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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:
alterego2 · 07/01/2021 17:38

Yeah - DD got it this afternoon. it helps in that it is crystal clear and removes all the 'should I/shouldn't I?" but is really sad for her. First year is not going the way it should!

@WinterRobin - is there any scope for you to double up on any essential texts and sell them on at the beginning of next year? We've just been discussing doing that, if necessary, but I appreciate it may not be possible for everyone.

WinterRobin · 07/01/2021 17:57

I think the problem is she has annotated the texts, made notes and underlined sections etc. Also her course is text heavy, think she’s spent £150 plus on texts, and has been spending more ordering texts for this term. Unfortunately my dh was helping her pack and between then they left loads of stuff there. Even her kindle 🙄 and lots of her washing 🙄. And we are about 5 hours away by car so not close enough to do a round trip in a day.

WinterRobin · 07/01/2021 18:03

Also lots of her household still seem to be planning to return, not for any specific reasons apart from wanting to, so they are certainly not seeing it as crystal clear that they shouldn’t return.

KingscoteStaff · 07/01/2021 19:03

DS very down about there being no Freshers 🏉 rugby - and then feeling bad about feeling down about something so relatively trivial.

Suki2 · 07/01/2021 20:50

DS also says members of his household are planning to return in February so he may do the same. His principal reason is that he'd rather live with people his own age, but he is also thinking of all his books, clothes etc there.

I think it's an unfortunate situation for first years in halls. It would seem reasonable for students in years two and three to see their rented accommodation as their main household and return to it. I don't know what to advise him.

WinterRobin · 07/01/2021 23:23

Two of my dd’s household are already back even though it’s catered and there’s no food yet provided. Meals were supposed to start again on Sunday, but the college haven’t said what will happen about meals, only that it will be a reduced service. I think it’s been really a very crap experience for them.

janinlondon · 08/01/2021 09:36

In reality the colleges seem to be making exceptions for students with extenuating circumstances (eg: essential library texts only available for use on site, mental health issues, inappropriate current housing) to return if they make a case. The catering is usually based on a minimum threshold of numbers, so if your students are in halls and have not yet filled out their college catering questionnaire, get them to do it pronto! If the numbers do not reach the threshold catering will be in jeopardy.

janinlondon · 08/01/2021 10:18

If their college fees are voided, do they also get an option not to be paid that money from student loans....?

TonTonMacoute · 09/01/2021 16:26

DS had booked his train back for last Wednesday, and he did decide to go as he is living in a flat with only one other. Because he comes home on the train (six hours) he had left so many books at his flat he would have found it difficult to study normally if he had stayed here.

I feel really sorry for all of them, and it is very hard for first year students especially those who haven't got a reliable friendship base yet. Hopefully this will be sorted by the summer and their second and third years should be back to normal, or more normal, with any luck.

DS is in his third year. Most of his second year was completely screwed by lockdown and restrictions, then his choice of final year modules was cut in half, so all the new topics that he was looking forward to studying, he couldn't do, and is doing all the same things over again. Plus there is nothing in the way of careers advice or recommendations of what to do next, he is getting more help and advice from friends who graduated last summer than he is from the university. It now looks as though most of his final year is also going to be screwed as well, meaning two thirds of his time at university has been a big disappointment although he has never complained about this.

I know that it's been shit for everyone and that we all just have to get on with it in exceptional circumstances, but I do think that this years final year students have had a particularly poor deal in terms of their university experience, and I just feel really sad for all of them.

KingscoteStaff · 09/01/2021 20:49

@TonTonMacoute I was thinking just that today as DS was listening to the Durham cricket captain’s positive, encouraging video. I just thought, here is a young man whose university career has been completely buggered, but who is still taking the time to post videos and messages to encourage the first years.

nipersvest · 11/01/2021 10:46

@janinlondon too late for us, payment went in this morning. DD still at home, desperate to go back though.

janinlondon · 11/01/2021 10:51

Nipersvest - yes, I did suspect they wouldn't have thought that one through! DD on the train to Durham now. Will be in the testing tent at 5pm.....

mum2eim · 11/01/2021 21:25

@janinlondon @nipersvest my DD is in year 2 and she used her third term student loan to pay for her private rental July-Sept instead of third term college fees which were waived. She was able to keep all her holiday earnings and we didn't have to pay her any maintenance or the private rental fees

TonTonMacoute · 15/01/2021 14:04

How are the DCs finding the work?

