About

See what students say:

Academics

Its motto “Think Wide Open” perfectly sums up Purchase College, SUNY, long the artsy lodestone in the SUNY system: the conservatory here “deserves and receives the highest respect.” Between the School of the Arts and the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, there are over 40 majors to choose (and, if those don’t suit you, a rarely chosen option to design your own). Nearly all bachelor’s students must complete a senior project in which they devote two semesters to in-depth, original, and creative study, and students welcome the chance to explore. “We’re all about finding new ways to think about things, from science to art to management,” says one.

Classes tend to be about “learning through discussion” rather than lecture, and professors “go out of their way to make sure that everyone is on the same page, and don’t leave anyone behind.” They often actively work in the field in which they teach, and therefore “bring the material life and take learning outside the classroom.” Classes in both the creative arts and general education are “rich and exciting,” such as the professor who “teaches classes about Jack Kerouac on a train and walks the path of On the Road.” Students benefit from the school’s proximity to New York City (less than an hour away), where auditions, showcases, and a fertile alumni network thrive, and “some of the best artists in the NY area become adjunct faculty at this school at some point.”

Student Body

Students at Purchase describe the school as a place for everyone, particularly the “artsy, unique, passionate, [and] intelligent.” The overall “sense of unity and acceptance” means that students are free to be themselves and can “walk around confident in who they are and they aren’t afraid to show their unique styles and personalities.” There are a lot of “free spirits” and the atmosphere is “filled with liberal ideologies,” and the high concentration of visual/multi-media artists, musicians, and dancers means that “creativity and the arts flourish.” The decent number of commuters don’t have any real problem integrating with the resident population, and “you can always incorporate your craft into whatever you create at Purchase.”

Campus Life

For fun, there’s “a TON of things going on”: weekly dance parties and concerts, student clubs, lectures, an on-campus museum, free yoga classes, Zumba, and tons of festivals. People “pay a lot of money to see bands and they support music and musicians here,” and theatre is also “very, very big and popular.” Though there are 17 Division III athletics teams, students feel that they get less emphasis, and Greek life is non-existent. Students receive email digests of all the events on campus, and for those who want to get off campus, it’s easy to take a bus into White Plains or take the train into Manhattan. “The question isn’t ‘What to do for fun?’ but rather ‘Where do you even start?’” Professors usually “know a lot about what’s going on” and will often get free tickets to performances for students. While the Student Center (Stood) and library facilities are admittedly great (“there are different levels, so students never have to be isolated in one spot”), many dorms are still on the older side and “need to be updated badly.” To its credit, Purchase has been making yearly renovations and in 2019 introduced the brand-new Wayback residence hall for upperclass students.

Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Anna Valonti
Interim Director of Admissions

Address
SUNY Purchase
735 Anderson Hill Rd.
Purchase, NY 10577-1400

Phone
914-251-6300


Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
The Performing Arts Center
The Neuberger Museum
State-of-the-Art Athletic Complex
Starbucks
Fort Awesome
New Center for Media, Film and Theatre Building

Most Popular Places Off Campus
35 minutes from Manhattan (New York City), accessible by train
Less than ten minutes to white Plains which offers
Many restaurants, caf s, shopping malls, and parks.

Campus Tours

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: Monday/Friday
Average Length: 1 hour

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
Yes

Information Sessions
Available

Times
Monday/Friday

Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department

Advance Notice
2 weeks

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
By train: From New York City via rail from Grand Central Station, take the Harlem Line/Metro North to White Plains. Board the Anderson Hill Road bus No. 12 or take a taxi to campus. Alternatively, take the New Haven Line/Metro North to Rye and take a taxi to campus. By Bus: Take the No. 12 northbound from White Plains or southbound from Yorktown, Mount Kisco, or Armonk. Buses leave approximately every hour, Monday through Saturday.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From New York City, Southern Westchester, and Long Island-Take the Hutchinson River Parkway north to Exit 28 (Lincoln Avenue). Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue and proceed approximately one mile to Anderson Hill Road (2nd traffic light). Turn right onto Anderson Hill Road. The campus is immediately on the left. From Rockland County and northern New Jersey (via the Tappan Zee Bridge)-Take I-287 (Cross Westchester Expressway) to Exit 8E. Shortly after first traffic light, bear left onto Anderson Hill Road. Proceed approximately 2.5 miles. The campus is on the left, just after intersection at Lincoln Avenue. From Northern Westchester-Take I-684 south to Exit 2 (Route 120), drive over the bridge and turn right onto Route 120 south (Purchase Street). Follow Route 120 south, 3.2 miles to Anderson Hill Road (1st traffic light) and turn left. Turn left at 2nd traffic light into campus. From Connecticut: Take the Merritt Parkway south (which becomes the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York State) south to New York Exit 28, Lincoln Avenue (Note: Do not get off at Exit 28 in Connecticut). Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue and proceed approximately one mile to Anderson Hill Road (2nd traffic light). Turn right onto Anderson Hill Road. The campus is immediately on the left.

Local Accommodations
Arrowwood Resort/Conference Center Anderson Hill Rd., Rye Brook 914-939-5500 Courtyard by Marriott 631 Midland Ave., Rye 914-921-1110 Rye Town Hilton 699 Westchester Ave., Rye Brook 914-939-6300

Admissions

Applicants: 5,528
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average HS GPA: 3.38







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