Durham University

[NotEnoughTime]

Hello.

How many of us are waiting for their DC to hear back from Durham? My DS applied back in October last year and is getting very down now he knows that others who have received offers are being informed that they will be told soon re college allocations.

I am usually a 'no news is good news' type of person but even I am finding it hard to be upbeat as I too am fed up

I wish they would just let him me know soon if he is going to get an offer or a rejection and then he can get on with his life and his A Level revision without this hanging over him.

Which course has he applied to? It wouldn't hurt to call the admissions tutor and ask if they received his application.

Re collèges: choose Hild Bede!

What course has he applied for? My dd submitted her application late November and had a reduced offer from Durham within a week. She’s been told she will hear which college in early February and before the open day on the 19th February.
She’s only waiting to hear from Edinburgh.

DS still waiting as well for Physics. DD heard in mid February 2 years ago for languages (but had applied just before the 15 Jan deadline).

Our son applied last November - he's had offers from the other 4 Unis, but only got a generic "thank you for your application" from Durham. Luckily, it's not his preferred Uni, but not hearing back from them is annoying as we're trying to plan Offer holder open days and Durham is current clashing with another of this offers.

Durham have always been slow, anyone applying to Durham ( as ds has) should be prepared for a long wait . This is not new I applied in 1983 and they were last then as well.

What is bad is that the offers are often after offer holders days however I think they assume they will either be first choice for many anyway regardless.

They are hugely oversubscribed for many subjects so the fact that they are slow and read PS etc is not necessarily a bad thing .

My dd is still waiting to hear for accounting and finance.

I think what's weird is that there's no pattern. DS1 got an offer in mid December for Chemistry. Durham could do with a bit of transparency in their approach.

My DD waiting for English. I believe they have only given out contextual offers so far for English.

I'm glad it's not just him then.

I know they have received his application as he has had some e mails from them.

I don't think he will have any choice of college at this rate-he would just be grateful for an offer!

Still awaiting here too - I’ve stopped asking as apparently that’s more annoying than no news from Durham. Agree the lack of transparency is poor.

Try not to worry - both of my DCs had to wait a long time before getting an offer - one heard mid Feb, the other one not until the end of March.

Thanks PortusCale-did either/both of your DC end up going to Durham and if so do/did they like it?

I have a 1st yr ds studying physics at Durham.. weirdly Durham was 1st to offer at beginning of dec, but I did wonder if he was ticking lots of boxes for them, low performing state school candidate with a disability. Anyway he’s there now, loves it and is in Hild Bede too mamansnet 😊

Will say he had a very high offer of AAAA though, we think that came down after Xmas..

The colleges are assigned by a method described on the university website, it doesn’t matter when you are offered a place. Dd was offered Hild Bede, went to the offer holders day and declined the place as she really didn’t like it.

Great that your DS Is loving Durham life Ingles2

Great that your DS Is loving Durham life Ingles2

Ds applied in November 2018..same time as his friend for the same course. Friend got an offer within weeks, ds got an offer at end of jan. He wasnt offered his first choice of college but absolutely loves where he is at now.

My eldest went to Durham NotEnoughTime - didn’t get first choice college but ended up loving the college assigned and had a fantastic time, absolutely loved it.

My youngest decided to take a year out and reapplied to Oxbridge with A levels achieved (and has been offered a place). I remember last year the waiting for Durham was stressful (having been rejected by Oxbridge post interview). In fact I seem to recall I started a thread something along the lines of this one!

Keeping my fingers crossed for all those waiting still that they hear good news soon - but no news is good news, that’s what I told myself!

Thanks for the update PortusCale.

My DS was rejected post Cambridge interview so he is a bit tender at the moment and this waiting to hear from Durham isn't helping!

Best of luck to your DC starting at Oxbridge in October

Think mine had received her offer end Jan / early Feb last year but compared to all the other Universities Durham was definitely the slowest .
She did get her first choice college .
She's having a great time there ( to the best of my knowledge ) - loves her course , college and social life and has even joined the gym and basketball team ( did f* all sport at school in sixth form ) .

We are still waiting for law. Also lost out Oxbridge at interview stage but v high performing candidate at GCSE so I would be surprised if he didn’t get an offer

That sounds very similar to my youngest's situation last year NotEnoughTime. It's very hard on them to get an Oxbridge rejection whilst still waiting to hear on Durham. Be prepared for a bit of a wait - it was literally the 31st March before we heard.

And especially tough to be waiting when the offer holder days had been given out and still no news. It doesn't exactly make them feel wanted by Durham to be honest - not sure why they are so slow.

Think St A are slow too - that is the one uni who hasn't yet responded this time around.

DS's offer came through last night at about 6ish. Philosophy and Politics. Several of his friends still haven't heard, though.

He had been a bit down after a no from Cambridge, so it was a big relief.

Now to wait for the college allocation.