SUNY Purchase?

[karen24]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 7:36pm

My son just got accepted to SUNY Purchase and I was wondering if anyone here might be going there or have graduated from there. I suspect that most people here would have gone to one of the conservatories, but he would actually be a Literature major. He does sing and act and has done a lot of that in HS, but he doesn't want to pursue it professionally--he thinks he wants to teach English and Drama. But I'm sure he'd like to try out for some things if the opportunity arose. Just wondering if anyone could offer any perspective on the general experience of going there. I know the campus is pretty ugly, but that doesn't seem to concern him. He really wants to be near the city (we lived in Westchester until he was in 9th grade; now we live upstate).
I guess my main concern is that he find a friendly atmosphere, stuff to get involved with, and good professors in his area of interest. Thanks for any input!

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 7:53pm

i can ask my neighbor if i see her online tonight... she's been there since the fall. she's going there for singing though. i do know she had to audition to be in some of her classes, but i don't know much else about it

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 7:57pm

I hate to rain on your parade, but as someone with an eerily similar situation as your son 5 years ago I feel I must speak up. You will not find any of those things you stated you were looking for at SUNY Purchase (friendly atmosphere, stuff to get involved with, good English professors). It is NOT a good school. I went there for a year and transferred out it was so bad. The ONLY saving grace of the ENTIRE experience was (Williams' biographer/critic) Michael Paller's Tennesse Williams and theatre classes, but one or two classes is not enough to make a happy college experience. Please, seriously heed my words!

There are NO musical theatre courses and most students there are either in the dance or opera conservatories or in the science department. There is a scant straight drama program, as well, but they only do dramas. They don't even do musicals except the occasional student-direActed benefit drag show. BTW the campus is mostly gay/lesbian so there is a lot of activism and protests and such, which I can only imagine has become more precipitous since I was there. Also, the school was designed by a prison designer and the entire dorm area can be locked off with 5 doors to keep the students "contained". One of the buildings burned down when I was there, a few students trapped inside and hospitalized for smoke inhalation/burns, barely escaping death. I did NOT know that any of this was the case when I arrived so I was a bit taken aback. He will NOT be happy there. It is NOT a good school. He would be better off going to SUNY Binghamton as the school is much better all around and the theatre classes/program is marginally better and the English department is unparalleled as far as SUNY schools go.

Since I was a Theatre AND English major, let me tell you, the English classes are just as bad as the theatre classes. They even give out the grade of A+ which the Registrar at SUNY Bing actually laughed at when she saw it on my transcript when I transferred from Purchase.

I'm sure this is not what you want to hear, but it is the heartfelt truth!

P
Updated On: 1/26/10 at 07:57 PM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:11pm

oh wow lol

and my neighbor, who's there for opera, is a straight born again baptist who doesn't believe in homosexuality. interesting lol

[karen24]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:46pm

Wow, that certainly is not a good report. I will be interested in hearing other opinions if there are any more to come. I do want to say that some of your criticisms seem a bit odd to me. My son is not gay but he has many gay friends and I'm sure an active gay/lesbian population would not faze him. Also we are well aware that the campus is ugly. My chief concern is your statement that the English professors/classes are bad. In what way are they bad? Not challenging, bad teachers?

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:49pm

it sounds like the comlaints about the campus were not complaints about the appearence of the campus, but the safety of the dorm buildings.

[somuchtodo]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:50pm

Check out this site:
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:51pm

I just have to say that, as someone who had a fairly unusual college experience, and did not feel like I got from it the satisfaction that many of my peers did, while I don't disparage the validity of Pgenre's misgivings with the school and acknowledge that they are valid concerns, obviously you'd be foolish to take one person's word as the opinion to listen to on the school. Because at the end of the day, it is one person's opinion, and every student's experience, even at one school, is so completely different from every other one. Just that you didn't like it, or get what you expected out of it doesn't make it a bad school. The school that I chose ultimately may not have been 100% right for me -- but I don't think I would ever try to steer people away from considering it. It's the right choice for an awful lot of people, even if it wasn't for me. I think it's very important to be honest with prospectives, but also on your son's end to try to take in as many viewpoints as he can. Don't see one person saying it's terrible and let that be the end of your consideration. Does that make sense? (And no disrespect, P, but you were there for one year -- so you had what, a handful of the professors? That's not really a lot to measure on.)

