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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Interested to read this thread. My DD has applied to Durham, it is the only university she hasn't heard from yet. She hasn't been there as it just seems so far away and doesn't seem much point in schlepping up there until she knows if it is in the mix or not. I think she just picked a college that was recommended by a friends sister.

A question I have is this... Durham, with the college system seems like it might be a bit like boarding school. Would any of you be able to comment on that? She has been at boarding school and fancies something different and more independence..... although I know she likes getting regular meals provided!

I see above that you mention your DD shares a room. Is that common up there?

Just heard from ds that he is now sharing a bathroom with three positive people ( one room was empty so is being used for isolating ) he is negative but looks like it will only be a matter of time

That's interesting about the mealtimes for catered students. What time are they?

@NCTDN and @Lessofallthisunpleasantness I think it depends on colleges re the possibility of sharing a room ( dc shares).
I imagine meal times for catered students also varies depending on college . Dc seems to have 1.5- 2 hour slots where they can go and get meals.

Thank you! Well we will wait to see if an offer is forthcoming before she goes and has a looksy then I think. I suspect the 6 hour trip might put her off......

Arrgh, @Peaseblossum22, not a wait he wants to be doing. It’s certainly getting around. Hope it stays mild for them (and him if he gets it).

Can’t comment on the likeness to boarding school, but the self catering option is suiting DS and his flatmates. Kitchen large and well equipped, online deliveries work well.

@Lessofallthisunpleasantness I wouldn't have a clue about what boarding school is like, I don't think me reading Malory Towers as a girl would be a real insight

I think possibly the difference with Durham and its collegiate system is that each college has its own bar, some of them have shared rooms and some of them are catered. There will be students all meeting up for meals together. Dh had this in his first year at a different uni. The Durham colleges have sports teams and compete against each other so there is a collective feeling to supporting your college and socialising with people from your college.

Ds is at South, so a new building, en-suite and a shared kitchen with 7 others. He enjoys cooking as it helps him unwind, he has an online delivery fortnightly and tops up when he wants. He likes the independence of choosing when he eats rather than between set times.

Durham has a full stats sheet of how many undergrad rooms and how many are shared, catered etc.

www.durham.ac.uk/colleges-and-student-experience/colleges/#d.en.467132

I think where collegiate universities have an advantage is that they add yet another opportunity to make friends/acquaintances.

So in addition to the people on your course and the people you meet at Dungeons and Dragons/Hill-walking/Spanish/Ecology/Beer Pong Societies more here , you also have the people you see in the college bar / people who you play college netball with / people who were putting up the college Christmas decorations and roped you in to help as you were passing / people who also seem to do laundry at 6pm on a Thursday.

The current 2nd years certainly seem extremely bonded to their college - probably due to not meeting anyone else for most of last year!

Not that I went to boarding school but I think you get out of college what you want to. There were certainly some when I was in Castle who spent all their time with the equivalent of the school "in crowd" but you get that anywhere really. Most were perfectly normal and while college can give you a base to go to it isn't the only thing there. It gives you so many more opportunities because there isn't just the uni choir, most colleges have one too. Same with all the sports, bands and orchestras and theatre groups so you don't have to be brilliant to be involved, you can just join in and have fun.

The nice thing about college bars and common rooms etc is that you can mooch down to see if anyone is there as it will mostly be people who are living in who will be there so you'll probably find a friend.

I had a good group of friends in college but also a group from my course and I was a member of a uni wide society. I'm still friends/ in touch with people from all of them. Married one of the ones from my course so definitely still in touch with him!

Just saw this .. might also be useful for those with Dc thinking about which colleges to apply for
www.palatinate.org.uk/durham-college-popularity-rankings-revealed/

How are everyone’s dc’s getting on? I presume everything is back to normal next week for them all? . Dd hasn’t actually hated online ( likes having less dashing about) but has had to spend a most of the time in the library for decent wifi by the sounds of it.

@Peaseblossum22. How is your Ds? Hope he has managed to stay neg

Yep, it's looking like we're back to in-person teaching from next week (for my dept at least). I can almost hear the sighs of relief from neighbouring colleagues' offices ...!

