Need advice from uni parents

[StackedTeacups]

firstly, appreciate this is a fortunate position to be in, I am looking for advice not judgements.

My daughter has 2 decent uni offers, for ancient history. One for Durham,
one for Exeter. We live in home
counties so both are a long trek from home, which is fine. One (Durham) requires A grades, the other B’s due to contextual
offers. She’s totally torn between the two and I have no advice to give as I have no idea which would be the better bet, if any. Anyone with experience/ advice to offer?

Dd was in a similar position when she was going and she did exactly that.

She was there when covid hit, and in that way it would have been easier if she'd been closer. We took her up at beginning and end of the year, but the rest of the time she took the train.

But she loved Durham when she went, and had a great time.

People will also say how private school it was. Dd didn't find this at all.
Dd was at standard comp. I asked her once what proportion of her friends had been at a private school and she looked totally blank, and said she had no idea because schools had never been talked about. She used to be used by parents and children alike at school to pick up and remember information like that sort of thing, so it wasn't she didn't remember.

Would town and gown be an issue for her?

Thank you all for taking the time to answer, and for all the really helpful comments. Definitely food for thought here! She’s going up to Durham next week for an open day, and I’m about to share this thread with her. Thank you!

We’re in the Home Counties, DD firmed Durham and Exeter for insurance. She’s 2nd year in Durham and loves it, she does a sport (not naturally that sporty) and settled in from day 1. I think the collegiate system was a big plus.

However it’s a right pain to travel and she doesn’t come home during the term. We do have relations in Newcastle who would help in an emergency though.

I’d advise visiting both and going with her ‘gut’ to be honest.

Glad that she’s going to Durham for the Offer Holders Open Day. Will she be going to Exeter for theirs too?

@StackedTeacups Durham next week might seem quiet but that is because it's officially the Easter holidays. I've collected DS today and he was the last to leave his house. Don't let her think it's lacking in buzz in term time!