That being said, I do not know Purchase personally, but I'm from an area nearby and have known a lot of people who went there. It is not by any means a bad school. It's one of the best-regarded of the SUNY schools, and as state universities go, New York's are, overall, quite good, and of them, it's known to have a lot of students who are both very artistic and very intelligent. The people I know who went there ended up there on a variety of different terms -- people who have started there and transferred elsewhere, who have dropped out period, who have transferred there from other schools, done the whole four years and more, etc. I know people who have loved it and people who have hated it. A lot of negativity seems to come, in my experience, from the conservatory program. I know people who are and have been VERY happy in the academic departments, yes, including the English department. I do think the inconsistency of the student body with all of that coming and going (though I hear of more transfers in than out) might be a hinderance to the social landscape, but it doesn't seem to mean people don't get involved or make friends or anything ridiculous like that.

I don't know if you know about this site, but you might want to check out collegeconfidential.com. When I was applying to college everybody used it -- and swore by it. It's a good place to look for some of the information you're interested in.

Here is their Purchase page: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/suny-college-purchase/

Best of luck to your son! (And may I ask where else he is considering/waiting to hear from?)

Updated On: 1/26/10 at 08:51 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:13pm

I am telling you for the last time, karen24, it is a BAD school with a BAD campus in every way (academically, socially, logistically, architecturally, etc). The only thing worse than the Theatre department is the English department. I was the singular student in each of my English classes to actually read ANY of the novels discussed in class (3 professors openly admitted this to me) and more than 50% of class conversation was my own questions and perspectives. You must realize that I am not the type of person to dump on something unless I feel very justified in doing so and have done my research and this is a first hand account of a NIGHTMARE first year college experience. I wish you and your son the best, but again, heed my words.

luvtheEmcee, despite your best efforts not to step on my toes, your post is nonsense BS full of hearsay and conditionals. I can't believe you wrote so much and said so little with it (a claim often lobbed at me so I'm particularly sensitive to it). Please, please, please don't take it the wrong way, but you are not helping here, at least not with the specific discussion of the relative merits of actually attending Purchase itself and your experience (you can't, because you didn't). In the same post, you say that I am not a reliable source because I *only* went there for a year but put hearsay from friends and strangers on a pedestal. It's nonsensical and unhelpful, but, again, I mean no disrespect to you personally.

I really hope you reconsider, karen24. I spent $20,000 (tuition, student fees and off-campus living) finding out the hard way. SUNY Binghamton, while much more difficult to get into, has been rated the best public university on the east coast for the price year after year for very good reason. Compared to Purchase, in every way, it is like night and day. I was born and raised in Bing and had to go to Purchase to realize what was in my own backyard all along (though I was also accepted to NYU and Fordham). Again, consider your options, and your son's, because you appear to be a very actively involved parent who cares a lot and I fear you are setting yourself up for a nightmare. I hope you reconsider.

P

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:24pm

Ok, wow, you really need to chill. I'm not trying to step on your toes, and per usual, you are being overly defensive of your pomposity. You don't know who I know, or how many people I am talking about, where I am from, where I went to school, or what I've experienced. (But come on now -- do you really think I've just gathered information from strangers on the street? I have good friends and family who went there. What, do you want their names? For God's sake.) And I think it's only fair that your one, singular opinion be taken with the appropriate grain of salt. Like I said, which you seem to have missed, read again: I am not questioning the experience you had, or that you were unhappy with the school. I am not saying that you are unreliable, or that your opinions are not valid -- I'm saying that you are one person, with one experience, and that that is important to remember. That's why I suggested karen and her son look on a website like College Confidential, which I see someone else linked as well. What, I'm not helping because I don't agree with you? Why are you accusing me of putting people I know "on a pedestal" simply because their opinions and experiences are different than yours? Where do you even get that from? Why are you assuming I've done that? Because you think that your opinion is the only one someone should listen to. I understand that you want to try to save someone trouble, but you're not the only person who has ever gone to this school. And no, I didn't, but that does not invalidate what I'm saying on a larger level about the decision as a whole. I would have felt the same exact way if you or someone else had come on here raving about how utterly perfect it was in every single way. It's not a decision to take lightly, is my point -- or to make based on an insufficient amount of information. Does that make sense to you this time?

