Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

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

January 2022 finds our DC packing their big coats, checking the forecast for snow and wondering when Michaelmas actally is...?

Assemble!
@LostToucan @tinkywinkyshandbag @OnTheBenchOfDoom @TheSilveryPussycat @MargaretThursday @MrsTabithaTwitchit @CeliaCanth @Ingles2 @OlivePenderghast @Tinseltrauma @alterego2 @nipersvest @999caz @jan069 @Beetlesand @par05 @chopc @LeiatheSchnauzer @janinlondon @Baytreemum @MidLifeCrisis007 @SpringSparrow @Revengeofthepangolins @Greyhair59 @oppie1234 @Braveheart35 @Meery @Vargas @libbytrois @WentworthMillerMad @allonenow2 @Suki2 @TerfTerf @bigTillyMint @whoatethelastbiscuit @cluelessly @GoTrevs @Peaseblossum22 @WinterRobin @PhoebeFriends @Longtimenewsee @321zyx @clan17 @wewereliars @sub453 @Bluebellwoods1 @Peasepuddingplease @SpamhappyTootsie @fruitygal @clan17 @instanthistory @Motherknowsbest100 @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

Big congratulations to all those Dc graduating this year. Well done to them!

@SpringSparrow i hope your Dd has had a great second year 🙂

@SpringSparrow it's on the 30th June, so not had it yet. I'm so pleased for her. It's been a rough three years for her and it's only really in the third year she settled well-and now it's over.
She had a bad first exam and in my head I wasn't allowing myself to think that she might have passed, and she's actually done better than she thought-it turned out to be a really bad exam for everyone so it had a bit of moderation which meant the disaster exam was actually okay.

@MargaretThursday aw, I’m glad that the bad exam turned out to be okay in the end, and that your dd has has a better third year. What subject was your dd doing? What is she planning to do next? I look forward to hearing how the graduation service goes!
@Longtimenewsee thanks, that’s sweet of you.
I hope everyone’s exam results were what they wanted.Does anyone know if you can get any feedback on exam modules? My dd wanted to get feedback on one of hers but her academic adviser said it wasn’t possible?

Hi! We're heading up for graduation too! Friday is our day, with a college dinner the evening before. DD has had a fantastic final year at Durham, packing two years into one socially! Good luck to all fellow graduands!

@SpringSparrow my student got just a breakdown by module, but no further explanation. Scores were largely in line with expectations and have given a steer on what options to choose next year. I never got any feedback on undergrad exams (albeit not Durham)

@SpringSparrow
Thank you! She was doing maths. She's not even tried applying for jobs yet. She's a bit of a perfectionist and tends to overwork, so I suggested she concentrated on her last year and applied afterwards.

@libbytrois thanks for your response. My dd has one module that was worse than the others and it’s an area that she was hoping to do her dissertation in 🤦🏻‍♀️, so feedback would be really useful.
@MargaretThursday ah Maths! Tough subject. Were the maths exams all in person this year as well? Really well done to your daughter for getting through her degree. Maths is such a useful and well regarded subject to have as well.

@SpringSparrow you would have thought in those circumstances she could get feedback. Ds was surprised that he only had a module mark. Weee second year English exams in person or online ?

@Peaseblossum22 second year exams were online again. How’s your son? Has he recovered from his glandular fever? Did he manage to take all his exams? Has he got the modules he wanted for next year?

DS (second year) has just had percentages per module. He says that if he’d got a lower mark for one that leads on to one of his year 3 modules then he’d have sought feedback, but not otherwise.

Hope graduations went well!

Thanks for asking, he’s made a good recovery and his exams went well, he was pretty pleased although he’s quite self critical and always wants to do better. He’s had a ball since !

he did get all the modules he applied for next year , do some not ? I suspect he hasn’t chosen the most popular though … he’s not Jane Austen’s biggest fan.

hope your dd has had a good year .

Ds has had his results back for first year . As a group they asked for feedback and have been informed that there is absolutely no feedback on their individual exam performance on any CS exam. Wow.

