@ad_astrava – thank you for posting details about your D’s experience. This helps us as we further refine D19’s list. An environment as you describe would probably not be the best place for her.
UNCSA is known for a nurturing environment, and they’re one of the tippy-top acting programs, with alumni working in TV, Oscar-nominated movies, Broadway, etc. So not all “top acting programs” have the same approach as Purchase.
And the idea that an acting program should be harsh just because the industry itself is full of rejection is ridiculous. An acting program should be challenging and rigorous and push you to grow and experiment and access your emotions, etc. For some a “tough” program might be ideal, while others may “shut down” and be afraid to take risks in that kind of program. Each actor has their own process, and different approaches work for different people.
But that has ZERO to do with the industry. Yes, auditioning for professional roles means facing a lot pf rejection. But college is about training and growing and learning the craft - THAT process shouldn’t be all about “rejection.”
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Do BFA programs for theatre tech have the same norms and culture (or “toughness”) as BFA programs for acting?
As you may recall, my son is a freshman in the BFA theater tech program at SUNY Fredonia, hoping to wind up in the lighting concentration. His program is rigorous - for his once weekly drafting class, held on Friday mornings, he is spending most nights in the lab working, as are a number of his cohort. That said, he and his cohort have bonded and they watch out for each other. There is no cut throat competition. At family weekend, I met some of the other students and saw a show, after which I went on a group tour of the newly renovated $40million plus performing arts center. To say I was impressed both with the facility (front and backstage) and with the joy, zest and talent exhibited by the students. My son is not a competitive person and one of the things he constantly tells me about his school is that “the people here are SO nice, genuinely nice.”
He applied to Purchase and was accepted to the B.A. in Theater Arts, but after checking it out with kids he knew who had attended the school, he opted not to proceed with the application process for theater tech. The kids he knew were not in the theater tech program but told him that the environment was endemic. He told me he would not enjoy a very competitive program, he prefers collaborative work. For me, personally, I love and thrive on competition and the program described by the above poster would have been up my alley, if I were into acting. I had to get over my son not going to Purchase, which is like an Ivy League for theater. I am very pleased where he has ended up other than how far it is from home.
What I think is great is that there are so many different types of programs, with different foci and intensities so that our kids can, hopefully, find a great fit.
Thanks, @techmom99 – yours is a nice description. My D19 would absolutely not fit in with a very competitive program, an “Ivy League for theatre” place, etc.
This type of important information is not found on a college’s website, in a book, etc. Thank you for posting about it here. It helps refine the list.
My D had experience with being in tough, professional environments before she auditioned for BFA programs. She specifically stayed away from programs which had a reputation (confirmed through people she personally knew) for cut-throat competitiveness and the “breaking” mentality. Instead, she searched for (and found and is thriving at) a program with rigor, a high level of professionalism, and a nurturing environment combined. As she said, she wanted her program to be a Home Base that was professional with high expectations yet supportive and caring. Clearly, just because she wants warm and fuzzy along with rigor for her “Home Base” doesn’t mean she can’t handle the tough professional world; she already has handled that world fine.
As a parent, I’m incredibly thankful that D is in a nurturing environment. She’s gone through some tough personal times while in college, and she’s far from home. Her professors and the administrators at her school have been absolutely incredible—much, much more than I’d ever expected or even hoped. I’d love to be able to properly thank each one of the professionals in her program for what they do: help develop their students professionally with rigorous training, yet watch out for and care for them personally in meaningful ways all at the same time.
Also crossing my fingers and praying that my other children will land in such supportive, personal, nurturing colleges no matter what their majors…
@OrangeFish my daughter is a senior in college and she is attending a “non Ivy” of theatre departments where the atmosphere is “fluffy”. She just finished working (paid) with an Emmy/Tony award winning director on a 29 hour equity read of a new musical. Her college is rarely seen on any playbill. It’s all about fit. So glad you know what type of environment your daughter will thrive in.
Thank you, @bisouu! My D19 wants to pursue theatre tech, but I know she will need a respite while she learns. She is passionate and high energy and a hard worker, but she needs supportive people around her to say “it’s okay” and “it will work out better next time.”
As you said, it’s all about fit.
How is Purchase’s BA in Theater & Performance?
From what I have heard through my child and many others in college including a few at Suny Purchase the program
still is strong. Is it Julliard, Carnegie or UNCSA strong no but it’s in the next tier with Minnesota, BU and Michigan.
^I think @2lights info is for the BFA in acting which the school is known for. @Loli Ann -not sure about their BA program.
May I ask where she is? We are just starting to form a list and this sounds like my D and yours are very alike.
@absehamom, which post were you responding too? Myloves’ D is at University of the Arts, and bisouu’s D went to Drew University, if it was either of those.
Sorry just learning the site. Thank you that was helpful. We are just starting the process of deciding where my D wants to audition.
@actorboy27 Hi! I know this comment thread is super old, but if you see this, would you mind telling me a bit about this “true conservatory” approach Purchase has? I’m assuming you attended/are attending the school, and I’m just curious to hear about someone’s experiences whose been there recently. Thanks!
@carcarpast - Every kid is different. What feels right for one student, may not be attractive to another student. My son was accepted into the SUNY Purchase Acting program. It was one of his top 3 schools, until he visited last spring. He did not like the vibe he got from the first year students where he got to observe classes and have lunch with them. He said most of the students were very anxious about possibly being cut from the program. Technically, they do not have a “cut” program. But, the kids said that there were students that were not invited back each year. After visiting, my son decided this was not the program for him. – Again, every student is different. –
Hey @carcarpast just another voice and impression. As STHmom says every kid is so different and looking for different things. My Daughter wanted a high intensity Acting BFA. I would say at the end of a loooooooong process she was down to three. NYU Tisch ETW, UNCSA and then she got off of Purchase waitlist. She fell in love with UNCSA when they presented at Chicago Unifieds but she too spent a day a Purchase and visited classes. She loved Purchase.Loved it! I think in the end she would have picked it over NYU. She loved the kids, the approach, the vibe. I don’t know what the above kids issues were who were worried, but Purchase does not- does not- have a cut program. Any conservatory that feels a student is somehow not fitting or working hard or has issues would address that but that can happen in any program. My daughter loved her visit in addition to another full day there with tour and lots of talking and feedback with current BFA students. So her impression was positive and if not for her dream school coming through she would have been thrilled to attend Purchase.
@carcarpast My D is a mid-semester Junior BFA Acting student at Purchase. It is a true conservatory in the sense that the students are required to take very few general education/non-conservatory classes. The program is very intense and not what I would call nurturing or overly-supportive. They are very tough on the actors. Per my D, they are not technically a cut program (meaning they do not accept more students than they expect to graduate) but kids do get put on professional probation and will be asked to leave from time to time.
Having said that, she feels the training continues to be outstanding and she has grown considerably in 2 1/2 years. She wouldn’t mind a little kinder/gentler touch now and then. She had other offers but still believes she ended up in the right place for her. Let me know if I can ask her any specific questions.
Does anyone know if SUNY Purchase will be releasing decisions soon? Also do they make acceptance phone calls??
@stressedactor last year, Purchase released decisions via email on 3/15.