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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Durham university - explain the college system to me?

116 replies

cashewnutty · 29/08/2015 18:15

DD2 wants to apply to Durham and seems very keen on the course they offer (anthropology). In know nothing about this university but I do know it operates a college system. Can someone explain this to me?

Has anyone attended Durham? What is it like? DD2 is fairly quiet and would hate a raucous party type environment.

Any information would be gratefully accepted.

OP posts:
TurnOffTheTv · 05/10/2015 07:45

I live in Durham and was out running yesterday morning along the river, then up past the Old Bailey, and there were great swathes of parents dropping children off. I felt a bit teary just watching! They will have a fab time here, it's wonderful ??

GypsyFl0ss · 05/10/2015 08:45

ptumbi I know which house you mean! My Dd is in the other H one. We've facetimed this morning and from what I gather the formal was good fun, this morning they've got a 9 am lecture about life at Grey followed by a boat and pub crawl tonight . Apparently that's in two groups, boat followed by pubs or vice versa. Dd is really hoping that she's in the first group Grin

TurnOffTheTv what a beautiful place to live.

Millymollymama · 05/10/2015 22:08

DD didn't get the college she applied for but was allocated Van Mildert. At the park and ride. If anyone thinks Hild Bede is too far out, the Van Mildert is on the moon! DD turned down Durham because of that. Just not her type of college at all!

Katkat50 · 05/10/2015 22:42

DS dropped off yesterday at Collingwood - we couldn't believe the excitement and happy atmosphere; great work by the freps and other students.
DH and I have never been to Durham and had a fabulous weekend. I, too, am so jealous that DS is in such a beautiful, charming city with so much going on for students. They are a lucky bunch!

IAmAPaleontologist · 05/10/2015 22:48

Glad all the cd have been dropped off safely. I've been all misty eyed this weekend too. I was in Durham in the week and students were drifting back dragging suitcases behind them and groups of freshers reps adorned with their new stash were getting things ready for the weekend.

Du pain I graduated in 2008, took 5 years to do my degree due to the arrival of ds1.

NiceCardigan · 06/10/2015 09:19

We enjoyed the Collingwood drop off too kitkat the atmosphere was great. Me and DH both went to Durham so left DS too it and had a nostalgic walk round the city.

RosyRibbons · 06/10/2015 18:40

Milly Van Mildert isn't far out at all- it's just with the other hill colleges and isn't even the furthest out of those Confused It's just over 5 minutes walk away from the Science Site. I appreciate it's a bit of a trek to the town centre but still only about 20 minutes walk, and no further than the other hill colleges. It is about 1 minute away from each of Trevs, Collingwood and Aidan's.

It's a fantastic college anyway, in my totally unbiased opinion Wink

chickentothefox · 06/10/2015 18:53

Chad's girl checking in Grin
Am v jealous of everyone starting their Durham adventures apart from those at Hatfield Wink

IAmAPaleontologist · 06/10/2015 19:59

What year chicken? Dh was a chadsman.

chickentothefox · 06/10/2015 20:21

late 90s, early 00s (feel ancient now!)

Millymollymama · 06/10/2015 20:40

Seemed a long way when we walked it! Anyway DD wanted city centre so that was the end of that - she was very disappointed. It is not helpful when you don't get to express a second or third preference. Other universities allow students to do this. Durham just allocate, (and another girl in her school got a place in DDs preferred hall but had not expressed a preference for it), but they don't know the personality of the student. I have no doubt some students do not mind being out of the centre but her faculty was in the centre so she felt she would be detached. Obviously great for scientists.

IAmAPaleontologist · 06/10/2015 21:00

Things us to be more selective but it got rather old boy network in the more popular colleges so now if a college is oversubscribed then it is done by random allocation rather than by Bob is the ex senior mans brother, Alice plays cello in the national youth orchestra and we need one for the college orchestra. Fairer all round, though I can understand the disappointment. In reality though there are plenty of arts students on the hill and plenty of scientists on the Bailey. You can get most places in Durham quickly on foot.

Dh graduated in 07 so we were not around at the same time. Ah well. I do have fond memories of chads, your little bar, Candlemas ball, making use of weekends dh's roommate was away in number 1 North Bailey. Happy times Grin

NiceCardigan · 06/10/2015 21:02

Milly I thought each college had an allocation for each subject so they might have 8 English lit 12 maths 6 chemists etc that's why you can get reallocated.

chickentothefox · 07/10/2015 14:49

Aw, now I feel old Grin. My room was in main college but may have had some fun in No 1 too.

GypsyFl0ss · 07/10/2015 17:21

DD matriculated in the cathedral today amid the pouring rain. I'm still envious despite the weather!

TurnOffTheTv · 07/10/2015 18:45

I saw lots of people walking past The County today Gypsy followed by guys carting rowing oars and banging spoons on pans :-) I saw them again at 3pm walking up the hill getting soaked without a care in the world!

Millymollymama · 08/10/2015 16:42

Well, she had an offer from Oxford so the effort of getting reallocated in Durham did not appeal. Maybe they had too many doing her subject in her preferred choice. We walked it and it took 25 mins from her department to Van Mildert. I just do not think she wanted a modern building not in the thick of things. I appreciate plenty of people think differently and no doubt love it. Horses for courses......

Leeds2 · 08/10/2015 18:49

Does anyone have any views as to whether St John's would be a good college to apply to? Any info gratefully received!

chickentothefox · 08/10/2015 19:20

Back in the day (late 90s), John's was home to lots of theology students - like Chad's, but less quirky. Am sure times have changed though.
They are all good colleges really - the Bailey ones especially for Arts students and the Hill ones for Science. Best to stay over at Open Day and see if you feel at home.

GypsyFl0ss · 08/10/2015 19:27

DD's mate applied to and got St John's for this year.He said that on the Open Day they were advised that it is a slightly less popular Bailey college therefore you stand a greater chance of being offered it and not relocated. Having said that the same rules of oversubscription apply there too and you could end up anywhere!

Original poster
cashewnutty · 09/10/2015 14:54

DD has now been to the Open Day at Durham. She really loved it and it is definitely her first choice. She saw round some of the Colleges. She loved Hatfield and hated Trevelyan. Not sure what that says about her?

OP posts:
Asterisk · 09/10/2015 15:37

Do you have to accept an offer from Durham (if we should be so lucky) before you get told your College allocation? Just thinking that an offer of Castle might trump a modern College in Oxford for DD...

GypsyFl0ss · 09/10/2015 16:17

Asterix no you don't. In theory you should get an offer of a place and then the college allocations come out in March although Durham are notorious for taking their time with offers and there may be very little between them time wise. There will then be an offer holders day before the final UCAS decision date so your DC can see whether they like the college they've been allocated before they make their firm and insurance decision.

Epilepsyhelp · 09/10/2015 16:19

Johns all the way..

Epilepsyhelp · 09/10/2015 16:21

Johns when I was there had a very Christian ethos and a lot of Christian students as it is affiliated with a vicar school. It's a lovely warm friendly amazing college and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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