SUNY Purchase - - for a student NOT interested in an arts related major?

Parents Forum
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<p>I originally posted this on the SUNY Purchase board and received only two responses:</p>

<p>SUNY Purchase offers much of what D is looking for - - not too big, easy access to NYC, diversity, etc. D, however, is not an artist/dancer/musician/techie, so I wonder whether thoere will be a critical mass of non-artsy students on campus? And how strong are the academics outside of the arts?</p>

<p>(SUNY New Paltz would be great, but admission is more selective and even as an in-state applicant it is, at best, a match/reach.)</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>can't really give you an answer- but my gut tells me that as Purchase is so well known for its Performing Arts program, it probably has that artsy vibe. My kid is at Cortland . We live on long island and it takes her about 4 hours to get home (without much traffic) I would check out Oneonta and Albany too. I don't think Albany is much harder to get into than New Paltz. These schools are a bit closer to NYC than some of the other SUNY's like Oswego or Plattsburg.</p>

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<p>Oneonta and Albany are already on the list - - on paper, however, each school looks like less of a good fit than New Paltz (Albany larger than we'd like; Oneonta only 3% black). In the end, D may end up applying to only those three - -or four, including Purchase (the artsy vibe isn't really a problem as long as the not-arts academics are slolid and D can find some non-artsy kindred spirits). But these days, you can't go wrong adding another economic safety school to the list, so I will definitely check out Cortland.</p>

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<p>As marny said, SUNY Purchase does have an art school reputation and the majority of students will be art majors. However, we know a family whose daughter attends Purchase, is not an art major, and loves it. So the best thing to do would be to go visit and see for yourself. Visit when school is in session and talk to the students on campus and also get the stats for art students vs. non art students. Don't opt out of applying to New Paltz even if its a reach. My son is transferring there this coming semester and it's a great school.</p>

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<p>I don't have any firsthand knowledge of Purchase, but I think you're asking a very good question. The only thing I have heard about Purchase (secondhand) is that it's not that much of a residential campus (lots of commuters). When you visit, you can try to ferret that out.</p>

<p>Basically, in sizing up a college on paper (which isn't easy), I think it helps to look at the course schedule. This would list what's actually being offered that semester, rather than looking at courses that MIGHT be offered (or, more to the point, NOT offered, or offered infrequently). </p>

<p>Here's a link to recent Purchase course schedules. So you would call up either fall or spring (not summer), and pick a department your kid might be interested in, and try to evaluate it based on how many courses would be available and their breadth. Now, how many courses are "enough"? That's the hard part. But at least you can see what has been offered recently:</p>

<p>CE</a> - Archived Catalogs</p>

<p>Also, looking at the common data set for that school might unearth something (this is a CC tip). I googled SUNY Purchase and common data set, and came up with this:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.purchase.edu/sharedmedia/departments/institutionalresearch/VSA_2007.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.purchase.edu/sharedmedia/departments/institutionalresearch/VSA_2007.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Even though I don't think it's the official common data set, it has some helpful info. On the bottom of page 2, for instance, you'll see a breakdown, in percentages, of what the kids are studying. The common data set usually has a breakdown per major, but I don't see that here.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you and your student!</p>

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<ul>
<li><p>D will definitely apply to New Paltz, but I'd also be happy to add a smaller SUNY school not too far from home.</p></li>
<li><p>I too have heard that there are a lot of W'chester commuters, but according to PR about 70% of the students reside on campus -- that's about 2800 or the size of many residential LACs, so the numbers don't bother me too much. What's more difficlut to find out is how that would impact on D. For example, are most of the non-artsy, traditional liberal arts students also commuters?</p></li>
<li><p>Thanks LurkNest. Checking the CDS info was on my list of things to do, as was checking archived catalogues (I also want to see whether all the study abroad programs have an arts focus).</p></li>
<li><p>We will definitely visit; Purchase isn't far from home and can be combined easily with Manhattanville or SLC. But it's pretty clear that, if D is ultimated admitted and interested, a couple of follow-up visits (mid-week and week-end to gauge the commuter influence) will also be necessary.</p></li>
</ul>

