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Original poster

Durham - deeply disappointed child - any admissions insight

662 replies

albertandlilylight · 30/03/2023 23:29

First choice university by a mile and really really wants to go there and college system would suit very well. 43 (IB) in predicted grades, am told by school very good school reference and personal statement. However, got an offer for a course did not apply for and for which has no interest. Don't understand at all. Worked so hard all the way through school, told hard work rewards and then this. Anyone got any insight to how Durham are offering and is there anything that can be done from here?

OP posts:
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Ellmau · 31/03/2023 00:01

What subject did she apply for and what was she offered?

Ellmau · 31/03/2023 00:04

Or he.

user56912 · 31/03/2023 00:04

There is just massive competition for the top universities and loads of kids with top grades. There was someone rejected from St Andrews today who had 12 x 9s at gcse and four A stars at A Level.

Elsanore · 31/03/2023 09:38

You should help your DC get perspective, and get some yourself too. It's not exactly evidence that "hard work does not reward" is it. It's one course at one university.

In the long run this will be a really valuable life experience if handled correctly.

Please don't make your dc feel that you are disappointed.

10nc · 31/03/2023 09:56

OP, what are the courses? Honestly, if DC is super-keen in Durham, maybe just take the place and they may well be able to shift course once in - especially if there is overlap between modules. DC has friends who have changed course in the first term or so (not at Durham, this is Cambs, but I'm sure it's very similar).

Original poster
albertandlilylight · 31/03/2023 10:08

Elsanore - I am not asking for comments like that, thanks all the same. You have no idea how this is being communicated at home / with my daughter and I can assure you it is not how you depict. My perspective is fine thanks as is hers.
43 at IB is between 4A stars 5Astars A Level equivalent (per USAC) plus 10 GCSE @9 so not unreasonable to feel the disappointment especially where this was a clear first choice and wonder who is more competitive and how the system works.

OP posts:
Original poster
albertandlilylight · 31/03/2023 10:11

DC applied for History and got archeology which is a very specific course and it's either your thing or it's not.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 31/03/2023 10:13

Have you spoken to Admissions? Mistakes do happen. It’s worth a call.

Barbecuebeans · 31/03/2023 10:13

albertandlilylight · 31/03/2023 10:11

DC applied for History and got archeology which is a very specific course and it's either your thing or it's not.

Is it possible to get into a course and then transfer to the one they really want to do. I know a couple of people who've done this and it was quite straightforward as long as you do it in the first couple of weeks.

10nc · 31/03/2023 10:18

Is she in a high-achieving independent school or grammar, OP? It may be something to do with this (contextual quotas etc)?

I agree it might be worth her calling and asking if a mistake has been made. I think History is one if the 'flagship' courses at Durham but still, I can understand her disappointment (and yours) with those excellent grades.

Boosterquery · 31/03/2023 10:23

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/03/2023 10:13

Have you spoken to Admissions? Mistakes do happen. It’s worth a call.

I agree with this advice. Don't know whether you follow WIWIKAU on Facebook, but I've seen at least a couple of instances where students have queried unexpected rejections and it's turned out to be an administrative error! However, do take care not to get your DD's hopes up.

Plexie · 31/03/2023 10:24

Is it possible to get into a course and then transfer to the one they really want to do. I know a couple of people who've done this and it was quite straightforward as long as you do it in the first couple of weeks.

But presumably the courses they transferred to weren't full and had spare capacity?

OP: is it that you don't understand why your child has been offered a course they didn't apply for, or that you don't understand why they weren't accepted for History despite having high grades? Highly sought-after courses at highly sought-after universities have far more applicants than spaces available. Even among the applicants with A-stars or grade 9s, there will be far more of them applying than can be accepted and the universities have to find criteria to select some but not others.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 31/03/2023 10:25

Does Durham interview? If so, they maybe just didn’t think she was ‘right’ for them.

Somewhere else will probably love her, and she will live them

titchy · 31/03/2023 10:27

'How it works' is that basically she didn't quite make the cut for History (one of the most competitive courses at Durham - all the applicants will have had the same sort of profile), but they liked her and hoped that her interests included archaeology - some history applicants would be happy with arch.

Disappointing I understand, but once she's had a few days to process it she should look forward - what other offers is she holding.

Boosterquery · 31/03/2023 10:39

For highly competitive courses (which would include history at Durham) the bottom line is that universities end up with far more excellent applicants than they have places available. In such circumstances, there inevitably ends up being a bit of luck involved in who gets an offer.

namechange3394 · 31/03/2023 10:41

What options is she doing at HL and SL for her IB? Could be they don't think the subjects are relevant/strong enough.

Hoppinggreen · 31/03/2023 10:44

It’s a shame and I am sure your child is disappointed, I have one of that age so I get it.
DD is having a year out and will be boosting her non academics prior to applying for Uni (there are other reasons too) but plenty of her peers who are outstanding academically aren’t getting the offers they hoped for. There are plenty of DC with A/A* in everything so they need something extra and in many cases related to the field they hoped to study.
Maybe they will get in through clearing or maybe once they get their head around it they will end up at another great Uni and love it

TallulahBetty · 31/03/2023 10:45

What were her backup Uni choices, if she has her heart set on the course?

What were her backup course choices, if she has her heart set on the uni?

Motnight · 31/03/2023 10:45

Definitely get your dc to check whether it is an error.

If not, it is a shitty but ultimately useful life lesson to learn unfortunately that not everything works out the way that you want it to.

massivenamechnage · 31/03/2023 10:49

Why a second thread about the same thing?

10nc · 31/03/2023 10:51

History at Durham will be competitive, but I wouldn't say super-competitive in terms of numbers of applicants per place. I bet they have made offers to others with lower grade profiles and predicted A-levels. They won't all have or need 43 at IB and ten 9s for History, surely? Durham over-offer by a lot anyway. I'm surprised, with her grade profile, they didn't at least offer her an alternative history course - eg. Modern and Medieval History, or even History with Archaeology.

Namechanger355 · 31/03/2023 10:51

your dd is great but unfortunately many are getting those kind of grades and that course is simply oversubscribed

we know a school here in Surrey where 40% of the kids got all A*s at that level

and a not insubstantial number of them want to do history

she will get into one of her other choices and it will work out

SweetSakura · 31/03/2023 10:53

Would she do a gap year and reapply? I did that as knew I wanted the specific course at Durham, and got in second time round. I was so glad I did as the course was exactly right for me and the gap year meant I had new experiences (and much needed savings -i mainly worked in a mixture of jobs)

Zwicky · 31/03/2023 10:54

In 2021/22 Durham made offers to 58% of history applicants. Almost all applicants will have high grades and good references and personal statements. My ds didn’t apply to Durham but only got 3 offers for history as a contextual applicant with Astar Astar AA predictions. He didn’t go to a school which involves itself in personal statements but it looked pretty good to me. She may just have fallen in the 42% of people who, despite working hard and having good predicted grades, just didn’t get offered a place, or there may be a mistake (it happens). If she desperately wants to go there then she could take a gap year and apply with grades in hand.

Zwicky · 31/03/2023 10:57

In 2021/22 Durham made offers to 58% of history applicants

should clarify this is the “history department” so covers all history course. Straight
history, I would guess, will be the most oversubscribed.

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