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!
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Can’t lie, @Wordlewobble there were tears last year (mine) but it was a fantastic day. We had Yellow items attached to our car as requested and the reps were amazingly helpful and cheerful. DS was whisked off and we sat in the sun by the refreshments tent until he signed all the things then were directed up a Fire Road to the accommodation block.
Then we headed off into Durham to give him chance to unpack and meet his flatmates. Everything took a bit longer because the arrivals had to have a Covid test, but that won’t be an issue this year.
DS does the food ordering for his flat and there haven’t been any problems with deliveries - there’s always another flatmate to go down and get the stuff with him (Tesco).
As we drove down through the College there was a student dressed as a Dragon and she hadn’t heard our car. Her friends were waving and shouting to her but she must have thought they were encouraging her to dance more Despite my best efforts, DS has not volunteered to dress up this year to welcome the new First Years

I think it's John's who traditionally 'clang' each Fresher through the gate with a serenade of cow bells, scaffolding bars + hammers or tin mugs! Very, er, melodious!

Excellent! I think college quirks like that are what makes it fun.

@EwwSprouts Stephenson looked lovely just next to Butler? DD s second choice would have been Butler as super friendly

…but Stephenson was preferred as third over South ……. love these DDs and their preferences @EwwSprouts …….. DD knows a 3rd year from Butler ( a friends DS)plus at least one starting as 1st year like her but we think more from school got in.

DD had a user name via email today now waiting on another email with password.

Thanks for info re dropping off days - found Airbnb for a couple of nights with flexibility … live 5hrs away

@SpamhappyTootsie sounds fab! This is our third child so done it before but it doesn’t get easier …

If any of yours are musos then JB, South and Stevo all have great music practice rooms - DS played in bands for several Durham shows last year and all the music rehearsals seemed to be on the top of the hill! Not great when you play the cello/bass and live in the Viaduct...

South and John Snow share the music practice rooms - based in JS - look fab but I imagine very busy.

@KingscoteStaff thats a long way to carry big instruments ….

Butler was second choice here too. Friendly, good sports & decent bar.

Saw the music rooms on applicants day but DS is no musician. He was put off South by the student showing us round who basically said we're a new college and Covid means we have no decent clubs yet. I was sceptical of that as know someone at JS who plays music in a variety of groups/ensembles.

Someone please just shout if there is an important email otherwise I'm going to let DS enjoy his week away. I know no passwords.

Just one for username so far @EwwSprouts will shout if anything else comes up.

Thank you! @Fruitygal

@EwwSprouts Hope he’s enjoying Scarborough boys holiday……. DD has had password today started enrolment but needs a term time address but no room allocation yet so stuck - perhaps that will be tomorrow or Friday.

@KingscoteStaff and any other seasoned parents ….additional module for 20 credit points ….. DD needs to pick one - thinking geography, economics or French ?! Any ideas or top tips ? Thanks x

@Fruitygal - a thing to consider that students might not think of include where the extra module will be taught. There's nothing like running from one side of Durham to the other to get to a lecture that is in an entirely different place with only 10 minutes to do so. Generally Elvet Riverside to the bottom part of the science site is JUST doable in 10 mins if you really shift it, but anything up the hill in Mountjoy wouldn't be. Of course the likelihood is that people will stay within the arts / sciences so it'll not be a problem, but worth considering if not ...

Also consider contact hours of extra module, mode of delivery, mode of assessment, and whether motivation will be maintained across the whole year...!

@Fruitygal Thank you! Additional module? That will blow his mind.

yes - Dd chose an elective module last year which was based at elvet riverside ( a language). She had to dash to it from the science site and then back again for the next lecture or lab . Her walking speed (read running) has definitely upped since she’s been at Durham

@SchnitzelVonCrummsTum @Longtimenewsee perfect info that helps - she’d previously chosen a geography type one (loves subject) but she can see it clashes so looking at different geography one or language or economics one? Liking at assessment and trying to think what’s best for work load but also interest. She won’t have factored in running 🏃‍♀️ lol 😂 but it will be something she will do!

Yes @EwwSprouts they do 5 core 20 credit modules in 1st year plus a wild card 20 credit - one if the many things she liked about the course at Durham.

Thunderstorm ⛈ with amazing thunder and lightning ⚡️ here so woken up and making lists 😂😂

DS liked that the course is broad and specialism comes down the line. I suspect he is oblivious to the wild card module. Got to say I don't remember it being mentioned on applicants' day.

@Fruitygal that was me last year. Lists and lists and lists…….

DS chose a module that had him chasing across town on one day a week. He became a Master of the Durham Shortcut, which was handy when we visited and wanted to avoid the crowds.

Hi @Sussexspanielmum. My dd is doing Economics and history - she’s going to Milderts.

There's nothing like running from one side of Durham to the other to get to a lecture that is in an entirely different place with only 10 minutes to do so.

The joy! Another unwise is to choose an optional model in a subject you haven't even studied at GCSE level to get Wednesday 'off'. It transpired medieval history was quite a challenge with zero knowledge (although it was conveniently near the Bailey).

My son's up in Durham doing preseason sports training at the moment and seems to be unable to walk down the hill into town. There's been a string of Uber receipts which slightly rankles given I don't remember getting a taxi other than from the station if I had luggage. I'll give it the rest of the week and cut the source of funding!

If students are doing joint honours then they don't get to pick an additional module - pity, because DS has lots of bizarre and esoteric interests for which he would have been happy to sprint across the city!

@hop321 DS heading up tomorrow for preseason. In his first year it took me precisely 4 hours to swap his Uber account on to his own bank card...

@hop321 my DS is going up early for pre season sports next week. Can I ask you whether your DS has brought everything with him or whether he has just brought essentials and you are going to bring the rest of his stuff at the start of fresher day? DS is totally disorganised and I can’t seem to get a straight answer out of him. I know he’ll need bedding, clothing, toiletries etc but not sure whether to cart up all the other stuff he’ll need for when he starts going to lectures? Any advice would be much appreciated….

@Igglepigglesblankie If your DS is a first year, he’ll be kipping in a spare room of a 2nd or 3rd year house, so all he needs is sports kit, stuff to wear in the evening, wash bag and a sleeping bag + pillow. Ideally, you then bring everything else up on the move in weekend.