Looking Back On My First Year at Hendrix

<p>Well I have finished my freshman year at Hendrix. Overall the experience was a positive one and I will be returning for my sophomore year. </p>

<p>The academics were more challenging than I had anticipated. I took many AP classes in high school and scored a 33 on my ACT, but my sciences classes (especially 2nd semester) rocked my world. The professors at Hendrix I have found to be very good educators and teachers foremost and researches second. I already have a research position for next year and I know many others who do also. However, this is not to say that like all schools there aren't some professors who could use some improvement. On the whole though, the best educators I have ever had the pleasure of being taught by were at Hendrix this year. </p>

<p>Socially Hendrix is very interesting. The school has a very alternative atmosphere that is very liberal and secular. It is easy to detect a tinge of Southern conservatism in many students though. Many kids drink on the weekends (and on what is called Wednesday Fest if they don't have classes Thursday morning), but I also found many kids who did not drink at all. There is a social divide between the athletes and the rest of the student body because they tend to be quite different culturally. The administration is pretty easy going, but they are cracking down more than they have in the past from what I've heard from upper classmen.</p>

<p>There is alot of controversy going on in the student body right now. The administration is trying to expand the school and make it more "mainstream" it seems for financial and college viability reasons. This angers many students who see the school as a bastion of progressivism in the vast wilderness of southern conservatism. They want to increase enrollment by 200 students in the coming years. Students think the small communal nature of the school is under threat. The leanient de facto alcohol policy is under threat by the administration. This angers many students for obvious reasons. Also there is currently a debate going on about whether Hendrix needs a football team. The divide between athletes and the rest of the student body is evident here because the rest of the student body doesn't want more "jocks" on campus, and the athletes want to change the alternative social atmosphere of the school to something akin to the University of Arkansas. </p>

<p>Well that's all I can think of to write here. If you want to know anything else don't hesitate to ask.</p>

<p>Astrife, thanks for sharing your Hendrix experience. It was very interesting. I'm glad you found the sciences to be challenging. Hendrix is on the short list for my daughter, a current HS junior. She likes Hendrix for several reasons, not the least of which was its slightly alternative atmosphere. She's definitely of the non-Greek, non-jock persuasion. Keep us posted next year!</p>

<p>Thanks Astrife. Being from Europe, a bit more liberal, non-jock, non-greek is a better fit than Texas A&M (I live in TX). Keep us posted!!</p>

<p>Astrife, where are you from? I just got accepted into Hendrix and I'm from New York. I've never actually been to Arkansas and I'm kind of nervous that over half of the student body is from Arkansas. Do you think I'd be able to fit in or is there a big divide between students? Thanks for your post, it was really helpful.</p>

<p>I'm from Fayetteville Arkansas.</p>

<p>Don't make the mistake of writing of schools off simply because they are in the South and draw most of their students from there. I've known kids from New Jersey, Boston, Oregon, etc... that completely change their mind about Hendrix once they visit. They have images of some backwoods college with a student body of highly religious and otherwise conservative wackos, which is way off base as I stated in my post above.</p>

<p>Hendrix draws many students from Arkansas because in our state it is the only real quality alternative to the University of Arkansas which is dominated by Greeks and athletics.</p>

<p>I don't think you would have any problem fitting in at all. The only student divide there really is, is the athletes and the rest of the student body. One thing the Hendrix community definitely is, is very accepting. Almost all of my friends right now are from out of state now that I actually think about it. Lets see: my roommates from Houston, a friend from Memphis, a friend from Oregon, a friend from Tulsa OK, a friend from Boston, a friend from St. Louis, and on and on. I also know from a distance two girls that hail from NYC.</p>

<p>I definitely think you should visit the campus and stay overnight with someone. You'll get the best feel for Hendrix that way. Nothing I could tell you over CC could convey what this place is like.</p>

<p>We're from south Florida - which,despited its geographic location, is not really "southern". We visited Hendrix earlier this month and it is definitely not a typical or traditional Southern school. My daughter was so taken by Hendrix that she's sent in her acceptance, and withdrawn applications from other schools. She had applied to schools in Ohio, Indiana and New York but liked the feel of Hendrix much better. She liked the students and faculty she met there. Everyone was really friendly with kind of an offbeat sense of humor. The campus was pretty and the dorm rooms nice. There wasn't much she didn't like. It seems like a great place to spend college years to me.</p>

<p>@SuzieQ3211
From Little Rock, AR here. I spent 6 weeks at Hendrix during the summer for Arkansas Governor School, I want to add one thing or two (since you have not visited).</p>

<p>You will fit in; Hendrix is a pretty cool school. Things are pretty nice (academically, only complains were classes offerings were limited, in the sense that there is only one opportunity to take a class per year) The only gripe I have with it is its location and size. It is located 30 minutes north of Little Rock in a small suburban "town." Its campus is kinda small. If I went to Hendrix, I would feel trapped. I dunno how you will adjust moving from NY to Small Town, Arkansas.</p>

<p>Hi,
I got into Hendrix (EA) and am considering it because they offered me a really amazing financial aid package.
I am from California, and am used to the whole "melting pot" diversity thing. I am just wondering what there is to do in Conway, is it a fun place? Is it socially active? Thanks</p>

<p>Conway is an average american town with a population of 50K. It, however, is a suburb 30 minutes outside Little Rock which is a great city with lots to do.</p>

<p>Also keep in mind 3 colleges are located in Conway: Hendrix, a state school, and a really small baptist college.</p>

<p>Hendrix AO told me that decisions would be made on March 25....
Nervous…………</p>

<p>Offer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =]</p>

<p>I'm a Chinese.international application</p>

<p>thank you so much for all of your responses. I'm definintely open to going to school in the South, I feel like I need to get out of the ny bubble that I've lived in my whole life. Unfortunatly people in my area believe a lot of stereotypes about the south, but I'm definitely trying to convince people that many of these statements are untrue. Hendrix seems like an incredible school and I'm planning to visit in April. I'll definitely let you guys know what I think about it. Thanks.</p>

<p>SuzieQ3211:</p>

<p>I'm eager to read your experience !</p>