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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

999 replies

KingscoteStaff · 18/09/2021 06:46

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Bonkus · 22/09/2021 08:35

@cmcc22
Delurking to respond.

My DS is starting in Chads and got on the Facebook group initially and was then added to WhatsApp and Snapchat group chats. That's where the discussions are happening - not much on Facebook.
He's received tons of information from the group chats he's on so far - very helpful.

Peaseblossum22 · 22/09/2021 08:40

There is a St Aidans Freshers 2021 Facebook group, it says 140 members so that sounds hopeful, he could put a message on there .

The college instagram page is very useful for ds college , although is anyone else starting to feel bewildered by the assortment of clothes for different events that they have to bring ? Clothes for Matric, clothes for formals , fancy dress .....but don't worry they have confirmed that you don't need to bring your own loo roll Grin

Peaseblossum22 · 22/09/2021 08:41

The English freshers group though has stressed ds out , there are so many messages and it moves so quickly that it crashed his WhatsApp

Braveheart35 · 22/09/2021 09:10

Stephenson has posted a timetable events on their Stevofreshers Instagram acc, according to DS. Seems to include something for everybody and a list of what they need for freshers week.

However, have a distraction to help older DD this morning, who has just been told her next nursing placement is 50 miles away from her Uni.

Vargas · 22/09/2021 10:47

@Sidney DH was chatting to a work colleague who went to Durham who said that bikes weren't very useful for getting from a hill college to lectures (as someone else on this thread said) but that it would be useful to get to sports fields 'if you're quite fit'. My ds is super keen to take his bike and he is a keen footballer so we will load the bike in the car too! If he doesn't use it then maybe he can bring it home on the train at Christmas...

Our spare bedroom is groaning with his Uni stuff now!

LeiatheSchnauzer · 22/09/2021 11:12

We had piles of stuff in our dining room, as soon as ds left for his uni on Saturday dd moved all her bags and boxes into his room! So we have a bit of space for now. Really hope she starts packing soon. We are going up on Friday and she seems to be spending most of Thursday with friends. At the moment she is very distracted with the pre-work (is that a thing?) they have set her. No reading lists but lots of online maths and physics worksheets.

tinkywinkyshandbag · 22/09/2021 17:12

Hi all returned my DD for her second year this weekend, Durham was looking beautiful as per. She's moved into a shared privately rented house near the viaduct, nicer than the tiny dark cell at Hild Bede she had last year! She's hoping for a better year with some actual lectures to go to and hopefully some tutorials, she only set foot in her department twice in the entire year last year. Onward and upward and good luck to those starting soon. For parents staying over the Travelodge just off the A1 is okay and pretty cheap.

SpamhappyTootsie · 22/09/2021 17:32

I can’t wait to see Durham. DH and DS went for a day visit the other week and loved it. It looks like my sort of place. I have plans for many long weekends over that side of the country… Wink ….without in any way imposing myself for visits, although if he wants to be treated to a slap-up tea room spread he will be more than welcome.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 22/09/2021 17:46

@SpamhappyTootsie it is very pretty. When Ds was on the tour, me, Dh and Ds2 (15) had a lovely walk round the centre and then met back up with Ds for lunch. Bought fish and chips and took them up to the cathedral and ate them up there just loving the sunshine and the absolutely beautiful view.

Can't wait to try out some of the lovely tea shops and cafes we walked past. Dh is just as keen to get back up there to see Ds once he is settled.

LeiatheSchnauzer · 22/09/2021 18:35

Also looking forward to seeing Durham again. We have also booked 2 nights at the end of half term to take dd2 up to visit dd1.

chopc · 22/09/2021 18:57

@LeiatheSchnauzer we are also planning to visit DS during half term :)

LeiatheSchnauzer · 22/09/2021 19:14

@chopc I bet it will be beautiful in October!

myrtleWilson · 22/09/2021 19:43

To whet your appetites here are a couple of photos of Durham last night!

Durham University
Durham University
Durham University
Peaseblossum22 · 22/09/2021 19:49

So beautiful , is anyone else worried that they are more excited than their child ? Trying to tread the awkward line between being positive but not too positive 😊

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 22/09/2021 19:52

Those views never get old. I've been here (ish, now live in a little village outside Durham) nearly 20 years and walking up to Palace Green still makes my heart soar.

Peaseblossum22 · 22/09/2021 19:54

Sorry that emoji came out wrong it was meant to be Confused

myrtleWilson · 22/09/2021 19:54

Yes @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea I still marvel at the cathedral when I'm just going about my business in town!

SpamhappyTootsie · 22/09/2021 20:06

I must admit there were some universities I favoured over the big city red brick ones, purely for the surroundings and history, but I kept that to myself so as not to influence DS! Durham was the top choice and I’m glad it was his, too, in the end.
I’m not saying I would never have visited him in Leeds, Manchester or London but……Grin

Original poster
KingscoteStaff · 22/09/2021 20:15

@tinkywinkyshandbag DS decided to change a module yesterday and went into the department - for the first time ever! His 2 solitary face to face seminars last year were in the Van Mildert marquee!!

OP posts:
Longtimenewsee · 22/09/2021 21:04

Lol@Peaseblossum22. Grin I am very excited for Dd and also very pleased for me that I get to visit .. even if it’s just making an overnight trip out of picking up or dropping off.
I had never visited before going to see it with Dd. It’s such a stunning place .

Peaseblossum22 · 22/09/2021 21:19

Honestly I know they are my alma mater but what is up with the back office function at Durham. Just tried to pay the college levies and fees .all going swimmingly until at the end ; there was a problem please email with following reference etc etc . Getting to be a bit of a joke now 😮

Sidney · 23/09/2021 07:16

@Vargas, that is really helpful - I will feed back!

chopc · 23/09/2021 10:33

@KingscoteStaff is cricket only in the summer? Wondering if DS will need to take his cricket bag now or Easter next year

LeiatheSchnauzer · 23/09/2021 10:41

@Peaseblossum22, did you manage to sort the fees? Just paid jcr etc and the system worked OK now so wondered if there was a glitch last night?

Peaseblossum22 · 23/09/2021 10:48

No email reply yet but if it hasn’t gone through my bank by lunchtime we might try again . I wonder if it’s because we used my card not his ?