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Higher education

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

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Original poster

Durham University

998 replies

NotEnoughTime · 04/02/2020 14:18

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.

OP posts:

EnidsCrochetCorner · 13/06/2020 09:26

@blosstree and @Benjispruce thank you both.

For Ds it would just end up stressing him out so would be horrific for us as parents to know he is in that situation. It may seem trivial but he just isn't built that way. He went on a school trip abroad but went with his best mate who is just like Ds so it worked perfectly. When he knows someone, fine, a stranger? How can you even sleep knowing some random person is in your room?

His first choice is Cambridge, others are Warwick, Durham, Manchester, and then his home town for which only needs AAA.

blosstree · 13/06/2020 10:14

@EnidsCrochetCorner it would have been horrific for me too! I was trying to be neutral in my post but I would have hated sharing

Good luck to your son, those are all fab unis!

EnidsCrochetCorner · 13/06/2020 10:32

@blosstree it is just the idea of getting changed and your bedroom door suddenly opening because they have sacked off a lecture or being asleep and them coming in crashing around or even more freaky, you waking and they are just sat next to your bed, their face inches from yours and they are just watching you sleep

My son has worked his backside off for the last 4-5 years, massively defying the odds, dedicating a lot of time to understanding his work and how to improve it. #notmydna and definitely my Dh's. He wants to do computer science so those are the top unis that are within a couple of hours from home. He wouldn't do well being too far from home, neither would I but I am not telling him that.

Pillowper · 14/08/2020 10:06

Does anyone have any experience of when they allocate colleges if you got your Durham place as an insurance

janinlondon · 14/08/2020 10:11

We had a letter within ten days of results day confirming DDs college (2 years ago)

Jano69 · 14/08/2020 10:12

@Pillowper DS had Durham as his insurance and missed his grades for his firm this time last year. He lost the college he was allocated in the Spring and had to wait until the 1st September before he was finally allocated a college. We wanted a catered college but he was allocated a self catered college. It was quite stressful pulling a packing list together in the eleventh hour.

Pillowper · 14/08/2020 10:15

Jano69 that’s what I’m worried about . More limbo and uncertainty and allocation might well affect whether he wants to go. What a nightmare

Jano69 · 14/08/2020 11:58

@Pillowper You have my full sympathy. All the painful memories of this time last year have resurfaced. I'd add that DS is very happy at Durham and has just returned to his new student house as he's missing it so much.

Pillowper · 14/08/2020 12:13

Thank you - that’s really reassuring to hear . Yes a gruelling painful period. I think he will also enjoy it but not being able to focus on moving forward because he doesn’t know where they will put him is making this hard

Witchend · 14/08/2020 14:46

@Pillowper

Dd's just finished the first year at Durham. She was initially told that she might be moved college as she'd missed her grade by one mark. That was on the Thursday, and they were all doom and gloom on the group chat as all that had just missed, but she got by post a welcome to Josephine Butler college the next day, so she knew (by post) on the Friday.
She thinks insurance is be a few days after that.
She says at her college (which is large which might effect it) only 3 people who were near misses were moved in the end, and they will, even for insurance, give you your original allotted college if they can.

Her application was only confirmed accepted 9pm on the Wednesday, so they must have got the colleges allocated fairly quickly and the stuff out.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 15/08/2020 14:22

It won't be straight away but it will be within the next week or so. Firm accepted offers are dealt with first.

ClarasZoo · 15/08/2020 16:11

Does anyone know if Durham take account of an A level sat early. So for example if the standard offer for a course is A star AA. Would an A level sat in year 12 and awarded an A mean that you 'only" have to get an A star and an A in year 13?

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 15/08/2020 16:56

@ClarasZoo

Probably yes, but I would double check with admissions for the specific course

Peaseblossom22 · 19/08/2020 10:53

I see Durham are now looking for volunteers to defer , ds seems set on going and dh is keen for him to go as he feels he has already spent far too long doing nothing . He met his offer on the 13th so should be a priority for accommodation but I admit I am wavering a bit of me thinks he should just sit out this year .

Jano69 · 19/08/2020 16:08

Interesting @Peaseblossom22 - this article suggests a financial sweetener will be offered to those who volunteer to defer.

www.palatinate.org.uk/university-to-honour-all-successfully-met-offers-with-places-in-2020-or-2021/

DS is just about to start 2nd year and concerned about overcrowding. DD (new Y13) is concerned she won't get a look in this time next year. What a nightmare for all.

Peaseblossom22 · 19/08/2020 16:56

Yes it’s says in the statement that a financial bursary will be offered. I do think the use of the word bursary is interesting it definitely implies means testing I think.

It’s so hard in a way going this year they are likely to have to keep the numbers manageable because of Covid whereas next year numbers could be allowed to climb.

Ds still leaning towards going this year, he exceeded his offer before the climb down so his place seems to be secure . But obviously this year is going to be odd with online teaching etc , masks , freshers on zoom etc . But maybe there will be a bit of ‘we are all in it together ‘. Feel sad that something he was excited for has turned into just one huge mess.

Initially a year off seems like a good plan but that’s another 13 months on top of the 5 he has already been out of school. He hasn’t got a job at the moment and what will the job situation be like in a few months and would it be better to press on at least University is moving forward? No possibility of travel at least in the foreseeable future could end up spending a year achieving very little .

I feeling pretty stressed today about it all , it’s so difficult to know what to advise for the best.

KingscoteStaff · 19/08/2020 19:44

DS pricked his ears up with interest at the thought of a bribe to defer, but really can't think of what he'd do - his two plans involved work in Australia or SA, neither of which are available at the moment.

I think after this horrible year he just wants to get to Durham and get started.

Peaseblossom22 · 19/08/2020 21:01

I think that’s where we are Kingscote

tinkywinkyshandbag · 19/08/2020 21:21

I just hope this doesn't affect DD she got her grades and accepted straight away before the U turn. I think it would be unfair if the extra numbers now being accepted mean her place is at risk or that she doesn't get her place in the college that she was allocated.

paprikasausage · 20/08/2020 10:41

UCAS switched to Unconditional Firm on A Level results day (it was her insurance and she made the required grades).

The course code switched to Z 'awaiting course allocation' despite the offer being from a specific college. It has now gone very quiet and she hasn't had an email confirming the college. Not even an email asking about deferral or offering her £2k.

I appreciate admissions must be really busy (understatement), but I wondered whether everyone UF is still waiting and whether they all went to awaiting course allocation?

Peaseblossom22 · 20/08/2020 12:11

Ds has had a welcome email from his college . It was his first choice and went UF on 13th. He also has various induction stuff including details. He had to accept his place , not on UCAS I don’t think but on a form from Durham , received 13th , I think he had 7 days to accept so might be worth checking Spam

paprikasausage · 20/08/2020 12:22

Fabulous, thank you.
It went UF on 13th but not accepted until 18th because the college code hadn't changed. So will expect an email

KingscoteStaff · 22/08/2020 09:02

I think there was movement yesterday - lots of new folk suddenly appeared on DS’s College chat thing - very happy and relieved!

paprikasausage · 22/08/2020 11:55

Unfortunately still no news.
Surely she can't be the only one in limbo?

Peaseblossom22 · 22/08/2020 13:03

What do we think about the publicity surrounding Durham and ‘middle class’ offer holders being encouraged to defer ? I do wish they wouldn’t encourage this kind of classicism, the situation is a rollercoaster for everyone .

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