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.

Has anyone else seen this in The Tikes today?
I’m sure Durham will deal with it if they can find those involved, but still not a very good headline.

The Times, not The Tikes !!

This was being treated with the disgust it deserves on DS's freshers' chat.

It is disgusting, I hope the university identify and ban those involved in this FB group.
It’s such a pity when Durham is trying to encourage more state educated students that these completely misogynistic privately educated minority think it’s clever to joke about using date rape drugs and having a competition to have sex with the “poor” girls.

I see there’s a separate thread set up to discuss it here,
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4018571-Durham-University-Freshers-Group-The-Times

May I ask a question for a 2021 applicant? Am I right in thinking that if an applicant offers an alternative Durham PS, Durham doesn’t look at the standard one? Presumably then even if the standard one is suitable for Durham, it is worth tweaking to say eg “and this is why I would like to study crochet at Durham”, rather than just crochet in general?

Did your DC offer an extra PS, even if they were applying for the same subject everywhere?

Hi @Revengeofthepangolins, yes, that is what I have read, that their first statement won't be seen and they will only refer to the replacement ps. Which I suppose does mean that you could make it exclusively Durham focused as no one else will see it.
Dd1 isn't applying to Oxbridge so her statement is more of the regular balance of subject vs personal so probably won't offer an alternative ps.

We had this last year ds, we rang admissions because we couldn’t see the option and it is now only available if you are applying for a different course.

Many thanks - v helpful

Is everyone in now? My heart skipped a beat on the drive up as we heard the Labour spokesman saying that any students not yet at university should stay put. Then it skipped again as DS got out of the car this morning and was led off to have his temperature taken! I’m guessing that if he’d had a fever we would just have had to drive 5 hours back home...

I was really impressed with the welcome they got from the freps today - made it feel almost normal!

I was also touched by the welcome from the freps.

Yes DS arrived on Saturday. I noticed Cheerleaders outside some of the halls! The freps were lovely; directing us to the hall, offering to take stuff up to his room and being on hand to answer questions; it felt very welcoming.

Not quite normal for him because all the starts had been staggered so he was the first to arrive in his hall; but it did fill up later in the day and by Sunday was full. Overall I felt that DS was excited and pleased to be there!

I loved the guys outside John’s welcoming in each student with a chorus of cowbells (?) - I think that’s what was making that clanking sound!

Nice to have positive feedback about freps - mines a year two frep and as far as I can tell enjoying it so far seeing people into their accommodation , overseeing freshers events and rotating " night duty " until the early hours as support for freshers and looking out for those misbehaving / drunk etc .

Message from DS last night that one housemate (out of 18) has reported symptoms and will be tested at 11 this morning. They are all to stay their rooms/corridors until the test comes back on Wednesday then, if it's positive, until Sat 17th. He reports this morning that 2 people decamped over night - heading home I guess.

Apparently they get 2 20min exercise periods in the courtyard - very Shawshank!

His main worry is running out of socks, but I have sent sympathetic biscuits. If it is until the 24th, he'll be 'inside' for his 19th. Am considering buying him the Raquel Welsh poster in case he fancies tunnelling out.

Has anyone else's DC locked down yet @Suki2 @indignatio @cblue @Quair @alterego2 @tava63 @tinkywinkyshandbag @janinlondon @paprikasausage @RainbowDash101 ?

Half of Mary's and some of Trevs in lockdown apparently

I heard a rumour that the whole of Van Mildert is locked down - but I'm not at all sure that's true. So far DD's college seems clear but I don't expect that to last, if I'm honest

Three days seems a very long time to have to wait for results?

If they’re testing the whole of Van M and Chads, maybe there’s a long queue?

My DD is a frep and just delivered food to some poor isolators in C stairs. Hope they are ok and the test comes back negative.

My Dd is in St. Cuthbert's - Parsons Field. She tells me one group of Freps have had to go in to isolation. She is expecting more soon .... but says she definitely doesn't want to come home - which I am taking as a good sign!

DS is in St Aidan's and so far it seems to be clear; there have been some tests done but they are negative. He's heard of lots of positives in other colleges. I suppose they've only been back a week so this coming week things could go crazy!

@Baytreemum is that Hall stairs in Castle..?

Oh sorry @Baytreemum - I think your DD is Hatfield isn't she...

Kepier Court undergraduate accomm now in isolation. I don't know how many cases.

Hatfield C stairs (kept alive over the weekend by @Baytreemum ‘s DD) are now released back into the world - both tests negative.
All freshers somewhat chastened and determined to be super careful from now on...