<p>This “new development” at SUNY that is supposedly happening “everywhere” is just plain false. Though it’s true that because of the economy budget cuts are happening everywhere at SUNY they were happening even when the economy was at a high back in the early 2000’s when I went there. When I went there the economy was literally better than it had been in decades according to financial pundits. The school still would give all the funding to the acedemic sides in order to lure in more students and get more money. The sets for the “regular” drama kids would always be FAR superiour to our sets as we’d only have enough money to use wooden black squares on the set and the theater administrators of the conservatory were in a constant battle for more funding. Most of them gave up and left. Including the Dean that made the program what it was back when the reputation lived up to the truth- Isreal Hicks, who was recently given credit by various newspapers for taking the Theater Program at Rutgers (the school he left Purchase for due to their refusals at giving the program funding or paying the theater teachers fair wages) and turning it around so dramatically as to make the Rutgers theater program a contender in the North East for theater education. As for Dean Irby he was NOTORIOUS for never showing up for his own classes. Often leaving the students there waiting not knowing if he was ever going to show up for class. So that comment stating that Dean Irby is a great teacher absolutely MUST be a rep of the school. In the entire 4 years I was there never Once did a student in my class nor any other conservatory class ever say that Dean Irby was a “great teacher”. Everyone made fun of him and said that he was just here by name for the paycheck. He would get really ****ed if someone came into his class late - but the only reason people would do that was because half the time he himself would walk in 30-45 minutes late and a couple of times didn’t show up at all. All he’d offer was an apology the next day without making any attempt at changing his ways or taking his job seriously. Alls I’m saying is don’t go on just reputation. You should ask Alumni about the school (and by alumni I don’t mean the current students you meet at the audition area, because they are coached to tell you everything’s rosy the day before they supervise the audition). You should ask mostly seniors I think. If Dean Irby is a responsible and amazing teacher than I am a green foot. I’ve had great teachers there and he was not one of them…not even when he actually showed up.</p>
<p>Another hint: No matter which acting program you go to you will find the following to be true. A great director does not necessarily make a great teacher. We had a couple of well known directors come in and direct us for shows and teach classes. This was two sides of the coin. On the one hand it sucks when you realize no one is getting anything of value from this famous director whilst in a classroom setting, but on the other hand let me tell you that having their name on your resume does WONDERS in an audition setting once you graduate. Even I was surprised at the effect a well known name can have on your resume. But a lot of schools have well known people come in and teach so it’s just a matter of homework. If I could do it over I would have dropped out after the second year and started my acting career right then whilst also changing my major to go to school pt for something more useful as a degree. Like I said previously, we all already know that an Acting degree is as good as NO degree and when you go to auditions you can still write down SUNY PURCHASE CONSERVATORY even if you never graduate from the program. They don’t care if you graduated or not. As far as their conserned it’s the fact that you got in and went that’s impressive to them. I’ve never had an auditioner look at my resume and ask “But did you Graduate from the conservatory?” Some people stay in their acting programs to the end even though they no longer get good training. It’s not like say… a science degree which will do wonders for you whether you actually learned science or not. Doesn’t matter if you ever actually learned any science becauseit is the degree in that field that opens doors! It’s not like that in Acting. An acting degree is equivilent to nothing. It’s only the training that matters. If you’re not getting it, drop out because you’ll have the school on your resume anyway just like the guys who stayed there the full 4 years. Just remember to use your own judgement. Don’t take what anyone says for granted no matter their views and make your own decision in the end. Ultimately only you know what’s right for you.</p>
<p>I honestly think it is pointless for you to be on here bashing a school. You are a graduate meaning you should be out there hustling find jobs and working on starting a career. Every conservatory program has its problems. It’s not perfect anywhere! There are students at Juilliard, CMU, Rutgers who are not happy with their education and it is known. That’s just the way it is.</p>
<p>There are so many good things that are happening at Purchase right now that I can’t let you sit here and talk down on a program who is working hard to get Faculty, guest directors and and talent diverse students in the program. The four year system is so different from what you came from; Lisa Benavides, Charles Tuthill and Christopher McCann (new acting faculty) are some of the best in New York and are dedicated to the students at Purchase.</p>
<p>We were told that Purchase will call back those that want to see more from after the initial auditon (same day) but others who aren’t called back (same day) could still be considered. This doesn’t seem to ring true even though formal letters don’t go out till March.
