<p>Splashmom, I'm not sure whether 2daughters found your post helpful - - but I certainly found it comforting (needless to say, my D too is a left-leaner).</p>
<p>My son is a senior and very liberal. He has very much enjoyed his time at Hendrix and is happy with his choice. He is white, but he had a black roommate last year, so I will try to remember to ask him how he thinks it is for blacks on campus. The place is so tolerant of all lifestyles and people from all places that it would be hard for me to imagine any problems, but I am not as sure of Conway itself.</p>
<p>By the way, our visits to campus and scholarship money were the deciding factors. Even though my S was admitted everywhere he applied and several admissions were quite a few rungs up on the prestige ladder, the impressions our visits to Hendrix made were pretty wonderful.</p>
<p>I doubt D will have the grades or test scores to qualify for merit money - - that would certainly sweeten the deal for us too.</p>
<p>Hi foolishpleasure & all,
Sorry I've been absent from the board - I was sick for over a week and then tied up with Thanksgiving. I will try to be a better participant!</p>
<p>Splash Mom,
I've got a post already re. Hendrix being on the short list for my son (junior in high school)...but after reading some posts the term "liberal" keeps popping up. We are fiscal conservative, social moderate/liberal southerners who are very open (not practicing any faith, for example) but I have to say that the only thing more frightening than the far right is the far left (extreme socialists, anarchists, liberal bigots). Universities tend to be bastions of liberal thinking...but is Hendrix an excessive liberal anomaly? Just trying to get a good feel for the institution and culture.
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>SplasnM and ArkM, I read the Hendrix posts on Student Reviews - - glad to see almost uniformly positive comments. </p>
<p>I've been trying to convince a friend and her S to take the trip down to Conway with us. She continues to resist, insisting that a Jewish boy couldn't be happy/comfortable in Ark. I haven't checked the college's siter re: religious diversity (wasn't on my radar), nor do I know anything more generally about Jews in Ark. </p>
<p>Can either of you shed light on this? </p>
<p>Also, are there any similar school nearby that we might want to consider adding to the list (two birds, one stone . . . )?</p>
<p>PS - ArkM, glad you're feeling better.</p>
<p>Hi nyc,</p>
<p>I hope your friend and her son take a look at Hendrix. The Jewish population in Arkansas may be small, but I have several Jewish friends & acquaintances (including one with a son currently at Hendrix) and have never heard mention of problems with discrimination. Then again, I have never walked in their shoes and would not presume to say that none exists - just that if it does, I am not aware of it. Hendrix has recently established a Jewish Cultural Center - here's the link: Hendrix</a> College - Jewish Cultural Center established</p>
<p>There is a Reform congregation in Little Rock, Temple B'nai Israel. Your friend might also want to contact the Jewish Federation of Arkansas for information: <a href="http://www.jewisharkansas.org/index.aspx?page=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.jewisharkansas.org/index.aspx?page=1</a></p>
<p>As to a similar school nearby, I'm afraid Hendrix is the only one of its kind in Arkansas. </p>
<p>Thanks for the PS. I am feeling better! :-)</p>
<p>Hi edlmct1,</p>
<p>Please don't let the recurring "liberal" theme as related to Hendrix scare you off. Hendrix is not liberal in the extreme, but in the "live-and-let-live" way. Definitely <em>not</em> a breeding ground for anarchy. :-)</p>
<p>Hi 2daughters,</p>
<p>Sorry I missed your post. I completely agree with SplashMom's reply. :-)</p>
<p>ArkMom, thanks - - I will certainly pass along the link to the Little Rock temple.</p>
<p>"Please don't let the recurring "liberal" theme as related to Hendrix scare you off. Hendrix is not liberal in the extreme, but in the "live-and-let-live" way."</p>
<p>^^ Sounds Quaker-like (tolerance); I like that.</p>
<p>A dear friend's D has been accepted EA at both Hendrix and Earlham. Hendirx is her first choice and has offered a generous merit award, but the family is waiting to see what Earlham offers, since money is a concern (they don't qualify for need-based finaid).</p>
<p>For my family, this is win/win: both schools are on my D's list, so regardless of which school friend's D selects, my family will get lots of first-hand info. </p>
<p>I can't speak for the OP, but Hendrix is moving up the rankings on our list and is pretty much a definite school to visit.</p>
<p>Thanks all and Happy New Year!</p>