DS is hugely frustrated because he is just not getting any marks, some of his formative work is disappearing into the void and he still hasn't had his second year marks.

He is in his final year and doesn't really know what degree he is in line for.

He has also heard murmurings that the no detriment policy will not be applied.

Anyone else's DCs, especially final years, concerned about this?

janinlondon · 16/01/2021 12:13

DD is final year and has receipts for all her submitted summatives (three have gone in this week).....She has no current formatives but has had discussions (online) with tutors and profs in the last week about various things - she is able to book times on their office hours pages? It may vary massively between faculties I guess, but she is working in two faculties and its the same in both....

Baytreemum · 16/01/2021 14:01

My DD is 2nd year. I asked her about this - she said she has heard this is a problem for some subjects- she thought history was one. She said that last year she had difficulty getting feedback on her formatives but that she pushed for meetings with her tutors to discuss them and managed to get some constructive feedback like that.

janinlondon · 16/01/2021 14:11

A bit concerning that your DS doesn't have his second year marks @TonTonMacoute ? Were they non-exam subjects?

TonTonMacoute · 16/01/2021 14:24

@janinlondon

All exams, he did 4 in all I think, all open book. I believe he's got the marks for the exams but not for the degree as a whole.

His dissertation is going well and he has good contact with his supervisor though, so that's one thing.

The other problem is that they are getting nothing in the way of careers advice or guidance! I don't want to blame the university because clearly there's not much they can do about it, but it still sucks.

janinlondon · 16/01/2021 15:03

@TonTonMacoute Has he looked at the CareersatDurham instagram pages for the informal Q&A sessions running all next week and for the next fortnight? They are also running group assessment simulation exercises on the 19th, and recruitment spotlight events (BGL Group and FDM Group next week)....? I know Castle send out notices about these across their insta pages, but maybe other colleges might not.... (sorry if that is all a bit more basic than what you were looking for!)

TonTonMacoute · 16/01/2021 15:15

@janinlondon

Thanks for that, I will prod him! He's pretty organised, and did mention a couple of online sessions he had done, but found them pretty uninspiring. He's had some useful help from friends who graduated last year.

janinlondon · 16/01/2021 16:38

@TonTonMacoute I think there will be a higher than usual number of panic masters come September.....(!!!)

TonTonMacoute · 16/01/2021 17:07

Indeed! I don't really know how last year's cohort managed. It's all a terrible mess.

bendmeoverbackwards · 20/01/2021 15:31

Hello I’m new here. How competitive is it to get an offer from Durham?

My dd is currently Year 13 and has applied for ancient and modern history. She was redirected from Oxford last week and her second choice is Durham. She has other offers but not from Durham yet! I’m wondering what her chances are as I don’t want her to set herself up for another disappointment.

bendmeoverbackwards · 20/01/2021 15:43

Also can anyone explain the college system? Is it similar to Oxbridge? Dd has applied to University (the one in the castle apparently) but has told me that she now prefers St Chad's (I think). Is it possible to change at this stage? Does the choice of college affect your chances of acceptance?

WinterRobin · 20/01/2021 16:33

You can read about the college allocation system here www.dur.ac.uk/colleges.se.office/allocations/
And a table showing statistics of the chance of being allocated the college of your choice is here
www.dur.ac.uk/resources/colleges.se.office/UGPreferencesforColleges-2019Entry.pdf
My dd was made an offer last year in November and the colleges are allocated in February. She was allocated the college she chose, hers is one of the most popular (48% get their choice)