Found a cool looking college..Hendrix

[Michelle in AL]

Jane's thread on Dickinson got me curious if anything like that existed in the south. It DOES! I found Hendrix College in Arkansas, which has an engaged learning program where students must complete 3 projects before graduation:
http://www.hendrix.edu/academics/academics.aspx?id=916

It encourages free thinking, engaged learning and community service.

[Jane in NC]

Cool! I have not been familiar with Hendrix either so it was fun to explore their website. Thanks Michelle!

Jane

[Kareni]

I first heard of Hendrix in Loren Pope's book Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges (http://www.amazon.com/Colleges-That-Change-Lives-Schools/dp/0143037366/ref=pd_sim_b_1), and I have to admit it sounds like a wonderful place. (Admittedly, all of the featured colleges in the book sound wonderful. They make me want to go back to college!) The book is well worth reading.

Regards,
Kareni

[Orthodox6]

My friend was graduated from Hendrix ! (long ago and far away, though. . .)

[mcconnellboys]

And here's one in beautiful Asheville, NC:

http://www.warren-wilson.edu/external_index.php

[Jane in NC]

And here's one in beautiful Asheville, NC:

http://www.warren-wilson.edu/external_index.php

What makes Warren Wilson interesting to me is the fact that all students are required to work on campus fifteen hours a week. In turn, students receive a direct credit to their tuition bill as compensation. This certainly could present a problem for some kids if they were assigned to a cleaning crew and not a more glamourous job. Nonetheless I think the policy offers students a meaningful ownership stake in the educational process.

[Georgia in NC]

My dh and I met and married while at Warren Wilson. The work program was one of my favorite parts and the current Dean of Work was my adviser! We live about 55 minutes from it and I love to drive through there whenever we are in the neighborhood. My dh still has lots of friends that work there or live in Buncombe.

Both of us lucked out and got great work assignments, but even the cafeteria/janitorial positions weren't that bad, lol.

I will say though, WWC is not on my kid's lists. The drug/alcohol problems there are legion and that is just the tip of the iceberg. My kids would not fit in at all. It is a shame because it is a great place and a truly worthy idea. Berea and College of the Ozarks (2 of the 6 other work schools) are still on the middle DD's list; we just have to get there to check them out first.

Note that this is all simply my humble opinion. YMMV!! ;)

Georgia

[mcconnellboys]

Yes, I agree. Alice Lloyd and Berea colleges here are set up that way, too.

[Hoggirl]

I'd be happy to try and answer any questions you might have.

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Cynthia, my dd is looking for a college that is truly service oriented with classes that follow socratic discussion. Would this describe Hendrix?

Does it feel like a close knit community?

Would you say it was more of a party school than other typical colleges?

Does it have a very strong music program?

Thanks for answering my questions!

[Hoggirl]

Thanks Cynthia, my dd is looking for a college that is truly service oriented with classes that follow socratic discussion. Would this describe Hendrix?

Does it feel like a close knit community?

Would you say it was more of a party school than other typical colleges?

Does it have a very strong music program?

Thanks for answering my questions!

I was an accounting major which is not, in general, highly conducive to Socratic discussions. Although my b-law class was ONLY socratic. The theology classes I took were very Socratic in nature as were some (but not all of my economics courses). I am not sure what you mean by "service oriented", but I would say, in general, that students there are service-minded. There are plenty of opportunities to serve/volunteer in the community.

Hendrix, b/c of its small size, is a very close-knit community. There are no fraternities and sororities there which is a big plus to me. The dorms, however, do take on their own personalities. There are MANY different types of housing options which are available now that were not there when I was in school. Foreign language houses, villages?? I really am not familiar with all of them. Most students do live on campus, though some juniors and seniors live off-campus.

My take on Hendrix has always been "work hard/play hard." There are definitely some parties that go on, but it is primarily on the weekends only. It was always pretty much nose-to-the-grindstone during the week. But, like anywhere, there are many types of folks there and parties could certainly be avoided. I would say certainly no more of a party school than others, and probably a little less so b/c of the academics.

Is she considering music as a major or is this a hobby interest she wants to continue? Hendrix is known for its strong choral group. Not sure about instrumental pursuits.

One of the "biggies" at Hendrix now is the Odyssey. This is a self-designed project/trip/study whatever that the students comes up with and completes. There is a lot of discretion to what the student does (all under advisement of course), and it can be done in a field OUTSIDE of one's major. This is new since I was there, but is designed to help differentiate students from Hendrix from other schools, especially in terms of acceptance into graduate schools. As a liberal arts college, a high percentage of students (probably 69 - 70%) go on to graduate school. It has an extremely strong pre-med program and is also a school of choice for those intending to go into the Methodist ministry. It is Methodist-affiliated. My dad graduated from medical school in 1954 at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the top 5 students in his class were Hendrix grads. This trend has continued for decades. They are extremely strong in this area. I worked in public accounting for five years and then attended law school. I was well-prepared because they do teach you how to think at Hendrix.

I did graduate in 1986, so it has been a looong time ago. I have been somewhat involved in alumni efforts, but not as much since we began homeschooling five years ago.

Big plusses are the small class sizes and the quality of teaching. The biggest minus I would give it is that it tends to be rather liberal in its mindset. That does not mean that there are NOT conservatives there or that they are ill-treated. But, I would say it has a liberal bent. But, perhaps this is true of most colleges these days.

I loved going to school there. The campus is absolutely gorgeous!

HTH, and feel free to ask more.

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Cynthia, your input is really helpful. My youngest dd is the one who wants to go there. We are Methodist and she is deep thinker with a liberal bent and a heart for missions. She also loves discussions and follows politics pretty closely for her age. She's also extremely fun loving. Sounds like a good fit. Hopefully we can afford it if she still wants to go there when the time comes.

[mcconnellboys]

Michelle, I'm not sure that Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, uses a socratic approach, but they are a Methodist school with a very sound reputation and are very involved in missions work....

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Regena, now that you mention it, 2 of our pastors went there although it was long distance. Another Methodist pastor in town and his wife went there and LOVED it. I'll go check it out.