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Lots of small colleges aspire to be alike. Hendrix, is seems, wants to be different. And, different it is.

Despite their lip service to diversity, many small colleges...particularly those with strong church connections...hope to wind up with extremely homogeneous student bodies with very similar beliefs and life goals. Not so at Hendrix.

Here are two sentences on the Hendrix website which seem to summarize its educational philosophy. "At Hendrix, you'll find yourself in frequent discussions with people whose views differ from yours, but your ideas will always be respected. We believe it's important to challenge conventional wisdom and our own assumptions."

The Odyssey program, which requires students to become engaged in at least three hands-on learning experiences during their undergraduate years, also sets Hendrix apart.

Hendrix draws students from 9 countries and nearly 35 states. Minority enrollment is about 12%. Total enrollment is a little under 1,100.

Hendrix is probably the most selective college or university in Arkansas. About half it's students ranked in the top ten percent of their high school classes, three quarters were in the top quarter, and their midrange ACT composite scores were 25-31.

Both the Hendrix student faculty ratio and average class size are low, and virtually every Hendrix instructor has earned the highest degree offered in his/her field.

Hendrix has managed to put together a very healthy endowment, currently valued at approximately $190 million.

Hendrix's actual "cost of attendance" is also a big plus because virtually everyone receives financial aid in one form or another.

If you're looking for hands-on learning experiences, a college where an exchange of ideas and lively discussion are the norm, and a college with a strong graduate school placement record, Hendrix may be for you.