Anybody out there know the answer.</p>
<p>Purchase has undergone a lot of changes since the early 2000’s when the school was beginning to be seen as “dying.” The new program chairs have been working hard to rebuild and return to what made Purchase great years ago. The same was apparently happening at Juilliard’s Drama Division as well recently. All programs within a larger university are faced with budget problems, and no, Purchase’s program isn’t perfect, but there is a lot to be said for what IS offered that sets the school apart from others that may have more money and resources. In the end, any acting program is based primarily on what the students put into it. You can still train to be an actor, no matter what the economic situation is, or what pressures a program is under, as long as you have a talented and dedicated company with which to work and you make the most of what you have.</p>
<p>Vjay, I am the parent of a student who auditioned at Purchase last year, who was not on the callback list, and who received a denial letter a few weeks after the audition…but who was pleased to be accepted by other BFA programs, including NYU’s.</p>
<p>Based on conversations with Purchase students on audition day and a couple of other sources, it is my belief that if you are not called back you are definitely out of the running. The waitlist consists of people who were called back. I think that this is generally the procedure at any auditioned program.</p>
<p>If your son auditioned at Purchase and did not get called back, try not to be too upset. The Purchase Acting BFA program is one of the most selective programs in the country because of its reputation and the relative affordability of its tuition. </p>
<p>If you have done very much reading in this forum, you know that NOBODY who auditions for these programs, even the strongest of candidates, is accepted at every single place they audition. I’m sure your son has a good chance at ending up at a school where he will be happy and challenged.</p>
<p>I’m thinking of applying to SUNY Purchase as well for acting. I’m pretty ill-prepared right now as I don’t have any acting experience/portfolio. I just recently graduated from high school and am fairly lost. </p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone could give advice for my situation, I apologize if it seems I have not bothered to do my own research first.</p>
<p>Why are you considering this career move if you have no background in acting? And why Purchase in particular? There are lots of us here who can give you advice, I’m sure, but we need a bit more information about your situation first.</p>
<p>My D did a walk in yesterday at SUNY Purchase at the LA Unifieds. After her audition the admissions person at the registration table gave her an admissions contact to use to apply. She knew she was only interested in the BFA acting program. We didn’t see any evidence of a callback system, but that could just have been because my D and the other five or six students there were not being called back. If there is a call back system used at the Unifieds I would love to know because then it would not be worth it to her to apply to the school. Thanks</p>
<p>I auditioned in San Francisco, not at Unifieds I don’t think, and they did have a “callback” which consisted of doing your monologues again, but for a videocamera. I’m not sure if they did this at Unifieds or not. Ask your daughter if she had her monologues filmed, and, if she didn’t, ask her if she saw a videocamera on the auditors’ table. This way, you’ll know if she was “called back.” </p>
<p>I don’t know if non-“call back” people are waitlist candidates, but it might be worth it to apply just in case if they are and your daughter wasn’t filmed. But, then again, I don’t know if they filmed people or not at Unifieds…I think I heard that they do…</p>
<p>To clarify, SUNY Purchase does accept non-called-back auditioners into the program and onto the wait-list. I spoke to a number of current students who did not have a callback but were (obviously) accepted. So I would say it’s worth it to apply even if you didn’t get a callback.</p>
<p>I auditioned at SUNY in late January, and several of the current acting Freshman were assisting with the audition and out of the 7 or so of them that I talked to, NONE of the were on the “call back” list when they auditioned. So I’m not really sure you should consider yourself out if you don’t get called back by any means.</p>
<p>@ComplexLife So… you obviously didn’t bother to read anything I wrote because I never bashed the school, only gave facts. I bashed Dean Irby sure… but then so did every student I knew back then. I always wondered why some people reply to messages on boards they don’t bother reading. No offence, but it’s just not intelligent to do so.</p>
<p>Your post doesn’t make sense. I already mentioned I graduated years ago and as I already mentioned I have worked and have been successful. My point is my success is 100% attributed to the first two years I had at purchase which was when all the well known teachers that gave the school it’s name for acting were still there. After that they were gone and I wish I had left the conservatory two years earlier and started my career then. It also would’ve given me a chance to transfer my credits to another degree like science for instance which would’ve looked really good on my acting resume along with having Purchase on it. But all this is just me repeating myself. If Purchase is where you want to go that’s great. It might be back on track now-a-days. The ONLY point I’ve been making in my posts is that people are auditioning to certain schools based on an OLD reputation that no longer applies to them which is why it’s important to make your choice on research- not rumours.</p>
<p>Since no one’s answered u I can tell you how it was a few years back. Your chances of being called if you’re on the waiting list is higher than at other schools. My class started out with 28 students- 11 of which came from the waiting list. Obviously it’s different every year. The class before us had 9 from the waiting list. Obviously it’s different every year. Good luck on your audition! :)</p>
<p>P.S. I stumble upon this board because I look up my old classmates & teachers online and this board comes up every time. If any one knows of an easier way I’d appreciate any suggestions. ciao.</p>
<p>Current student at Purchase in the BFA Acting conservatory. Demanding, challenging, huge course load. Absolutely love it here. Our professors: Charles Tuthill, Leigh Dillon, David Wells, J. Allen Suddeth, Ronni Stewart, Dean Irby, David Gideon… Etc. Use Google. Have incredible reputations in the industry and are immensely dedicated to all of their students. </p>
<p>Also, the Drama Studies (not the BFA program) is akin to a school having a BFA program and a BA program. COMPLETELY separate. I don’t see the issue.</p>