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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• grateful to be at

@Igglepigglesblankie that’s hard on the kids but friends said it’s quite common so DD waiting on a room number for JS before she will relax

hi all - DD trying to access what’s app chat for her college but won’t work …anyone got a link

If you can't access the WhatsApp group for the college, then it could be worth asking on the FB page for the college if someone can Pm her and add her.

@MargaretThursday and @KingscoteStaff and @Benjispruce4 DD has paid the Levy for her college JS this am but nothing on how to order gown for use at dinners and matriculation - mention of Outfitters who supply on JCR web page and mention of discount amount for gown If have levy but no link to order.

Maybe she’ll get email later today once levy processed - trying to work and prompt her to organise things but don’t want to miss something.

Hatfielders deffo order in advance and it was on the bed when we arrived. I think it was an option when he paid his JCR fee online.

I thought I'd read that the gown would be ordered in advance and would be on the bed somewhere on the JS site too but looked this am and just stopped for lunch and will need to look again - thanks for coming back to me @KingscoteStaff

@MargaretThursday took 3 days to approve DD but on the sites now so all happy

@Fruitygal which site/sites is your DD on for John Snow. Not sure whether DS on the correct sites he has asked to join one FB group also wondering how to order his gown, what freshers activities are on and how much the gym is etc?

@Wordlewobble nothing re gym or gown yet that we’ve seen - assume when we hear about accommodation allocation this will come. She’s on some socials but not much happening she said yesterday.

She paid the jcr levy yesterday …

Do they need a gown for matriculation? I'm 25 years out of date (as with many things in my life), although I know that not all colleges have gowned formals now.

John snow does @hop321 but not sure about which of the others … assume most of the older ones

They do for castle (matriculation and also for formals) . Dc collected gown in the castle along with freshers pack etc on the day of moving in

Durham doesn’t seem very organised at all and the website badly need overhauled as a lot of links are broken or need updated.

DS struggles to remember to check his emails regularly now Durham have things in so many different places he will really struggle as, as well as emails he now has to remember to check banner, blackboard, sharepoint as well as umpteen facebook and instagram pages for JCR happenings and a discord group (with some prospective students).

@Wordlewobble I assume he’s had his contract for Snow now?

Had emails around freshers - lots of chat on the socials for Durham, Snow and her course now.

We've had loads of info for uni - I agree the main website a little clunky but direct emails and communication has been good.

This our third child to uni but first to Durham and things take time but faster than I thought it would be.

Thanks@Fruitygal this is our first DC and PFB so maybe is why it seems so much worse. Yes, he has had his accommodation contract and we have paid his £200 as DH is hassling him on an almost daily basis to check his emails and sort different things out that he needs to do as he just gets bad tempered with me.

It seems to be now coming round very fast for him leaving and he and we don’t seem as organised and prepared as I would have liked to have been and Durham does feel less organised than I would have liked. Also with covid I feel DS and his friends in the main are lacking in maturity as they have missed out on a lot of social experiences these last few years.

He is definitely ready to go off to Uni and I am extremely proud of him but I will really miss him and I’d like to organise a family meal and he’d like to arrange a final night out with friends before he goes off.

@Wordlewobble seriously don’t worry this is better than many other places but uni very different from school in terms up how they do things. What’s he studying?

DD has more than made up with going out and going abroad for hols with friends etc since things got easier with covid stuff.

Do you live close to Durham or at a distance?

Did he gets townhouse or en-suite flat?

He has been allocated a standard room with shared bathroom.

Not too far away compared to international students and those from the very south of England but far enough away.

He can sometimes be forgetful and disorganised and I suppose trying to ensure he is as prepared and organised as possible before he goes means he is more likely to have the best experience whilst he is there but also this is also my last ditch attempt to hang on to him and still look out for him and look after him before he goes.

@Wordlewobble so he’s going to be in a townhouse - they are lovely with large living area on the ground floor. My middle son was in one at his uni and the layout was almost identical - if I was picking that would be the style I would choose.I’d rather share a bathroom between 2 and have more lounge space.

My daughter is in the flat with the en-suite so smaller living area but still nice.

We live far south so a long way my other children were less than 3hrs so quite a difference. My eldest son sounds super similar to yours and I worried and wanted to do my best for him. I think the college system will be a lot more supporting than halls in other unis so it’s so easy to say but don’t worry. I’m super close to my kids too so I get the whole wanting to be the best mum with the support and wanting them to have a great experience.

Has he got on the socials now? Even if he sits and watches the chat rather than joining in then he’ll discover they sound like a fun bunch.

If you want a chat in RL or just ask questions about any emails just shout.

There’s a lot of support when they are there @Wordlewobble . Certainly more than I had when I went to Uni (not Durham). Obviously you want to do what you can but I’m sure it will be enough to provide that extra little boost for him going away.
It’s a big step for both of you and I remember how I felt this time last year. Most of my Mum Fuss Energy went into kitchen equipment iirc which is now languishing on our landing and some of it will not be returning with him!

@Wordlewobble fwiw Dd struggled with the admin side at first and I would agree that Durham is poor on organisation and admin. This time last year we both found it utterly chaotic with too many bits all over the place that they were somehow magically supposed to be aware of and know how to use in order to get everything sorted before freshers week. However once dd actually got to Durham, her college helped her with any admin issue she had and she soon got sorted. Her actual department were really helpful too.

Thanks all.

Hi all !

DD has her gown order link through gives her

small
medium
large

is this for ladies or unisex - she’s under 5ft 4ins was going to go for small if unisex but wasn’t sure ?

I think it must be unisex sizes as DS is at the top of the scale height wise which even XL only goes up to 6ft apparently and he is also very slim.

@Wordlewobble we only got three options did you get more than 3 on yours?

DD has only had something to ask if she wants a new or second hand gown so far. She's gone for second hand if available, but as she is 5 foot 0 that will only work if it is small!

Sorry our biggest option height wise was the L which is meant to fit someone of 6ft which will no doubt be swimming on DS.