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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:
999caz · 06/11/2020 19:41

@Baytreemum so sorry to hear this. That sounds horrendous and as you say they are expecting these young people to have much more severe restrictions than the general population which I think is unacceptable. My son came home 3 weeks ago (he just managed to get his online tuition request in on time). He liked his household but really felt it was best for him to come home for this term. He lost well over a stone in weight in the time he was there (which was less than 3 weeks) due to isolation and the terrible food in catered accommodation Shock

WelshDaff · 06/11/2020 20:04

My dc came home two weeks ago and is really happy to be back. Dc lost five kilos in five weeks as the isolation food was so bad - mostly cold packed cheese sandwiches. ... also was very unlucky when it came to the household whereas other friends are really enjoying their bubbles. I think the allocated household plays a huge part in their experience whereas in normal years they could hang out with whom ever they want to.

Baytreemum · 06/11/2020 21:25

That’s terrible @999caz - is he ok now? Will he go back next term do you think?

Baytreemum · 06/11/2020 21:26

and @WelshDaff too - so sorry to hear that.

999caz · 06/11/2020 22:26

@Baytreemum He really hopes to go back after Christmas and is in daily contact with his bubble. He’s doing good now thanks, sad for leaving his flat mates but felt he had to come home to preserve himself

Baytreemum · 06/11/2020 23:00

@999caz that’s good to hear he is ok. I have heard of quite a few who have packed their bags and gone home, from all years. I think it would have been far better if they had made each college a bubble so that the kids had a chance to have normal social interactions. Social isolation seems far worse in the main than the virus for this age group. Online distanced teaching would have protected staff.

999caz · 07/11/2020 09:50

@Baytreemum Yes I totally agree.

WelshDaff · 07/11/2020 10:39

I couldn’t agree more @baytree. It’s such a shame .. we live beside from a secondary day school where the year groups are allowed to all mingle amongst each other. They then go home on buses/tube to all over London. Why couldn’t they at least mingle with everybody at their College at Durham? It would have made such a difference

Baytreemum · 07/11/2020 12:01

@WelshDaff That’s so true about the schools - the kids seem to be having quite a normal time around here - so different from Durham where they are confined in households large or small, compatible or not.... There is no scientific logic behind this, purely some malevolent intent.

KingscoteStaff · 07/11/2020 21:01

DS has mini formal tonight - not sure quite how mini? Just had picture of his household all looking very positive.

janinlondon · 08/11/2020 07:47

I’m not sure allowing 1500 adults to mingle freely would be on anyone’s radar as allowable in lockdown. I am sorry some of the students are finding it difficult and I appreciate that not all of these kids are having the same experience- but I really don’t think there is any malevolent intent? Further ideas for those remaining: DD and household did a lovely long walk up on the moor after going to see the piggies and llamas (animals are great for mental health) and then had an election night party. Please do post activity ideas for them all if you have any.

WelshDaff · 08/11/2020 08:25

I am happy for those with DC who are in a good household but sadly that is not the case for some. When one is surrounded by people who never come out of their rooms, it’s an isolating and grim experience.

KingscoteStaff · 08/11/2020 09:29

@WelshDaff I absolutely agree - if household members are not forming a supportive group, that makes everything so much harder.

One of DS’s good friends at Manchester is in a (admittedly gorgeous) flat of 9. 5 students never arrived (studying from home) and 2 arrived with gaming chairs + multiple screens and don’t really emerge. That leaves one potential buddy - not enough when there aren’t live lectures and live societies to meet other students.

janinlondon · 08/11/2020 10:07

The Household system has many flaws, it is true, and a supportive group within your household is key. If that is missing life is potentially very hard. DD and her group have found a lot of "social" opportunities with people outside their household, and I wonder if there is enough encouragement of this happening. Perhaps it's something that should be more actively promoted by the colleges?

janinlondon · 11/11/2020 14:16

Can anyone make head or tail of the plan to evacuate the Universities on particular days from 2-9 December? Does each university designate a particular day for their students to leave, as people seem to be interpreting it? I cannot imagine Durham station being able to cope with that....?? Please can someone explain it to me in very simple terms, as I seem to have lost my powers of logic....

bpisok · 11/11/2020 14:29

Durham has already started testing people so I get the impression that they will have tests leading up to the end Nov. Then they could get a 'nominated departure date', test on the day/day before and head home.
...just a guess though!

janinlondon · 11/11/2020 14:34

Do you think they will be doing all these tests twice then? Durham started testing weeks ago so I can't see how it fits into this paradigm. (Same as Oxford and de Montfort and the other universities that were testing through October). Also wondering if any colleges who usually require the rooms to be completely cleared for holiday periods have said if that is still going to be the case?

bpisok · 11/11/2020 14:44

I think they will be repeat tested- possibly twice more (so in 2 weeks and then before they come home). Some colleges are part of the pilot.
DDs floor have just had the all clear, but that's because they have probably already had it.

janinlondon · 11/11/2020 15:31

I wonder how much capacity they have - I know the Bailey colleges are testing this week. But if they need them to clear their rooms they just have to wait till end of term as arranged I guess...

bpisok · 11/11/2020 15:59

Another guess, but I suspect they won't be required to move their belongings.

As far as I am aware they ask them to move out so they can rent their rooms out during the holiday period ....not sure that there will be much interest in them this Xmas

Greyhair59 · 12/11/2020 22:42

My ds is really struggling atm, due to toxic situation in his flat. He has asked to move but has been told this is not usually allowed because of the admin hassle. If he leaves would he be able to restart next year? His A level "grades" exceeded course requirements. He is talking to the relevant people but any advice/experience of this welcome. Thanks

MarchingFrogs · 13/11/2020 00:04

Whether he is given a place in the 2021 intake and if so, what procedure they want him to undertake will be one for him to discuss with the university. He should be aware, though, that unless he gets the need for restart agreed as being due to 'compelling personal circumstances', he will be losing his entitlement to a year of funding. Starting again this time would be okay, loans-wise, but e.g.needing to repeat a year during the restarted concert would lead to needing to self-,finance one year of the course.

KingscoteStaff · 13/11/2020 07:41

@Greyhair59 Could he contact his JCR to ask if they ever have any organised room swapping for the new term - even if he knew he was going elsewhere in Jan it might get him through the next few weeks.
The Welfare reps for his college and at the SU are also really good places to go to for help. The SU reps had so many fantastic plans for this year - all now cancelled or scaled down - and are very keen to support students virtually.

nipersvest · 13/11/2020 09:12

@Greyhair59 Does he have to stay at his college? What I mean is, when I was at Uni, (this is in the 90's), I hated my halls, so moved out at Christmas and found a house share instead. My DD went to look at a potential rental propery for next year, it's a big house, 9 bedrooms but some of the rooms are currently empty. If he's happy with his course, but not happy with his living arrangements, could he move into a student house instead?

WelshDaff · 13/11/2020 10:47

Somebody in my Dc's s household in college requested to move to another bubble saying her mental health would suffer if she didn't. She was allowed to move to another corridor as long as she self isolated for two weeks.. she is much happier where she is now

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