Anyone else dc received a reduced offer if firmed from Durham?

[RedHelenB]

Dd received an email this morning.

[RedHelenB]

Bengalcat - I think you can get funds from your college to set up new societies so he could maybe do that himself.

Well full marks to Durham as both dept and college are making themselves available for dd to visit on Friday.

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

bengalcat young people these days seem to be more discerning customers of higher education (facilities as well as courses) than we were as students. Mind you, that's probably because they're paying handsomely for the privilege!

[bengalcat]

Mine went to yesterday’s offer day with a mate , liked the accommodation but still ( FFS !!! ) in two minds as felt the course seemed a bit disjointed and there isn’t a jazz band as such ( although she did spend the evening checking out what music they do have ) - seems as though what’s on the kids radar these days is so different to when I was a student

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Tinseltrauma. Glad your DS enjoyed his offer holders' stay.

[RedHelenB]

Glad he enjoyed it. Dd I'll so can't go which is a real shame. She's going to ring up and see if she can speak to anyone on Friday as she has that day off college.

[Tinseltrauma]

DS has just got back from his overnight offer holders stay - he had a ball. Really impressed by the community spirit in the college above all. Shared a room which he was apprehensive about but it was absolutely fine. The room was lovely and had an en-suite - he will probably put himself down to share on the back of it, provided he makes his offer obviously. Loved the formal dinner and the quirky traditions of the college. His school friend however didn't enjoy his stay at all (different college) - didn't gel with the people he met, hated his room, didn't like the food. Will probably decline his offer on the back of it, which will be a shame if he was just unlucky with his particular experience. For DS though, it has served to motivate him even further - fingers crossed for the grades!

[Fozzleyplum]

Just on our way back from the Durham offer holder overnight stay with DS- he went up on the train yesterday and we fancied a day out to collect him. Despite being a quiet sort, he had a blast. One more offer holder. day to go then it's decision time.

[goodbyestranger]

Teenageromance my DC are very sociable too - being diffident wasn't the problem.

[Teenageromance]

Thank you both for this encouragement - that’s really ally helpful and I’ll pass to ds. He is very sociable but I think it was the forced jollity which seemed a bit snobby to him.

[RedHelenB]

Dd going to offer holders day tomorrow but because she went for John Snow can't stay over. Be interesting to see what she thinks.

[PortusCale]

Meant so say "unlike DD" - his sister!

[PortusCale]

Would agree with what you say goodbyestranger (despite my previous venting that DS couldn't attend as he hasn't yet been told if he has an offer or not).

To be honest, even if he had, I doubt he would've wanted to go as he's never been keen on that sort of thing (unlike DS who did go and seemed to enjoy the social side of it all). I do remember her saying that it all looked a bit "tired" but I think Durham has a feel of that anyway. So I guess they're not for everyone.

[goodbyestranger]

Teenageromance I've said a few times on these threads that the Durham Offer Days are best avoided. I think it was the forced jollity which mine found cringey but also the History Dept was incredibly slack with their programme. For soem reason loads of students find this but then go on to absolutely love their time in Durham. My counsel now is to avoid those Offer Days altogether (which is what my most recent DC did, on the advice of his siblings).

[Teenageromance]

Tales of people being rejected for one mark below an A*, the university taking 10 days to let near misses know the outcome, forced jollity on the overnight stay, a bit of snobbery.

[Justanothermile]

For what reason was he not impressed?

[Teenageromance]

Well ds been to the offer holders over night stay at Durham and not very impressed.

[Xenia]

(1950s by the time he read medicine; 1949 his BSc)

[Xenia]

Zanda, it's the other way round. In the 1940s my father went to Durham University for his BSc. After that he then did a degree in medicine again at Durham (I have his degree certificate) but this time at Newcastle Medical school. Newcastle is the Johnny come lately in that sense....

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

No, Geography, goodbyestranger. Clearly not as popular a subject as others mentioned (and about which many young people are still waiting to hear).

[goodbyestranger]

Is his offer for History NewModelArmyMayhem18?

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

The distribution of applications may not be even though. So numbers may be down generally but that doesn't mean the pattern is the same across all universities and/or courses. I am sure I read somewhere that the Oxbridge/Medicine applications were higher this year than previously? Maybe it's a smaller but very aspirational cohort who know what they want?

DS applied to Durham based on his very good A Level predictions. It hadn't really been on his radar until that point in time, so he was quite surprised but really delighted to get an offer.

[Justanothermile]

I think it's last years intake, with this years dipping further before numbers rise again.

Certainly, that was the case when choosing secondary schools. DS got into a school that hadn't had places for years for out of catchment.

All relative to the standard of secondary schools round here but worked to our advantage. So yes, strange indeed so many are waiting.

[CBear99]

Nope - according to that article EU numbers up by 1% and rest of world up 9%

[Teenageromance]

And then there is brexit and whether overseas student numbers will be down

[OKBobble]

I think it is 2001/2 that is the low birth year so next year's applicants are the buyers market.