College SUNY Fredonia Vs. SUNY Purchase

[Brayidur]

Hey guys what's up, I'm Chris, I have 7 years of high school and community theatre Tech behind me. I'm going to ask your Opinion on which you believe is better for the BFA Theatre Production and Design major, with a Concentration In lighting. I'm have already submitted an Application to both and am only attending one, in fall 2013... ( Obviously not going to both at once ) I'll say later which I'm attending because I don't wanna have any Bias to results or start any MAJOR arguements based on what I chose... So have at it, Which do you believe is the better school for that program.

on a side note, I do plan on pursuing a M.F.A In the future for lighting and already have to school i'm looking at for that, but thats a while away still, however recommendations for such a school could also be helpful to me...

 

[Les]

I have a good friend who attended Purchase and doesn't regret it one bit. He is working in NJ at NMR (National Micro Rental). Didn't have too much trouble finding a job either (I think he graduated somewhere around '11 with a BFA in Technical Theatre with an emphasis in lighting). He's not doing as much lighting as he would like, but he gets to travel a lot and it pays the bills. He got some good connections out of the experience as well.

 

[JLNorthGA]

I don't know either school. But it gets mighty cold and snowy in the winter up near Fredonia.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

I graduated from SUNY Potsdam and it served me fine, and I got into Yale, and was set. I'd lean towards Fredonia because of the broader liberal arts program available. Purchase - which was under construction when I was in college - still seems a little insular. On the other hand, it is close to NYC and that is a definite benefit.

 

[Footer]

If you want the best degree in theatre the SUNY system offers Purchase is the only choice. New Paltz, Oswego, and Fredonia all have good programs but they are not Purchase. U Albany used to have a theatre program but it just got shut down.

Last time we had the Chancellor in for the State of the University she asked my entire crew where they went to school. She was surprised when none of us said Purchase. That is where all of the money in the arts in the SUNY system goes. If you want a conservatory style education it is the place to be. Their goal is to teach you well enough where you don't need to go to grad school. They also have a large network of "Purchasers" that you can lean on after graduation.

One of my former audio guys went to Fredonia for their music program and had great things to say about it. I have worked with a few Fredonia people and have never had an issue.

Depending on what you want the location of Fredonia could drive you up the wall. Purchase for all intensive purposes is still in the NYC Metro. Housing prices there are very high, so if you want that awesome off campus house your senior year you will pay through the nose for it.

Good luck either way. I have a feeling you chose Purchase. I hope you spent as much time figuring out how you will pay for college and avoid student loans as you spent looking for the right school for you.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

"If you want the best degree in theatre the SUNY system offers..." is probably true - certainly what the people intend and believe. I'm not sure that is the same as "If you want to be best prepared for a career in theatre..."

I was curious who was teaching there now and of the 32 listed in design and tech, all but three are part time - so hard to tell what you get. (And of the three full timers - 2 are from Yale.) Don't be in too much of a rush.

 

[Footer]

I was curious who was teaching there now and of the 32 listed in design and tech, all but three are part time - so hard to tell what you get. (And of the three full timers - 2 are from Yale.) Don't be in too much of a rush.

That is where the modern education system is going in a lot of places. You hire 25 adjunct teachers instead of 10 full time tenure track teachers. It is much cheaper to have them do contract work without benefits then to have 10 teachers you have to live with after they make tenure. Also keep in mind the SUNY system has one of the strongest unions in the state. UUP contracts pay very well... so if the state can avoid bringing on someone under a full UUP contract they will. In the last several years SUNY has been trying to shed some weight. Just around here they got rid of New York Networks which was their TV broadcast wing and the New York State Theatre Institute. They have also closed the U Albany theatre dept. while at the same type massivly expanded the nano tech dept. of that school to to tune of a 7.5 billion dollar campus built just for Nanotech.

