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 pro­ceed 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 whole­heartedly 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 cam­pus.� “During the week, Hendrix is quiet because everybody is studying or work­ing 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.