Case rates are pretty high so I would put money on us trying to keep masks in place in many areas to mitigate - that's just my own speculation though.

@Longtimenewsee so far so good ! Am posting off a box of snacks from home though just in case

And actually have found out that he’s not sharing a bathroom as the bathroom on his landing is just for the positive people . He has to go on a daily pilgrimage to find a shower, but he’s ok with that . To be fair the college seem to be handling it pretty well.

@Peaseblossum22
DD's involved in a theatre show this week. Apparently one of the chorus has just had to step up to one of the main parts, and they're not the only one... from what she says I think she thinks it's very unlikely she won't have a positive test by next week.

I don’t blame you @Peaseblossum22. - I allowed Dd (fully catered!) to fleece me for snacks in local supermarket when we dropped off.

@MargaretThursday ..I hope your Dd manages to avoid it. Dd knows of a few cases now (in her college) - she is hoping her triple vaccs do their job but is starting to feel that it’s closing in .

@SchnitzelVonCrummsTum.. almost missed your update!.. thanks so much. I think even from the 27th when more restrictions are lifted I think the suggestion is still to wear masks in crowded areas or if you come into contact with people you don’t ‘usually meet’. The uni keeping masks in order to keep on keeping on sounds ok to me.

@Lessofallthisunpleasantness my DD has also applied and by the looks of it (info from a friend of a friend of a friend) applicants should start to hear from next week into late February dependent on the course - often late offers in March and April. Offer day booking opens in mid feb according to the website. We drove over to Durham while we were on our UK family holiday in the summer as it was only an hour from where we were based. DD and DH loved it ! But she likes to cook so they disagreed on the best college - he fancies the Harry Potter vibe of the castle whereas she liked the John Snow Townhouse. We did get a look at the accommodation there as one of the site managers saw us and gave us a tour which really helped DD.

I have some knowledge boarding school and several friends kids have been to Durham, Oxford, Cambridge etc if she picks a catered hall and an older college there will be elements that are very similar - there is lots of traditions, sports, in house rivalry, formal gowned dining etc but after the 1st year most students group together in private accommodation rentals. Obviously unlike boarding where they are classed as children and rules can be strict this is the adult world and they will be able to party and be independent.

There are some lovely new colleges with self catering accommodation and each college accommodation has a JCR (Junior Common room with a bar etc) so I think if they want a change from that boarding school vibe then perhaps a self catered hall might be better - some still have regular formals. There are lots of kids from boarding school and grammar schools at Durham.

inter house not in house !!?

Very glad that dd finally got her second negative test today (day 8) so is delighted to be back in her shared room, just in time for the weekend and the in person learning next week.
I think one of her main reasons for picking Durham was because of her deep love for Malory Towers, as passed on from me!

MargaretThursday

My DS is also involved in that show. I saw it last night and it was amazing. The understudy was phenomenal. I’m actually on the train going home from Durham now. I think I fall a little more in love with Durham each time I visit 😊

@NotEnoughTime
Glad to hear they managed it tonight. It's too far for us to go unfortunately to see it. Hope your ds is enjoying it, dd's very much enjoying it.
DD was worried that if they had any more positives then they'd be closed down, but they are being as careful as possible. She's not sure whether to go to the cast party though, because she'd like to, but thinks that might be a point too likely to catch it (she's tech rather than cast so has been a bit protected).

@MargaretThursday

Great that your DD has enjoyed taking part. My DS has too. They seem like a really nice bunch.

Tricky decision re ‘end of show’ meal. My DS went last night (as far as I know, I haven’t heard from him yet as he is probably still in bed). He is triple jabbed so hopefully that will give him some protection. I know it is ripping through his college too so I guess he could as easily pick it up from there.

I hope your DD is enjoying her time at Durham. My DS is certainly making the most of it. He is involved in lots of different activities/groups. Just has to do some academic work… 🤣

@NotEnoughTime

She's loved this year but struggled with years 1-2. She's got thoroughly involved in the drama society and is finding that great.

She's not in college and living with only 2 other fairly quiet types so if she does pick up covid then it's most likely to be with this group. She's also got an exam and a presentation to do next week!