Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

A continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying for Durham or alumni or staff! Share your thoughts and questions on colleges, courses, etc.

Assemble! @Baytreemum @WelshDaff @WinterRobin @janinlondon @MarchingFrogs @ChildOfFriday @tava63 @Terfterfterf @TonTonMacoute @Suki2 @Quair @Greyhair59 @bpisok @Jan069 @999caz @nipersvest @mum2eim @witchend @chopc @alterego2

Who have I missed??

A busy week!!

@KingscoteStaff oh yes, I highly recommend them!

We usually order from them for high days and holidays - and also when we need cheering up in lockdown!

Just discovered Durfess Facebook page. So funny! Any other recommendations?

@chopc I once saw DD being admired on Durfess and it was all I could do to stop myself from mentioning it to her before she saw it herself! So we have surmised that third term looking very likely to be on, and rowing to start on 29 March. No news yet on whether Duruham will now reneg on their cancellation of graduation ceremonies this year....

Great to see a new thread, thanks @KingscoteStaff! DS returned to St Aidan's a couple of weeks ago. It's been a good move for him; he's much happier with his peer group and about two thirds of his house have returned. Having said that he still spends most of his time in his bedroom. He really likes his house but would love to meet more people.

I'm really hoping that the Uni experience will significantly improve after Easter.....it would be great to get any of the societies meeting face to face. Surely outdoor sports can start up?

@Suki2 why does he spend most of his time in his room? Haven't found people he gels with or is he very shy or? He obviously wants the contact which is why he went back

@janinlondon ☺️

Thanks for new thread.
DS still at home until the beginning of next term; no one from his household of 14 has returned either. They're expecting a term's accommodation refund so that's something at least. He's eating me out of house and home! But seems to be working hard and attending all his online things, as well as the odd Zoom drinking session with mates

He and 5 friends will be sharing a house for 2nd year and they're already liaising with the current tenants about what facilities are provided, and negotiating a move-in date. I'm impressed by their proactivity! (3 are girls, and he says they're the organised ones!!)

Much excitement at Castle as a gowned formal is announced for 18 March....things slowly starting to look more normal. Hopeful for an actual third term that looks almost like it should.

18 March @janinlondon? Sounds very early. I didn't think they were supposed to be back before Easter. Has DD missed something?

Hi @alterego2 - there are quite a lot of them back in the Castle. Mine is there because she does lateral flow testing for the Uni, but there are lots of foreign students who either didn't go home at all over Christmas or returned before the hotel quarantine system came into place, and a fair number who had to come back because all their notated textbooks and notes were in Durham, or because they have inadequate study facilities/wifi etc at home. A number also were admitted on grounds of mental health issues. In DDs household there were two students at the start of January, but they are now ten.

That's a big increase, isn't it - much nicer for your DD, it must have been a bit lonely with only 2. I hope they have a lovely formal and, as you say, that the 3rd term offers all the students some degree of normality. I'd love to think that things like the household system will go and that they will be allowed to go to the dining hall when they wish rather than at set times. Last term DD's dinner time was so ridiculously early that she ended up cooking a second meal most evenings when she got hungry again. Bit daft really.

@alterego2 DS did exactly the same - he was going through his bank statement and all of the food deliveries were at 10pm - his dinner schedule was 5.40pm!!!

@KingscoteStaff - exactly the same time as DD’s! At home we don’t eat til 7ish so it was really odd for her. And so hard when she first came home and was hungry by 6 but it was too close to dinner to really eat anything.

Do all the colleges also offer takeaway dinner service? DD and her household were collecting theirs later than their timed slot when it was ridiculously early, and eating it together upstairs.. or if she was working shifts she could run back and collect in her allocated break time...

Please can anyone reassure that their (quiet) DC have been Ok at a college called Hatfield. Or anyone with an offer. Was not my childs chosen one. With grateful thanks.

@cluelessy if he didn't want to go to Hatfield why did he put it down as an option at all? My DS only out down colleges he would be happy to be allocated to

@cluelessy My DS is very happy at Hatfield. His only moan is that his window is immediately overlooked by the Cathedral tower (and its bells), rendering an alarm clock unnecessary! On the plus side, it's apparently very convenient for Greggs!

@cluelessy.. I reckon once you are there, you love whatever college you get

Hi @cluelessy ,

de-lurking to say I have a quiet, studious DD with an offer for Hatfield, who I think is likely to confirm - it was her second college choice as she really liked the vibe when visited with DS in 2019 (so glad she joined all the uni visits!). She wanted a gowned, catered college with lots of formals, she isn't sure about the prospect of possibly sharing a room, but accepted it was a possibility. Although a large college I didn't think it seemed particularly boisterous but could be wrong - older DS is a fresher at Collingwood, which was his first and only permitted choice, very different kind of college experience I think

@whoatethelastbiscuit I am intrigued to know more about your DS's college experience in Collingwood as my DS put it down as his top choice and got allocated

@chopc, my DS is 2nd year Collingwood - he loves it and had a great time in college till Covid struck. He’s now in a shared house (well was last term) but still involved with the college.

It’s the biggest college I think, and very sporty with loads of teams for the more popular ones - what sport does your DS do? It’s perhaps less formal than some other. The bar is big and seems to be very popular with cheap drinks They have lots of formals, but no gowns (the boys wear suits and matriculated in suits)

@cluelessy My DD is at Hatfield- she loves it and I think all the Hatfielders do, whatever their personality, ‘style’ or interests - people do their own thing, whatever that is, but somehow being part of such a fabulous college brings them all together into a close-knit group (despite rivalries and close-fought elections!). The master is lovely and it is an amazing experience living right in the centre there. I think they are all very proud to be at Hatfield and all that hating stuff is just banter!

Hey @bigTillyMint - good to see you again. Dropped off the other thread somewhat unintentionally. My DD will hopefully be joining your DS at Collingwood too (assuming she meets the grades for the offer) and is really excited about it. It was her first choice college.

I have an older DS at Durham too - DD will be the fourth in the family to go to Durham! Grandfather studied Chemistry at one of the original Bailey colleges around 100 years ago....