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<p>It was my impression the SUNY Purchase was more selective than New Paltz. Daughter's best friend goes to Purchase, and she live on campus even though family lives in the area, she is undecided leaning toward Psychology,(not performance or art) however she is the artsy type, involved in theater when in HS and did internship in theatrical make up. She likes it there. OTOH, my friend's son is a nerdy type, majoring in math and is so not artsy and he like it there as well. He also lives on campus and is from the area. It seems to work for both of them.</p>

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<p>The SUNY Purchase campus can be oppressive and the focus there is most definitely on the arts. </p>

<p>Has your daughter looked at Manhattanville?</p>

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<p>little bit further up the Hudson- but how about Marist (Poukeepsie) or Siena (near Albany)?? I know they are pretty popular schools with long island kids.</p>

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<p>We own a business near SUNY Purchase and have gotten to know a lot of the school's students over the years, as well as employed quite a few. A very general impression: the arts kids were the cream of the crop in their arts studies in high school and work their butts off at Purchase; the rest were C students in high school and do as little as they can get away with for four (or five or six) years. It's not an attractive campus, either, so I can't think of a single reason for a non-arts major to attend.</p>

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<p>When you visit, eat a meal at a SUNY Purchase dorm. Of all the food articles I've read about college dorms, SUNY Purchase food posts were the most brutal among the SUNY's. I know you asked about academics, but I wanted to flag this for you anyway. This depends, too, on how important it is to your D to have variety, but one post called the food "inedible." From others, it sounded as though the menu resembles an elementary school cafeteria. So check out their food offering for yourself, to see what's true and relevant to your D.</p>

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<p>Surprisingly for a college with such a strong reputation in the arts, SUNY/Purchase is one of the ugliest campuses I've ever been on. Seriously! This may not be all that important to her--or it may be critically important. So if D is planning to live on campus, I'd follow the advice of several folks here and spend a good chunk of time on campus to see how it feels.</p>

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<p>P3P - Yikes!! I did ask specifically about academics, but I am happy for any relevant info about residential life. The quality of meals will be an issue for D, who is a fairly serious foodie/cook - - and she will likely view an ugly campus as adding insult to injury. Too bad, b/c socially, it sounded like it could be a good fit for D (birkenstocks, tufts of purple hair, multiple piercings, etc.).</p>

<p>Marny, I haven't really considered Sienna or Marist, b/c we have have plenty of private colleges on the list; SUNY Purchase would be a safety in terms of admissions AND finances. Also, if what I've read on these boards and in the guide books is correct, Siena and Marist are too homogenous for D.</p>

<p>Thank you all for such helpful posts/info.</p>

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<p>Foolishpleasure, we're going to visit New Paltz, Manhattanville and Marist in a couple of weeks.</p>

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<p>foolishpleasure, I just want to interject that you are very smart and wise to be checking out the SUNYs so carefully for financial safeties!</p>

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<p>We looked at Marist when S was first looking at schools a few years ago. We did find it very homogeneous based on what we saw. I wouldn't have considered it for our S. He is more the artsy/creative laid back type.</p>

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<p>zoosermom</p>

<p>Manhattanville is a nice small school right down the street from SUNY Purchase. Much prettier campus - better academics. Singer I know (who was not in the conservatory) who regularly plays NYC area clubs transferred (From Purchase to Manhattanville) and is happy she did.</p>

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<p>Hi foolishpleasure.</p>

<p>You indicated that you already have several private schools on your list. But based on the picture emerging of your D and her interests, I wonder if it might make sense to add Drew. The student body has a strong artsy component (due to highly regarded Theater program), and is quite diverse. The campus is beautiful, and it is a 45-minute commuter train ride to NYC. Also, Drew is pretty good with merit aid.</p>

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<p>^^^ We have a young family friend at Drew, a political science major (another strong department at Drew), and he really loves it. Very easy to get into Manhattan from there.</p>

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<p>SUNY Purchase is not far from my home and I've taken Continuing Ed courses there. A campus visit is important when considering this school. It is in the suburbs but has a very corporate or urban feel due to the International-style architecture. Lots of large-scale masonry buildings, masonry courtyards, etc. The front entrance on Anderson Hill Road starts you off on the perimeter roadway surrounding the campus buildings. The campus property is set in the woods. The campus feels remote- my son's college in VT is in the middle of nowhere but SUNY Purchase feels much more remote. The buildings loom on the horizon, cold. It's an architectural recipe for depression.</p>