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?

No one is suggesting that - nursing, teaching etc were just examples of parental occupations that largely preclude modern DC from the educational opportunities that cost a lot eg private schools.

It's a long game though, that child at a comp who is bright but doesn't get encouragement from home to aim high for a uni place may consider applying to Oxford if another child from their school got in the year before, even if that child was from a more middle class family, the school culture now includes "applying to Oxford".
I'm in Scotland where applying to Oxford or Cambridge is not such a big part of school culture, even in Independents (at least those indies that stick to the Scottish exam system). I don't think it was ever mentioned to my DS, despite him having predicted grades that were worth an attempt. He may have considered it if peers were applying.
This has not changed from my days at one of the best state schools in Scotland for exam results, Oxbridge never mentioned!
There are contextual offers up here too but they would be highly unlikely to benefit middle class kids as they tend to be aimed at people who live within a certain distance of the universities (to allow people to attend locally as is still more common here especially for lower income students), school and postcode info is used and attendance at summer schools is also usually needed.

The cap on numbers of places for Scottish students actually means that nobody gets onto competitive courses without extremely high grades anyway, comp or private almost all the Scottish students at a entry high tariff uni like St Andrews will have straight A's.
You may or may not find this interesting but I think its always good to compare notes.

Thank you for that, wigglybeezer - it is always interesting to compare!

The Scottish university funding model is interesting. It certainly manages to keep individual tuition costs down while maintaining very high academic standards for very academic Scottish students.

The Scottish university funding model is interesting. It certainly manages to keep individual tuition costs down while maintaining very high academic standards for very academic Scottish students.

And for those perfectly able to benefit from a universty education even if not very academic Scottish applicants, the RUK universities will be happy to find them a place.

The RUK universities are welcoming places for students from all over the globe 😉

We have a higher rate of students going to FE college to do the likes of HNDs, I think we're at the point ( that some policy makers down south have started talking about) where you just don't go to uni with low grades. Some of the HND students do transfer to uni for 2nd/3rd places though.

Not going to university is fine, providing the training and job opportunities for DC with a less academic profile are good.

So, Scottish universities have a cap on Scottish students applying, yet accept English students who have missed their grades, through clearing. Is it because English students have to pay tuition fees?

And what is an RUK university?

So, Scottish universities have a cap on Scottish students applying, yet accept English students who have missed their grades, through clearing. Is it because English students have to pay tuition fees?

Yep. EU applicants similarly capped, as they are treated the same as Scottish applicants, fees-wise.

And what is an RUK university?

Rest of UK.

Scottish universities raise a lot of money through fees to international (non EU) students.

Coleoptera - please don’t worry. The reality is that most students have very little choice of accommodation at university and it is very much the luck of the draw, with most first years thrown into the unknown on the first day of the first term of first year. We might all agree that this is an unsatisfactory state of affairs - but it is how it is. It is pretty exceptional for first years to have much idea of where they will be living before arriving at university.

I can see that the college allocation can't be hurried simply because an offeree is coming for a visit.

Coleoptera perhaps he could look at his chosen college inside and out (the porters will let him in) and since it's only Hild/Bede which is miles from the two college areas - the Bailey and the Hill - he could actually scoot round the outside of all colleges in about 40 mins (it's about five minutes walk between the last of the Bailey colleges and over Prebend's Bridge to Mary's). He just needs a map of the university area to keep his route efficient.

I've got a feeling that the weather in Durham is due to be grim tomorrow - does it have to be tomorrow?

Also Coleoptera, can I just say that the difference in so-called character is almost non-existent, in reality - even in the old days it was more myth than reality and with the new college allocation system it couldn't make sense.

Our experience (not at Durham) is that accommodation allocation makes a massive difference to student wellbeing.

Maria I don't know what your experience is. I'm talking Durham specific because that's the case in point and because I'm familiar with Durham. Of course allocation of accommodation can matter at other universities where there's no collegiate set up but all students are fairly cocooned at Durham in their first year and this bigging up of college difference is a thing of the past, if indeed it ever existed as far as fundamentals (people) go.

To re-assure you Coleoptera my DD was disappointed when she didn't get her first choice college and was allocated one she hadn't even considered. But when she got there she said it really was fine, each college makes a huge effort to welcome in new students and she loved it. And talking to her the other day, she said all her friends felt that way - it's what you make of the college and if you're willing to embrace it then it will be ok.

That said, I know your DT is not keen to share a room and I fully understand that. Having had a quick look on TSR there are students who felt just the same as your DT and went on to say that with hindsight, it really helped them and many have made very close friends through that experience.

My DS has just been allocated his college and it is definitely not his first choice! I can PM you if you'd like as I don't want to say anything on here that might out him. At the moment he's being pretty philosophical about it, helped along by his DS. But he keeps things close to him and time (and grades!) will tell what he eventually decides.

I think somewhere I read that college allocations will be done by the 5th of April - any chance he could wait until then before going up?

It was the collegiate system for Durham that made it all the more appealing to us and DS himself. I think that can't be underestimated for first year students.

For what it's worth, I have heard that all the Durham colleges are very friendly and that people tend to fit in whichever one they're allocated (even if not their preferred choice).

Maria Novella It is pretty exceptional for first years to have much idea of where they will be living before arriving at university.

I disagree. For those who get their firm offer grades, they will generally have an accommodation offer within about 10 days and they will have to respond quickly so that any spare rooms can be given to insurance offer students.

Also as more and more unconditional offers are being given these are often allocated accommodation way ahead of results.

They have rarely either seen the room on offer or have any choice as to whether to accept it.

This is getting a bit silly.

When I was in Durham in February I hadn't seen my hotel room either and the view wasn't ideal but the hotel was full, so no possibility of swapping.

These are students not minor princelings - lower expectations and you'll be more content! (that was not to anyone specific just a general muse).

I agree goodbyestranger. I can't even remember thinking about accommodation whys and wherefores until my uni place had been confirmed. It was a non-issue once upon a time. It certainly wouldn't have been a deal-maker/breaker.

From Castle to top of thd Hill (Josephine Butler) only took an old fogey like me 25 mins going up hill. They are in reality all quite close.

I would suggest if DT2 is shown round a Bailey college then he should go and look at a Hill one too and vice versa. My son thought he would want to be a Bailey one but after viewing would prefer a Hill one.