(And calling me nonsensical and telling me that my opinion is bullsh*t is not meant to disrespect me? I wish I could believe that. Talk about nonsensical. Really now.)

Updated On: 1/26/10 at 09:24 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:36pm

Nothing you have written in this thread really makes sense or is entirely applicable to this discussion, luvtheEmcee, so no, I don't.

Again, I went there, I lived there, I experienced it- you did not. Therefore, any opinion you express will be based on hearsay from your friends, no matter who or what or how many. THAT is the opinion to take with a grain of salt, not an actual first hand experience like mine, particularly when I have put so much time, thought and effort into expressing it clearly. But the link that was posted (thanks somuchtodo!) reinforces all of what I said and more so it is what it is. Better luck next time.

P

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:51pm

What I'm saying about the school is not valid at all because I did not actually go there myself? Fine. I'm not putting it out there for your benefit, so Karen can decide whether she wants to consider it or not. Of course I can't argue that it's not indirect. But that's completely different than several of the accusations you made, such as that I'm coming up with this information from complete strangers. No, I didn't experience it myself, and maybe that makes what I say somehow "less" valid to you. But it is not INvalid; these are still real people who, you know, really go there and really exist. And again, whether Karen wants to choose to throw that into the mix is her prerogative. They may not post here, but how are their experiences, assuming they have been honest, any less valid than yours? Because they are not you. Excuse me for not knowing that you are the ONLY person out there who has ever gone, not only to this college, but to ANY college!

The opinions I express on the decision process in general are invalid why, Pgenre, because it's not specifically about the school? So therefore you can just throw it out in order to further validate yourself? You know, this is looking more and more like a simple continuation of your obsession with being "right." In instances, no less, when there really is no such thing. I hardly ever bother interacting with you because that's all it ever is with you. But college admissions/decisions happen to be very sensitive topics to me. (Though I'm sure you think they're not allowed to be because I didn't attend Purchase.) This isn't about the school anymore, it's about trying to get me to retreat because I upset your little informational monopoly.

I really hoped when I posted that this wouldn't turn into some kind of stupid personal argument, but you are really acting like a baby. Would it be so hard to read something that doesn't coincide with what you say and just say, okay, someone disagrees with me, the end? You have to sit here and actually lecture me about why I am invalid?

At least we can about match each other with the rhetoric.

Updated On: 1/26/10 at 09:51 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 9:58pm

"At least we can about match each other with the rhetoric."

Amount, no contest. Quality? Questionable. Very, very questionable.

BTW - all that you just wrote, again, has nothing to do with this thread. Better luck next time (again).

P

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:03pm

Do you seriously think that just because some of my points are not about this school in particular, they have "nothing to do with the thread"? Yup, doesn't count at all. Quality? Down the f*cking DRAIN. Utterly useless! Forgive me. I suppose we can blame your lack of reading comprehension skills on your awful English professors, then.

Much of what I've written, yes, now has nothing to do with the original topic at hand. But we have you and your ego to thank for that, haven't we sweetie? That's all that's behind your smoke and mirrors, after all.

Updated On: 1/26/10 at 10:03 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:05pm

"Sometimes when the wrappings fall, there's nothing underneath at all" -- SS, FOLLIES

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:06pm

Oh my gosh, you DO understand! Guess that English major did you good after all.

Goodnight, dear. It's been a pleasure, as always.

