Durham

[mrsrhodgilbert]

I'd love to hear from anyone with recent experience of Durham through their dc. Dd2 loved it at the open day. As a fairly local state school pupil she is on their Insight programme. We are in Yorkshire. This is designed to help/encourage such students to apply not just there but to other 'good' universities. Her school, state but high achieving, think she is a suitable candidate and have a number who go each year, so have some experience.

I have looked through old threads and whilst there isn't a lot of information I am getting the impression that it is very public school. Presumably Durham think this themselves, hence the Insight programme. I think I saw statistics that quoted roughly 50:50 state/public entry.

So my questions, exactly what form does this public school influence take, I've read the term 'rah' and if you have a state educated child did they feel happy there? Similarly if you have a public school educated child, did they choose Durham to be among their peers?

Obviously the choice is hers, I've just heard some negative stuff and would hate her to feel excluded.

The song? No!?
It all got very much hushed up, didn't it? I think many people had suspicions but nobody was ever done for it! I think that year I had graduated and was working full time in the bars, but my friend was on that floor in Tyne, too.

Oh I know who Drillman was; my cleaner and my favourite porter both told me.

I'm sure I've got the mp3 somewhere; I'll dig it out :)

Ooh who was it? I heard bizarre rumours involving college staff and swinging parties...

Another Trevs alumni here. I'm bound to know someone here (grad 2002).

I also work for a different university now. Durham is fairly special in its pastoral support for students - student buddying schemes, pastoral tutors, academic support etc. it's also a city university without a campus - I wouldn't have liked a campus university, and liked seeing real things on my walks to and from lectures.

It is 'posh' (though I am a proud comp girl) and despite the changing ratios, some (many?) of the traditions are private school background. However, there is a niche for all sorts of interests.

Durham isn't the place to go for a big city experience. It's also quite communal (could be thought of as cliquey) and it's full of Oxbridge rejects or rejectors. This may or may not suit your children!

Having worked at two other universities since then, I think alcohol culture is easier to get away from than it used to be. I've got a few thousand stories of drunkeness but they're rather out of date.

Pick a hill college (are you allowed to pick? Very dismayed at the idea of a random ballot ) - Aidans is a very good one. Don't worry about the self catering thing, it's really not an issue in Durham as most people are in college for the first year - mealtimes an important part of the social scene.

Yes there are rahs. Lots of them keep themselves to themselves, some are good entertainment and some of them will become firm friends. You do need an open mind and to realise you are at least as good as them.

I am bloody ancient compared with nearly everyone else on this thread

I have an amazing group of friends from Durham, even cough nearly 20 years since we graduated.

dh came home with Chinese, nice to have a bit more gossip to catch up on now I'm back .

Oh happy, happy days.

Sugarquill you missed out Hild Bede!

OP I think Hild Bede might be a good choice for your daughter - it's the biggest college so is not claustrophobic (although even that is small enough to be very friendly) and has great clubs and socs, and a lovely position on the river.

I didn't know you could self-cater at any college in first year - I know you couldn't when I was a fresher. Personally I think the college dining room is half the fun, and definitely a social aspect.

Agree that meals are a large part of college life. butlins I'd the only completely self catering college. opened my final year I think. My second final year anyway.

Oh does anyone remember 'the Mexican' who used to be spotted around Durham? With a massive tash?

Mary's has boys now??

Hah Giraffe do you mean Mario?? He was a hairdresser, incredibly.

OP, if nothing else, this thread should show how proud Durham alumni are of their uni and how fondly we look back on our time there :) I have to say, out of the many university alumni I know, the Durham ones are definitely the ones most likely to still be close to their uni friends.

That's the one! He was amazing.

I can't get over Marys having boys either!

I might make all my friends go back to Durham for my hen do, actually :)

mario is a Durham legend.

Yes my dear SPB Mary's has had boys for several years now. Since 2007 or 8 I think.

Oh I love how he walks so purposefully through town!

I'm so sorry for the shock. Do you need gin to revive you? Or curry and cocktails in November for spiggy's birthday?

Haha CAtkisser, yes purposefully is the perfect way to describe him!
All this reminiscing about Durham has made me desperate for a toastie, Aidan's shop style.

Oh stop it, Giraffeski!
I'm tempted to drive to Pizza King - they used to recognise my number.

oooh college toasties.

chicken, cheese and bbq sauce from Castle toastie bar please.

Laquila is right, other unis would kill for the pride in Durham that it's alumni have. Amazing how we seek out each other...

I've been to quite a few Durham weddings too including my own.

Mary's did amazing baileys strawberry milk shakes. I have tried and failed to recreate them

I'm actually going to get out of bed and go and make a toastie now. Damn you all!

I first tasted Absinthe at one of the hill colleges on the college bar crawl, thing it was Grey but couldn't swear to it
Mary's bar was just a trestle table when I was there.

(In my defence I'm only actually in bed because im 8 months pregnant)

I thought Mario was a Maths Professor!