Hendrix College

Hendrix was helpful. I was not prepared by my high school for the difficulty of the work load. However, I was favorably noticed by the faculty and helped me get into grad school. It was not until then that I realized how much better I was prepared for the real world by having a broad, liberal arts background. I wish I had been more social and interactive with my professors. The connections I did make are still helpful.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

Hendrix provides a true liberal arts experience. Students are especially encouraged to take classes within and outside of their majors. The education quality here is the big reason why this college worth every penny it charges. Not that anyone should place much emphasis on rankings, but Hendrix is ranked #11 of all national liberal arts colleges for best undergraduate teaching in US News this year. Extracurricular activities are plenty and easy to be involved in here (all classes end at 4:00 pm (yay for no night classes!), so there is plenty of time for them), but they are mostly relaxed and a heavier focus is placed on academics. It took some time to adjust from the competitive-yet-non-enriching environment of high school to the chill-yet-challenging-and-growth-fostering environment of Hendrix.

The advantages of the small class sizes outweigh the disadvantages. The smaller class sizes allow for more discussion and collaboration (and creativity). Teachers are very accessible and have time to grade your work and give you appropriate feedback. This actually makes the academics more rigorous than at a large university because more is asked of you. In essence, you don't simply learn facts; you learn how to think and effectively communicate your thoughts. At a large university where each of your classes has hundreds of students, you aren't asked more than what can be read by a machine and assigned a grade quickly. Also, teachers at Hendrix can write you letters of recommendations even after freshman year because they come to know you as a student through examination of your work and discussions with you in class and during office hours; it's hard to be just a number here. My teachers at Hendrix are all very qualified, intelligent, and genuine. It makes a huge difference in my learning experience to be taught by people whom I look up to.

It's no secret that Arkansas is mostly a conservative state, and most people in my tiny hometown view Hendrix as a "liberal party school," but the truth is that unlike many small homogeneous towns in Arkansas, people at Hendrix don't all think and act the same way. My friends here are from all over the country and all over the world. They of varying religions, races, sexual orientation, and political stances. The diversity often fosters insightful conversations.

Hendrix students tend to be nerdy and quirky. We study hard during the week and let loose on the weekends.

There's usually a party happening on or around campus on weekends, and I don't think it's not something to be looked down upon. Conway is thirty minutes from Little Rock (Arkansas's capital), and it's much safer for college students to party on campus than it is for them to take trips (and risk driving inebriated) to party off campus. At the same time, it's easy to steer clear of the party scenes if you're not into that kind of thing. I fall into the latter group, and it wasn't difficult for me to find a big group of great friends who don't drink and party.

The Hendrix campus is very beautiful, which makes a walk through campus a pleasant experience during any season. There are tons of squirrels that climb the abundant trees and other plentiful vegetation. The beautiful buildings are a mixture of new and old with a uniform architecture characterized by signature archways. The buildings are pretty close together, making the physical campus size rather small. Consequently, it a less-than-five-minute walk from point A to point B anywhere on campus. You really appreciate this when your friends at state universities are complaining about walking half a mile or more between classes.

The Hendrix dining hall is one of my favorite places on campus. The long rows of connected dining tables (which resemble the setup at Hogwarts) make it hard to eat alone; mealtimes are often a social event. The lunch ladies are some of the friendlies people who take the time to learn your name, and the food is some of the best university food there is. On Saturday nights when the dining hall is closed, I walk across the street where there is a Panera Bread, Purple Cow, and sushi restaurant.

Conway isn't the most exciting city, but it's safe and has a nice movie theatre, some shops, and plenty of good restaurants. Also, as mentioned earlier, Little Rock, where there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment and internships, is only a half hour drive away.I highly encourage visiting campus. Many of my out-of-state friends say that because Hendrix is in lame ole Arkansas, they never would have considered Hendrix if they hadn't visited, but this college is truly a hidden gem. To understand the magic of this place, you must see it for yourself.

1st Year Female -- Class 2017

Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: B-

I really don't understand where some of the negative comments about Hendrix are coming from, I've had an entirely pleasant experience here. The academics are challenging, there's plenty to do on campus, the students and staff are all friendly and helpful, the cafeteria's amazing... Conway's not the best college town, but it's not horrible either. And the partying? Really not that big of an issue unless you live in Martin Hall. I have a few minor quibbles with the college bureaucracy and how the funding's being spent (I'd prefer less on athletics and more on proper draining), but other than that I really can't complain.One thing to note for fellow out-of-staters, though- Arkansas may have mild winters, but they come coupled with thunderstorms, ice storms, and the occasional tornadoes and earthquakes. And the summers get hot and humid, though you get to leave before the worst of it.

1st Year Female -- Class 2014

Faculty Accessibility: A+, University Resource Use/ spending: B