progressive liberal arts school filled with Southern hospitality.��� Another perk is Hendrix���s unique Odyssey Program, which allows students to ���explore all sorts of things��� in a hands-on way. You can learn printmaking, just for example, or maybe jet off to Prague to observe ballroom dancing. Class sizes are ���small��� here, and the academic atmosphere is ���exceptionally rigorous.��� ���There is a ton of writing.��� ���A lot of time must be devoted to studying.��� ���Unmotivated students do not last long.��� ���It���s sink or swim,��� contemplates a philosophy major. ���If you swim, you���re in for a really great experience.��� Professors are tough, but they���re also ���unwaveringly genial and helpful.��� Faculty members ���love what they do and are very good at it.��� ���They make the subjects really interesting,��� swears a religious studies major. They���re ���passionate about their fields and very accessible in and out of the classroom.��� Students do have some academic complaints. ���The registration process could be better.��� The level of academic satisfaction is pretty high overall, though, and the fact that about one-third of all newly minted Hendrix grads pro簫ceed directly to graduate and professional school is evidence that all the hard work pays off.

Some students tell us that Hendrix is ���a cross between��� a hippie school and a nerd school. Others call this place ���more preppy than hippie.��� More often than not, students have left-leaning political views. ���Hendrix is the liberal mecca of Arkansas.��� A fairly high percentage of students smoke���sometimes ���heavily.��� Students describe themselves as ���hardworking,��� ���very ambitious,��� ���pretty free-spirited,��� and ���eclectic��� ���intellectual misfits��� who tend to have ���lots of interests and hidden abilities.��� ���People with particularly odd or strange quirks fit right in��� at Hendrix because ���everybody is weird in one way or another.��� ���While I can���t say we are ethnically diverse,��� promises one student, ���I can say that everyone is whole簫heartedly welcome.��� In the cafeteria, ���you���ll see a jock, a gay drama kid, and a hippie all sitting together having a good time together.��� ���People form groups quickly and really just stick to those groups,��� though.

Social life here is extremely ���campus-centric,��� and Hendrix is ���small enough to evoke a sense of familiarity without feeling boring.��� ���Hendrix is its own little world where you can���t help but get caught up in something.��� ���We have everything from sword club, Frisbee team, volunteer committee, to full orchestra,��� enthuses one student. ���There is always something to do.��� ���A lot of kids play intramural sports and stay pretty athletic.��� ���People are very involved in the act of hanging out��� as well, and ���There are really interesting conversations going on all over cam簫pus.��� ���During the week, Hendrix is quiet because everybody is studying or work簫ing on something school related.��� On the weekends, however, ���Hendrix definitely has an active party scene.��� The revelry is ���easy to avoid if you want to��� but most students embrace it. ���The lack of Greek life makes parties much more open and universal.��� ���Super-fun parties��� reportedly abound. ���Almost every weekend has been predesignated for some sort of ongoing annual event.��� Off campus, some feel Conway, Arkansas, boasts little to do, but relatively urbane Little Rock is a short drive and ���a common destination for Hendrix students wanting to break away from the routine.��� Students say the campus here is ���absolutely gorgeous.��� However, some note that housing isn���t uniformly objectionable, but some of the dorms ���have issues.��� Students have few other gripes about their lives here, though. The food: always ���digestible��� and occasionally ���fantastic.���