Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

September 2021 finds us packing, unpacking, meeting old friends and new, and all with our fingers firmly crossed for a positive year!

@OnTheBenchOfDoom your ds must have had his application in really early?

@NCTDN not really, early entry deadline is 15th October, I think his went in around the 10th. He was at a state sixth form I know other grammars locally had theirs in before mid September.

It isn't just Durham who do the put us first and offer a grade drop, if I recall Birmingham dropped their grades down to something like CCC knowing full well that those they made that offer to would achieve far higher.

My DD had her Durham offer by Mid-February, it was the last one to make an offer.

Some universities definitely drop one grade if they are your firm choice. Also Birmingham made some VERY generous offers last year as I know several teenagers put them as their insurance.

In Durham this weekend.. gosh it’s beautiful .. the trees on riverside walk are stunning in the Autumn.

Ds also had a contextual offer in November .. exactly the same as @OnTheBenchOfDoom’s Dc ( including entry requirements and the same drop down of a grade on firming ) and she got all As so ultimately didn’t need it (but it was v nice to have it!) . I think* it was based on her gcse school ( ie the difference in what she came out with compared to what their usual results are) and our polar postcode . The application went in at normal time for applying to oxbridge so I don’t think that made any difference.
She also got contextual offers from other unis so it may be worth looking at individual uni websites if you are interested ( although it makes little difference at this stage if you’ve decided where you want to go and are in with a shot of the required grades anyway ) . It made more of a difference at the ‘insurance’ stage for Dd when deciding on a fall back to Durham.

Dd met her college parents in freshers wk and then went to a formal with her college ‘family’ last week ..which made me laugh because it included her college aunt and her college cousin? ( what on earth?!!!.. it’s brilliantly bonkers!)

@Longtimenewsee DS college parents have acknowledged they have been neglectful and said they will get him a night of drinks when they do finally meet ...... so he is happy with that

He did say some college "marriages" have already happened as well 🤷🏽‍♀️

Well, DS managed to get a ticket for his first ‘Winter ball’, surprising as it sold out within minutes apparently. Looks pretty good, themed ‘The nutcracker’ at a local stately hall. Has made me pause & think about last years freshers and everything they missed, I hope their colleges are upping the ante for them this year, even though they aren’t actually living in college.

Oh how fabulous. College balls are so much fun. Wish I could hop in a time machine and go revisit the June Ball in Castle.

Braveheart my DS has miraculously managed to get tickets for the nutcracker winter ball too! It will be his second and final winter ball.

I hope so too @Braveheart35.. it struck me as I was walking around with Dd who was chatting away about everything she has been up to…how very difficult and isolating it must have been for last years freshers. They must feel horribly cheated. It must be hard to watch this years first years have a near normal experience too. I hope they are gatecrashing as many first years things as possible and using their elbows at every opportunity.
Dd did say that 2nd years ( and years 3&4) quite rightly had priority over first years to get ball tickets but I hope the colleges are also doing extra things just for them.

Just came on this thread to mention that the 'I love Durham' group popped up on my Facebook. Some of the photos look amazing especially from Remembrance Sunday.

Thank you @Dobbyismyabsolutefav, that is a great group and some ideas for walks in the wider Durham area next time we go.

Visited DS at the weekend - apparently I was the 'last parent in his group to visit'......I take that with a large pinch of salt!

@SpamhappyTootsie you might want to add Low Burnhall (Woodland Trust) to your list, just up from the Hill Colleges and includes a Wicker Man that the dog was rather unsure of!

We were going to go there but the weather was so very bad we decided to save it and took DS back to our cottage to dry off and have a chat. Will look forward to it next time, though.

The wicker scupture is a miner, and at the far side of Burnhall there is his wicker wife

We were meant to visit ds at the weekend but at the last minute he decided to come home instead! Partly because he is still trying to shake off his cough. Luckily I was able to cancel all trains/hotels/restaurants fairly easily. It was so nice to have him at home, but I was a little disappointed not to make the trip. He slept a lot, ate a lot and did a bit of work.

He is having a lovely time in Durham, lots of funny stories to tell, and didn't seem particularly sad to be heading back after 3 days in a bigger bed!

@Vargas what kind of ticket did you buy that you were able to change it without any issues? DS was able to change his ticket but it cost him £16

@chopc they were advance singles. I haven't checked my cc statement yet but they haven't mentioned an admin fee...

@chopc sorry meant to say refund was to vouchers not credit card, but I can't see an admin fee...

Thanks @Vargas

Is anyone visiting for Lumiere? Dd has sent pics tonight and it looks really brilliant

@Longtimenewsee yes I am going up for Lumiere. We are going up on Saturday!

A friend sent pics of the lumiere amazing photos of the cathedral

Ooh @SpringSparrow.. have a lovely time !