 

[Brayidur]

Weather doesn't bother me, the drive out there will kill me. Yes, I choose SUNY Fredonia. Personally I wasn't treated well at Purchase, so that highly influenced my choice. Its about a 6.5-7 hour drive to Fredonia, however I love the campus, not to mention I love having 3 venues to work with instead of just 1 at Purchase. Plus My aunt who is a broadway dresser Graduated from Fredonia in 1991 with the BA theatre degree (infact her favorite professor is now the department chair), so I figured, let me go where I love it, have a family history, and have a wider range of venues to work in, while still ON campus. Yes with purchase you have more chances to work off campus in different venues.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

In the end, who is there when you go - faculty, other students, and admin to some degree - has a major role in how much you like it and how well you do after - so sounds like a good choice.

When I wasat SUNY Potsdam, a lot of students from NYC and Long Island chose between Potsdam and Fredonia. The ones at Potsdam understood that even though fewer miles it was further in time from home.

 

[SteveB]

Weather doesn't bother me, the drive out there will kill me.

I think you made a wise choice for all the right reasons. The reputation that Purchase has had for 30 years or so tends to attract a lot of students with attitude, as well, the faculty know they are all good at what they do. But good at teaching ?, that's different. When I was at Purchase, only Billy Mintzer was what I would call a good teacher. The Scenic was So-So, the costume teacher was just awful.

But I quoted the weather part of your post for a reason. You are in the snow belt. That area of NY gets a F _ _ K of a lot of snow due to the lake effect snows off Lake Erie. Seriously, buy a real snow shovel as well as a push broom (cut the handle down) and stick them in your car trunk. You will need both.

 

[josh88]

I'll just add as a comment to Bill I know at least one of the professors at Potsdam these days and worked with him while I was in college, he's a great and talented guy and everything I hear from him says it's still a solid program up there.


Via tapatalk

 

[Footer]

But I quoted the weather part of your post for a reason. You are in the snow belt. That area of NY gets a F _ _ K of a lot of snow due to the lake effect snows off Lake Erie. Seriously, buy a real snow shovel as well as a push broom (cut the handle down) and stick them in your car trunk. You will need both.

Amazon.com: Sno Brum Original Snow Removal Tool with Telescoping Handle: Patio, Lawn & Garden

A real life saver. Used that thing a ton this last snow season.

Worst part about the snow belt is there is really no winter sports in that area. They get dumped on but there are just a few small hills to ski on.

 

[AudJ]

You will enjoy Fredonia. The skiing is actually pretty good down in the souther tier, just not the Rocky Mountains... I will agree with the snow brush, you will not want to move your car certain days. Buy a warm winter coat, and a good set of 180's and you will be happy. There are plenty of people working up in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the casinos. The Fredonia Campus has its own opportunities also. The low cost of living is a bonus, in that your dollar will go quite a bit further (until you fill your tank). Two words... Mighty Taco!

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

I'll just add as a comment to Bill I know at least one of the professors at Potsdam these days and worked with him while I was in college, he's a great and talented guy and everything I hear from him says it's still a solid program up there.


Via tapatalk

Mans they have a cool new building coming on line this year or next - one that was promised to students entering in early mid 1970s.

 

[Brayidur]

Thanks for all the feedback guys ( and gals not sure if any commented but I dont wanna hear the moaning about your not being politically correct ) it means alot to me, to see the input of others.

 

[Footer]

You will enjoy Fredonia. The skiing is actually pretty good down in the souther tier, just not the Rocky Mountains... I will agree with the snow brush, you will not want to move your car certain days. Buy a warm winter coat, and a good set of 180's and you will be happy. There are plenty of people working up in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and the casinos. The Fredonia Campus has its own opportunities also. The low cost of living is a bonus, in that your dollar will go quite a bit further (until you fill your tank). Two words... Mighty Taco!

Come to Gore or Whiteface one day...

BTW, anyone else up for an east coat meetup this winter on a mountain?