Since you're a student (by your pseudomyn, I can tell), I'm guessing you are on a limited budget. I find that the number of available seats for the lowest price category at SF Opera, Balconly Sides at $25, to be very limited. The Balcony Sides section at SF Opera is quite small (it's almost to slivers that serve as book ends, if you ask me).

Compare this to the fairly large section of the Family Circle at the Met where tickets go for $26.

http://sfopera.com/st_seatingchart.asp

http://www.metopera.org/infodesk/seatingchart.html

If I were, you I would take advantage of the fact that you live in New York. The Met is the best opera company in the world. Period. Better than Covent Garden, Paris, La Scala, Bavarian State.