<p>As someone who grew up in the NYC metro area, I agree with cptofthehouse. Purchase is pretty remote from Manhattan. Without a car, it is not easy to get into the city. Even with a car, it’s about a 45 minute drive (without traffic–and there’s often traffic, and people drive like maniacs). You’d go to Purchase for the reputation and training, not because it’s a hop, skip and jump to NYC. Of course, if you really want to, you can get to Manhattan, but it is not easily accessible.</p>
<p>You really need to consider what is the most important thing to you in considering training. For my own kids, being in NYC was not important. But if being in NYC <em>is</em> important to you, then you can focus entirely on that. There are several options in addition to Juilliard and Tisch–Marymount, Pace, Fordham & New School are all strong options. In addition, in NJ, Drew is fairly close and Montclair even closer. I think Rutgers Mason Gross is about the same accessibility time-wise from NYC as Purchase.</p>
<p>Also Malloy College in Long Island has just launched its new BFA in MT aligned to Cap 21 in NYC. And CUNY’s Brooklyn College has a reputable theatre program which would be at bargain prices since it’s a CUNY. </p>