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Higher education

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

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 Confused

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:
Original poster
NotEnoughTime · 05/02/2020 20:29

That's great news Kingscote Staff Smile

OP posts:
Peaseblossom22 · 05/02/2020 21:05

Brilliant news Kingscote , the wait goes on for us but it sounds like no news is good news

captainfleebag · 06/02/2020 20:28

DS applied in October. Still waiting to hear.

Why do they drag it out ?

Original poster
NotEnoughTime · 06/02/2020 21:55

I wish I knew captainfleebag it seems unnecessary and unfair Confused

OP posts:
Peaseblossom22 · 07/02/2020 06:52

For many subjects Durham is more over subscribed than Oxbridge but yet it is still many applicants first choice . The result is that their offer to acceptance ratio is very high; they are selecting the students rather than some of the quicker universities who offer to practically everyone who meets the criteria and then let the student select them . It’s quite interesting that Durham and St Andrews for example , both late offerers also have low drop out rates.

cheeseandpineapple · 07/02/2020 11:55

The acceptance to registration rate is almost on a par for Durham but not sure how the application to offer rate compares to other places.

Based on their data a significant proportion of applicants won’t accept a Durham offer. But on the plus side the vast majority (seems to be around 70%) do get offers which is good news for those still waiting to hear back even if they’re slow!

www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/statistics/

I know several students who are keen to get a Durham offer but ultimately might not accept it because the offer is likely to be significantly higher than other universities. Some places will offer a discount for being first choice and Durham will lose out on those students who go for less pressure but I suspect the Durham system and numbers work for them as those who really want to stretch themselves will accept a Durham offer and are likely to do the work to make the offer.

It’s interesting how it all seems to work with them successfully banking on the “right” students accepting and fulfilling their offers. It’s kind of impressive even if it’s stressful waiting to hear back!

bengalcat · 09/02/2020 18:30

Mine had an offer of 2 A’s for Durham ( she did already have an A* in Maths at the time of application but I was surprised as I
expected they’d make an offer on the basis of threep A levels )

KingscoteStaff · 10/02/2020 20:21

DS has just received college allocation - first choice. Very relieved.

sandybayley · 10/02/2020 20:50

DS1 has his. Not his first choice but OK and Hill not Bailey - which was his preference.

goodbyestranger · 11/02/2020 19:41

DD4 has her allocation too. Out of interest sandy, had your DS firmed Oxford and insured with Durham ahead of allocation? I'm just wondering if it might have made a difference.

captainfleebag · 11/02/2020 20:08

Still waiting.....

Hoghgyni · 11/02/2020 20:11

Hmmm. No decisions made here yet, but DD has been allocated a college poles apart from her preference. After making her a great offer in October, they have probably completely shot themselves in the foot if they wanted her to go there. I'm not quite sure what the point is of asking them to express a preference if the actual allocation is such a lottery.

goodbyestranger · 11/02/2020 20:21

In what way poles apart Hoghgyni if you don't mind my asking (which you might well!). Catered as opposed to self catering? Bailey as opposed to Hill? It does seem very random. But then they say that it's .... random :)

Wintersnowdrop · 11/02/2020 20:24

My dd has been allocated her first choice college. I think she’s said it’s fully catered and she’s a very fussy eater so not sure how that would pain out.

Jano69 · 11/02/2020 20:28

Most people don't get their first choice college at Durham.

As I've said before, DS would never have chosen the college he ended up at but is having the most wonderful time.

Remember, If Durham is your insurance choice and you miss the offer for your firm choice, you will almost certainly be reallocated to another college in late August/early September.

Hoghgyni · 11/02/2020 20:46

The new South College, so there is hardly any info about it, except that it has a dance & yoga studio. On the plus side, it only has single rooms. On the downside, she had hoped for catered to minimise the amount of luggage she would need to lug up & down on the train each term. The grades they have offered for an insurance place match Oxford anyway, so I can only assume she won't bother putting it down now.

PortusCale · 11/02/2020 21:09

DS received his college of choice yesterday - very different to last year when he didn’t hear until the end of March if he’d had an offer or not and when he finally did hear, he didn’t get his college of choice - in fact totally the opposite of what he’d requested.

It does seem that he’s been treated very differently by applying this year with grades in hand (despite the fact that his achieved grades reflect exactly what his predicted grades were). Makes me feel that somehow the system needs to be changed so students can apply with grades achieved.

goodbyestranger · 11/02/2020 21:19

It clearly is genuinely random. DD4 got her first choice even though her offer was around the same time as sandybayley's DS and some while after Hoghgyni's DD. But then her offer is the same as for Oxford so it's a very optimistic shot as insurance, and she could very well be moved on even if they accepted her with a missed grade. It's a bit of a minefield.

sandybayley · 11/02/2020 21:24

@goodbyestranger - DS1 hasn't firmed Oxford yet. I think he will probably insure with Durham, even with the re-allocated college. I guess it doesn't matter anyway as if he does take up an insurance place he's likely to get moved to yet another college!

His school have advised him to wait until nearer the UCAS deadline in case he needs a safer insurance offer than Durham. We don't think he does but there's nothing to be gained by firming just yet.

SaintFlamingo · 11/02/2020 21:25

I went to Durham as a mature med student with an unconditional offer.
In my experience, they like to offer late

goodbyestranger · 11/02/2020 21:30

Thanks for the reply sandy, I just thought that that might be the difference, as DD4 hasn't yet firmed or insured. I agree that it probably makes very little difference at the end of the day, unless Durham is the firm.

Fink · 11/02/2020 21:35

Durham is weird. They sent me a letter inviting me for interview after I'd got Oxford offer, as well as a second choice. I couldn't be bothered travelling all that way for a second/ third choice (lived in London) so said no. Got an offer within a fortnight of declining the interview.

I'm there at the moment doing postgrad. Met with the tutor, who accepted me immediately, just had to fill in the paperwork afterwards as a formality.

Hoghgyni · 11/02/2020 21:38

Am I right in thinking that Durham has a bit of a reputation for keeping insurance offer holder's waiting if they slip a grade? It will be stressful enough losing a place at Oxford, without having to hang on whilst they dither.

goodbyestranger · 11/02/2020 21:45

Fink it's pretty straightforward too for a lot of people. Depending on when you applied, Durham wouldn't have known you'd got an Oxford offer, so hardly weird to invite you.

Hoghgyni I think that is a risk yes.

DadDadDad · 11/02/2020 22:04

Same position as @Hoghgyni here - DS has been allocated South College, and is not keen on self-catered - he is not great on practicalities, and I think trying to cook for himself is going to be a struggle too far (at least while getting to grips with the rest of student life). Durham was going to be his insurance offer.

Is it really the case that if it's insurance and you end up there, then you're equally likely to be reassigned to any other college?

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