Another path to greatnesses

[chopc]

I woke up around 4:30 this morning and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. Couldn't get back to sleep so thought I will have a go and starting the new thread. Hope the title is not too cheesy

Oh wow mumsneedwine that's beautiful.

Hope I can join. I have been reading the thread but didn't get a chance to post before the thread was derailed from original topic.

DD - also rejected from C this year. She has all her other offers and it is now between Durham and UCL (like a few others here). DD is doing Natural Science so slightly different from the humanities choices on this thread. She knows that the two uni experience would be very different. Any thoughts on which is better for science. She is also about to do the ranking for Durham colleges - had picked previous choice before for proximity to science and less chance of sharing, catered and ideally en-suite. But the one she chose is very sporty and DD really isn't. So any recommendations for colleges that fit that bill? She is increasingly worried that she may not fit in if she gets a sporty college.

If it is Collingwood you’re talking about, I’m sure she’ll be just fine. It is apparently a big college so the ‘sport’ is available to loads of students. They have many teams for each sport so easier to join in even if you’re not ‘mega high standard’. I suspect this gives it the reputation for being ‘sporty’ but I’m sure, like anywhere, there’s loads of people who don’t play (anything).

baring my DS graduated from Collingwood last year, if that's the college that you're referring to. It was his first choice of college and he put it down because it has a relaxed reputation and yes a sporty reputation. It's true that it has a strong reputation for winning lots of the uni sports competitions but is just as inclusive as any other college (ie very). This thing about reputations is rooted firmly in the past, certainly the idea that Bailey colleges (and Castle in particular) are almost exclusively for independent school kids and that the colleges on the hill (especially those adjacent to the science site) are the go to caves for Northern chemists. I have to say that when I was at Durham - when there was no shuffling around of applicants between colleges as there is now - then that did tend to be how it was, but that world is long gone, and Durham is much the better for it. These stories of who goes where bears no resemblance to modern Durham. Catered/ self-catered/ single rooms/ location are the things to think about, and possibly size (a couple of Bailey colleges have far fewer students) are the things to think about and the so-called reputations can be very safely ignored.

Cross post with Crikeyblimey - yes exactly so Crikeyblimey.

I agree . Dd also has offer for a science course at Durham. She’s ranked the colleges based on wanting catered and for music societies/ ensembles. I think the furthest college away from science buildings is about a 25 mins waIk tops ( might be wrong!) so she didn’t worry about distance.

Once she gets a college, she’ll like whatever she gets for sure.

@OnTheBenchOfDoom your story made me laugh.

@mumsneedwine I haven't realised how beautiful Bristol could be.

Welcome @baring - Collingwood is currently my DD's top choice. I wouldn't worry too much about the sporty reputation. I would suggest your DD's top choices should include John Snow (established college but brand new accommodation), South (new college, new accommodation), Josephine Butler and Stephenson. Maybe have a look at where they are on Google maps first...

Apparently Collingwood has one of the best college bars, second to St Chad's of course.

It is a seriously good bar Jan069. Quite right to factor in bars :)

DD liked the look of St Mary’s and I think that was really close to the science bits. She was applying for NatSci. It had a nice location although I think there were some shared rooms and the accommodation was a bit meh to be honest. Nice atmosphere though. Didn’t accept Durham in the end so no actual experience.

Oh yes and the Mary’s bar is legendarily bad apparently so maybe not if that’s a criteria!

I am glad my story warmed some hearts. Sadly my Mum died 11 years ago so I don't get to share any of this with her, she would have been incredibly proud though, it is quite lovely knowing her so well that I know what she would say to me, almost like I can have a two sided conversation with myself. It is very comforting.

@baring we had the same concerns about Collingwood being very sporty but I was reassured on here that lots of students there do not necessarily play sports and choose it for the catered aspect.

Ds has submitted his, we shall wait and see what he gets allocated.

Isn’t Collingwood near the science faculty? Is that also a reason why dc choose it?

@baring another redirected from NatSci at Cambridge here, DS is also waiting to hear from UCL although his top choice at the moment is Imperial (also still waiting to hear on this). He has offers from Manchester and Bristol, hence me asking for Bristol advice earlier.

Sadly, despite DH and I showing him various YouTube videos tonight on the beauties of Bristol, the nightlife, scenery, lovely halls, Physics Department- he seems immune to its charms at least for now. DH and I on the other hand - considering enrolling as mature students 😂

It's nearish Percy, but not much more so than many of the other hill colleges. Also, the so-called Science Site is no longer just full of science departments as it used to be, it also houses the new Law School, Anthropology etc as well as the main university library. In my day the arts and humanities and social sciences library was on Palace Green with the scientists all kept apart on the Science Site - so it was then aptly named, but no more.

@Pumpkintopf know how you feel. I want to move to Bristol now as it's so lovely. DD often sends us various Banksy finds.

Oh my goodness- DS just got an offer through for Imperial!

A star A star A with the A stars in Maths and Physics and an A in either Chemistry or Biology.

Can't believe they've sent it so late on a Sunday but DS is so happy and relieved. So pleased for him!

Fantastic news @Pumpkintopf . Is that his preferred choice?

Brilliant news @Pumpkintopf on the Imperial offer. It's great when it comes at an unexpected time.

Thank you for everybody about the reassurances about the colleges. It is Collingwood that she had put as first choice. And glad to see that our way of determining wasn't too wrong. It's the only thing we can do without visiting. Still holding out hope for an offer holder visit day.

Any thoughts on science reputation - UCL v Durham. DD didn't apply for Imperial but had considered it.

@Pumpkintopf that’s amazing. Fab news.

Thanks so much folks. Yes, he had in fairness always said that (for him) he would be equally happy with Cambridge or Imperial- and he loves the thought of studying in London.

Love this thread so much- I've told you lots before telling grandparents etc!

Fabulous news on the Imperial offer @Pumpkintopf Sleep well

Thank you @Jan069. Feel so happy that DS is happy.

DH and I on the other hand - considering enrolling as mature students

I hadn't been to.Bristol for years when I went to the open day with DD, but I'd be quite content there- while she was attending taster sessions and deciding the place wasn't the one of her dreams after all, I was mentally merrily selling up, moving westwards and getting my name down for an allotment.

Yay @Pumpkintopf, fantastic news!

@baring there are several YouTube videos of Collingwood by students plus many opinions on what each college is like, also by Durham students. We tried to just focus on the positive ones not the why I hate Durham ones.

We also watched video of a chap walking round the town which helped Ds visualise it a bit better.