With that shot down they have now asked for module feedback and a grade distribution due to the low marks they all got. Everyone of them seems to have crashed and burned this one module and lots are having to resit. Ds didn't do great on it but got firsts for everything else for CS. He really wants to know where he went wrong considering the discrepancy between that module and the others as he got firsts. Hopefully he will be able to find out.

@Peaseblossum22 so pleased your son has recovered, it can be a nasty illness with a long recovery. My sister had it during her A levels.

Congratulations to everyone graduating, I hope the weather stays fine.

I think something similar has happened in engineering. To me if that many people need to retake there must be a problem with the moderation.

Hi all, my daughter has an offer at Durham and is very quiet, bookish and shy. I think having been on a few freshers group chats and Instagram pages etc has worried her a little bit and she's convinced herself she won't fit in at Durham as she's not massively into going out or extroverted. Just wondering if any of you could shed some light on your experiences of perhaps similar students at the uni?

Hello @doubleshotcappuccino , DS is a quiet, party-averse type and he has loved his first year. He is at one of the Hill colleges and found like-minded people both there and on his course.
There’s plenty of help for those who might need some settling in and activities of all kinds to try. I’d advise your dd not to be put off by the ….. self-promotion on IG etc. It’s just an extension of the natural projection of the Ideal Self that teenagers indulge in. There’ll be an equal number of naturally quieter students just doing their own thing and looking forward to studying their subject at a really good Uni.

@doubleshotcappuccino That describes my dd, who's just graduated from Durham.

She found the college system really helpful because it wasn't quite so daunting going to things, and she's made some great friends.
She did have a bit debate on whether she asked for a quiet flat or not. She was worried that if she asked for a quiet flat then she might end up with (in her words) 6 quiet people none of whom want to ever talk together. But that didn't happen! But it meant she was spared from drunk parties, which she would have hated.
After the first year she shared very happily with a couple of girls very similar to herself.

@SpamhappyTootsie @MargaretThursday Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I'm so grateful as we are spending more time than I care to admit worrying about this very question. Read out your replies to DD who looks visibly relieved!

You are welcome, @doubleshotcappuccino! The exact same worries went through my mind this time last year (although DS was a lot more laid back, I have to say!). His flat in halls proved to be ideal, with a good mix of quiet and party-ers. He’s sharing with 3 of them again next year. He also found the surroundings very good for getting out for some fresh air and contemplation and was our Walk Guide through some lovely woods etc when we visited. Students get free entry to the Botanic Gardens too.

@SpamhappyTootsie Can't thank you enough, couldn't find this anywhere on the internet. Should have come to Mumsnet first

@doubleshotcappuccino don't worry! Dd had the same worries.
Just encourage her to choose a couple of clubs, and that's where dd found her feet really.

@MargaretThursday I will do that ! Thank you so much x xx

@doubleshotcappuccino what subject is your dd going to study? And does she know her college yet?

Hi there @doubleshotcappuccino . Dd has just finished her first year in a Bailey college.
Shes a quiet girl who is deffo not into clubbing.
Shes had a great first year and has thrived.
The collegiate system has been fantastic for her. There is so much put on by the colleges and many opportunities ( societies etc) to meet others. She has found a good group of friends whim she is moving in with for next year . They are from a mix of different accommodations (but all in her college).
For what it’s worth, Dd did not want to join any college Instagram/ WhatsApp groups before she went.
Tell your Dd not to worry 🙂

@doubleshotcappuccino My DD has just graduated from Durham - I would just say to your daughter that she will absolutely love it there and will probably end up loving the few clubs and bars that there are in Durham- it’s such a tiny place and has such a unique atmosphere - she will find friends like her on her course or through societies- maybe try college baking, welfare team, hobby societies she relates to and try out something she has always secretly wanted to do! Also try hard to meet people on her first day/week because they will probably be her best friends right through.

Thank you so much for your amazing support and messages . I wish I had posted ages ago ! Read them out to Dd .. much relieved .. possibly even a smile . Thank you .. so glad to hear your feedback from similar DC who have thrived there xxx