<p>While I was in New York auditioning for Juilliard, I took a trip up to Purchase College. Personally, I absolutely hated it, but I think that my dislike of it was completely based on how "college-like" it felt. And it is a college... So it's supposed to feel like one... I think that a typical college just isn't for me, especially after being out of school for a few years.
Anyway, the campus was very dreary, but they have quite a bit of land and the performing arts center was very nice. It did bother me that they had a beautiful theater on campus, but apparently students only have the opportunity to perform on that stage twice a year, and one of those is a ballet. Student housing was horrendous. The rooms were tiny, and they expected 3 students to share each one. Everyone that I talked to in the faculty and all the students were extremely friendly, which was unexpected based on the posts that I've read on here.
As for my audition, I wasn't able to schedule one while I was in New York, so I auditioned on Wednesday in Atlanta. I was instantly very angry because they were held at a hotel by the airport, and I was forced to pay 9 DOLLARS for about 30 minutes of parking. There were no other options, and it was a flat rate. Ridiculous. (Sorry, I'm cheap.) I wore heels and asked if I needed movement clothes, they said no. I signed in and waiting about 15 minutes for my slot. I was interviewed by 2 faculty members for about 10 minutes. Everyone that I talked to was very friendly, although I felt like they were mocking me some during my interview. Luckily I've been working in the industry long enough to develop a thick skin, but if I were auditioning as a high school senior, it probably would've had a negative effect on my audition. They had me stand on an X on the floor and go straight into both of my monologues and my song, then they thanked me, and I left. </p>
<p>Juilliard results: I didn't make it to the final callback weekend. For those of you wondering, 141 people made it to the first round of callbacks, and 40 of us were asked to come to the final callback weekend. Here's to next year!</p>
<p>Again, I hope that all of my posts can be helpful for all of you college hopefuls and parents. Please be persistent and do what is right for you! Follow your dreams!</p>
If you thought housing at Purchase was bad, you would have hated the Juilliard dorms. (Although the view is fantastic.) Congrats on making it to the first level of Juilliard callbacks, even if not to the weekend and good luck with the rest of your results.</p>
<p>Sorry I forgot to mention the Black Box Theatre! For some reason, the student leading our tour couldn’t get the keys to it that day, and we didn’t get to see it.
I was told that if you are over 21, you have the option of choosing apartment style housing, but other than that, you are required to live in either a tiny room with 2 other people or a suite style room with about 4 other people. </p>
<p>Glassharmonica, Thank you. Student housing for Juilliard is definitely not ideal, but it’s also in Lincoln Center in the middle of Manhattan. And if you’re living there, it means you’re going to Juilliard. Can you tell I really want to go to Juilliard? </p>
<p>Luckily, you aren’t required to live in student housing at Purchase, while at Juilliard, all first year college students must live in student housing.</p>
<p>If somebody is actually accepted at Purchase (not easy!) and is trying to choose between it and another program, they might look carefully into housing policies.</p>
<p>We were told that Purchase students with more credits qualify for better dorm accommodations.</p>
<p>I found the following in the online “housing brochure”:</p>
<p>According to the brochure, three of the four residence halls do offer singles.</p>
<p>I am not sure, but I think that the “more credit/better housing” rule might also apply to freshmen coming in with AP credits or other college credits.</p>
<p>WOW! I never heard of a college offering housing based on grades! But it may be a way of doing it if they have limited housing.</p>
<p>Gosh, if you have a less than stellar GPA, you are on pins and needles to simply get into a school, then to find out that your grades may also affect your housing!!</p>
<p>I question this applying to freshman. Some students don’t get their “High School college credits” until mid-summer or later. For example IB scores aren’t posted until July and scores don’t show up at colleges until even later. Colleges then have to determine whether they will grant credit, etc. All of this is accomplished long after housing assignments are made by the college. My guess, is it is first come first serve for freshmen for most schools.</p>
<p>Oh I know that! LOL…I really just meant about the college acceptance part…I would hate to have to add the issue of getting housing on campus as well.</p>
<p>I wasn’t able to talk to many of the students at Purchase, but from the ones I did talk to, they gave me the impression that commuting is pretty common. Apparently renting an apartment nearby in White Plains can be affordable. Parking is really cheap, and the campus is small enough that walking from class to class wouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>Hopeful, sorry you didn’t make it to the final round at Juilliard, but it’s quite an accomplishment to have made it so far! </p>
<p>As for Purchase, well, everyone has their own likes and dislikes. As to commuting–personally I would find that worse than living on campus even in a triple! The driving in that area is on the lunatic level. (I grew up in Northern NJ and my sister lives in CT–I’ve driven there quite a bit.) Anyway, everyone has their own thing that bothers him/her or doesn’t bother so much. Hopeful, here’s hoping for a place you love and that values you! :-)</p>
<p>Hello! SUNY Purchase BFA student here! Hopefully your visit of our school and seeing the non-program related aspects of the school did not put you off too much. I am the first to admit the school looks… bad (to say the least) but the BFA program is not the school itself. If you’re picking a conservatory based on the look of the school, I’d go elsewhere myself haha, but if you want quality, Purchase is one of the best options.</p>
<p>Please feel free to message me with questions about the program itself, as the tours are not run by BFA students either.</p>
<p>Atopthefence, I’m going to pose a question here in hopes that you will see it, since others may be interested too. Actually, two questions.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do you feel there is intense pressure in your BFA program, or would you describe the atmosphere as more nurturing or collaborative?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you think you are getting a well-rounded theatrical education, so if you wanted to pursue technical theatre in addition to acting, you are getting the tools to enable you to do so?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It’s so nice of you to offer to answer questions about Purchase. I think you might get more responses if you start a new thread. That way it will stand out more. </p>
<p>My son will be applying to Purchase next year, but he is in technical theater, not performance. Still, looking forward to hearing your perspective.</p>
<p>Purchase Update: I was accepted into the theater program, but not the acting conservatory.
It’s actually a little relieving because although I hated the campus, I knew I would feel obligated to go if I got in since their program has such a fantastic reputation.</p>