Anyone still waiting to hear from Durham?

[PortusCale]

Just wondered if anyone else is waiting to hear from Durham for an offer for 2019 entry?

See that offer holder day bookings are now open and I understand college allocation has begun.

DS still waiting here, DS application went through in November.....does this mean a rejection will likely be on its way?

Interesting marching, my understanding (not sure where from, perhaps I even made it up!) is that Durham does not want to be put as an insurance choice, partly because it makes managing the limited number of places difficult.

I thought that was why Durham offers are often the same as or on some occasions even higher than (!) Oxbridge offers, so that Oxbridge acceptees will put somewhere else as insurance.

I've been quite surprised to read of the Durham offers of dropped grades if firmed - I wonder if for some unknowable reason it's had more rejections this year than usual? Can't see why that would be though.

Or maybe this year's cohort is holding its nerve and waiting to see if the will get dropped offers to firm? So fewer young people than is usual have finalised decisions by this point in time?

Fingers crossed for all those still waiting. DS didn't get the college he put down (he just put his gf's as he thought it would be fine) but the one he got sounds like it would suit him really well, if he gets the grades - I think he's going to firm it.

tough also if the college is one that really might not work for your DC (in DT2's case, no way will be accept sharing a room)

Coleoptera, is he sure that he will have the option not to, if he does get an offer and the college he is allocated has shared rooms? For example, the Trevelyan website says,
Trevs is one of 9 colleges with twin rooms, and you will probably share a twin room for one term in your first year.

Thank you to everyone wishing us all luck - I really do hope we all hear soon. Thinking of you Coleoptera and CBear99

It seems Track is now open again but no news for DS - get the feeling that there are lots of students waiting, the good thing is that at least this is the last week of it - thank goodness!

Well it would seem that Durham has closed its bookings for post offer days - is that fair or is that really a way of telling all those still waiting that they have been rejected?

Am very unimpressed with the way in which Durham is dealing with prospective candidates.

Aren't the post offer days today and tomorrow though Portus? Or are there more?

Yes, you're right goodbyestranger, sorry I hadn't actually checked. I think they'll all be over by this Wednesday.

I don't know, I just feel very fed up with this whole episode, especially today - have tried to remain positive but it seems all rather futile now!

I'm not surprised Portus. It feels long to me and I don't even have anyone applying this year. Hopefully an offer will come through for all three DC waiting on this thread any moment now.

Now that would be absolutely lovely goodbyestranger!

Thinking of the other two DCs and hoping it won't be long now.

So there are students that have yet to hear the outcome of their application, some for whom Durham is their first choice, and the offer holder days are already being held/are full?

Whichever way you look at it, from whichever side, I can't help feel how unfair that is.

Yes, it would seem that way Justanothermile but I don't know what can be done about it. Part of me wonders if DSs application is lying in a dusty cupboard somewhere.

Some views on student room are that because Durham are handling their admissions centrally this year rather than by department as in previous years, there is a huge back log and that's why people are waiting. If that is the case it does seem hugely unfair. Others seem to think that by this stage, when the offer hold days are literally taking place as we speak, that it means rejection. I just don't know but it does leave me feeling that Durham should address this issue as it isn't good.

One thing I'm never sure of, and perhaps there are posters on here who might be able to tell me, if say your DC is rejected by Oxford/Cambridge after interview (as mine was) can other unis - and in particular Durham - see that this has happened. And vice verce if you firm another uni, can other unis see this?

PortusCale - in principle, universities do not know anything at all about applicants’ other UCAS choices. If they know anything about them, it is not via UCAS.

All institutions can tell is when the UCAS form was submitted so if it was on October then the likelihood is that the candidate has also made an Oxbridge offer. We tell our main student body to hold off applying for Durham until at least November if they aren't also making an Oxbridge application.
They do seem to treat their applicants very shoddily and this also makes you fear for the students when they do actually arrive.

There are Talk and Tour events next week and in the last week of April (looked for someone else a few days ago, so not sure whether booking is still open). Run by individual colleges, but open to applicants to others iirc.

Universities only get to see where else you have applied when you have submitted your firm and insurance choices on Track.

Thanks for clarifying about UCAS/applications/what they can see/can't see.

My DS school advised him to submit all unis asap but with hindsight it might've been better to wait. If he has to reapply next year then at least we'll be a bit wiser!

Do you know if the Talk and Tour events are a new thing MarchingFrogs? My DD went to Durham a few years ago and I don't remember those being offered.

Not sure that they'll have the same appeal as Offer Holder Days where you can stay in your college but I supposed beggars can't be choosers!

No idea if they are new (DS1- 2015 - didn't apply to Durham, either). Details here, though:

www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/visit/discoverdurham/

On TSR there are a number of students reporting receipt of history offers from Durham this evening. Any joy anyone?

Still no news for DS OKBobble. Saw those history offers on TSR too - and also some offers/rejections for law. Heartbreaking to read the rejections, those students really wanted to study there.

Have a feeling that may well be DS any day now, counting down.

Nothing here either. DD thinking more seriously about Exeter now - heard within a week, been in regular contact, have now reduced offer if firm, excellent History course which isn't that dissimilar in terms of rankings and she feels they actually want her! Big plus point. Can't blame her really.

At least one poster on TSR is quoting comments from Durham about technical problems with the admissions system having caused delays.

I don't think it was technical issues as such rather than them being done centrally rather than departmentally.