Updated On: 1/26/10 at 10:06 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:13pm

I'd say, "It's been... something!", but that would be a lie. So... it's been... nothing.

P

[D2]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 10:32pm

Karen, the daughter of one of my colleagues went to Purchase and I believe had an overall good experience at the school. PM me, and I will get you in touch with her if you like. If only to hear the other side of the story.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 12:41am

I had a tour there (way back in 03) and when we were about halfway through the tour and near the parking lot the guide told us that it was a terrible school and that he would never tell anyone to go there but they paid him money to give tours.

Every single one of us went to our cars and drove away.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 1:26am

^ And that person should have gotten fired. I get if you didn't like the school while visiting, but you cannot tell that to people if you are giving tours.

And, I'm just putting this out as a suggestion. Is there a way your son could arrange with the school to spend a day on campus with another student? I mean, going to classes with them. If I'm not mistaken, I think some schools do allow this.

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 2:39am

I went there and although I was in the acting conservatory which is a whole different experience from the rest of the school I must say that unless you're in a conservatory...I wouldn't go. I don't want to slam my school and I'm sure there are plenty that love it and are happy with their education, I felt most non conservatory students were not remotely serious about their studies, found the Gen Ed classes appalling and a joke and frequently felt like the rest of the school felt like a glorified community college. That does not reflect the acting program at all but as far as the rest of the school.... trust me, look elsewhere. PM me if you have any specific questions.

Updated On: 1/27/10 at 02:39 AM

[karen24]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 8:22am

Hmmmm, OK, moving right along...

I appreciate everyone's opinions, and yes, of course I am not going to make a decision based on just a few comments. Perhaps I should also post this on the student board? At any rate, I will just add a little more background. My son only wants to look at schools in the NY metro area, so SUNY Binghamton is out. His GPA is on the low side (about 2.7) but his SATs were very high for writing and reading, and he also did very well on the two AP exams (US History and English Comp) he's taken so far.
Other than SUNY Purchase, he's been accepted at Drew (in NJ) and St. John's. He's also applied to & is waiting to hear from The New School, Hofstra, Fordham, and SUNY Stony Brook.
We are probably not going to qualify for much financial aid because we earn too much & have saved too much (although we're still waiting to find that out.) But for example Drew's "sticker price" is almost $50,000 a year. St. John's has offered him a $17,00 scholarship which would bring its cost down to something comparable to SUNY, but he is not very enthusiastic about going there. If I ultimately decide that it's worth the financial sacrifice to get him a significantly better education at one of these other schools, of course we'll go that route, but right now I'm just not sure.
We are going to go down to SUNY next month and have a tour, and I'm going to see if he can sit in on an English class &/or speak to one of the professors.
I'll also check on collegeconfidential. Thanks a lot, everyone!
Karen

[misschung]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 9:10am

Wow, I'm reading this thread and thinking maybe I should refrain from posting, but given that Purchase is my alma mater, I need to step in here and defend.

I felt most non conservatory students were not remotely serious about their studies

I disagree. I graduated from Purchase in 2002 with a BA in Literature, and can honestly say that the courses I took - both upper and lower level - were excellent. The senior project, which is the sort of capstone of the Purchase experience - was the most rewarding academic work that I've yet to accomplish. You will find that a lot of students drop out prior to beginning this project, or switch to the Liberal Studies program, which does not require a thesis.

I think that, like a lot of other universities, the more serious work of whatever program you enter really begins in your third and fourth years of study. Many of the professors at Purchase genuinely love teaching at the undergraduate level, which is something that cannot be said about the faculty at more prestigious universities.

If your son is serious about attending SUNY Purchase with a Literature concentration, I think he would love it. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions, and good luck!

[misschung]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 11:26am

Karen - I tried sending you a PM and it said "user does not accept private messages" !

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 12:42pm

Before reading this thread, I had only heard one thing about the school: ugly campus.

I think Princeton Review even has it listed in the #4 slot for ugliest campuses in the country.