DD still doesn’t have college or accommodation at Durham - should we panic and who do we call?

[Mommybunny]

DD is definitely confirmed to study at Durham this year but hasn’t received her college allocation (it was her firm choice and she’d been given a provisional allocation before A level results) nor an accommodation assignment. She can’t enrol until that’s all sorted and can’t pick her modules. All her friends who are going seem to be all sorted. Every time she has tried to phone or use their useless chatbot she is told to wait for the email with all the information about getting an email address.

She is really starting to stress about it and frankly so am I because I will need to take time off work and arrange a hotel to bring her up there - we are in the West Country. Does anyone know who we can call to find out what’s going on, or is anyone in a similar boat, or otherwise familiar with the process?

I have to say my dd was fortunate and got her second choice, and didn’t get shuffled. She even got a better room than she hoped. But I know it hasn’t been as smooth for everyone.
I have less sympathy with people who get a shared room in a college with almost only shared rooms (especially if it was a top choice).

Still waiting…..
Anyone had a confirmation today?
I’m not expecting to hear anything tomorrow either.
Feel like this is just going to drag on, and it will continue to be impossible to get any info 😩

The unknown is torture. I’m not allowed to mention Durham at the moment, such is the stress…. no college/accommodation confirmed, despite being firm choice.
Can‘t enrol, sign up to clubs, choose modules.
What was exciting is now a fraught anxious time with a real belief there actually may no longer be a room in any college, never mind allocated one.
Please tell me to calm down and stop being hysterical… I am usually pretty calm 😜

I applied to Durham 30 years ago. I was invited to an interview. I think it was 9am, there was no way I could get there from Edinburgh in time with out forking out for overnight accommodation, in addition to train tickets. I thought they mustn't be terribly clever. I phoned up to ask if I could reschedule. They said I would have to write to request that. What a PITA this is going to be I thought. I withdrew. Very glad.

I couldn't get my head around the college thing anyway.

I am about the same level of wound-up @MyCheekyHazelOrca I can’t imagine how things are going to go in this house if he doesn’t hear some good news tomorrow 🤬

I completely agree. I am seeing stories on Facebook of people last year who were given non-college accommodation in the end, and as a result deferred, or turned them down, took a year out and applied through UCAS again elsewhere. It is shocking that young people who have worked hard and got accepted by Durham, have to change their plans due to Durham’s poor admin.

Finally got through to someone who said they are aiming to have ALL students confirmed by end of today, but at time of call we were told that in our case, they could see no college had currently been allocated, despite being firm choice.
Not exactly encouraging.
SO, SO FRUSTRATED

Has anyone waiting had any news? I am about to crash out of work early and hit the beer along with DS; neither of us are the most focused right now!

We’ve still heard nothing, really getting pissed off now. Good luck to all those waiting to hear!

I’ve also heard that someone was told on the help chat that the deadline has been extended to 10 Sep!

FFS!

It’ll be interesting to see whether the university tolerates the same inability to meet deadlines for assessments and so on…

FFS indeed.

We did get a confirmation yesterday - DD’s still in Grey. It does look like they’re working their way through everything, it’s just s-l-o-w.

Hi is there anyone else that still hasn’t heard about college allocation as of today 5th Sept? My DS is in Durham already for Hockey preseason and hasn’t heard anything apart from IT confirming he can’t enrol until he has a college? He has emailed / called etc. nothing?

Did you hear today?

It’s end of day and we still haven’t heard.

Thankfully we have been allocated our preferred college today. What a relief.

I’m so pleased for you @SlightlySalty and @RayonSunrise it must be a massive relief for you and your DC!

I assume you got your confirmations during working hours (ie there is no point in those who haven’t heard still checking their emails?!)

Still waiting 😤 insurance offer. If I had known YP may end up in post grad or private accommodation, rather than in-college, we would have definitely given that more thought. I’m resigned to non-college accommodation now, YP is gutted as it was the collegiate system that really sold it to them

We’re still waiting. Firm offer. Well done to those who have received their college allocation today. Fingers crossed for everybody still awaiting news.

I know this is probably no help but I worked at Durham University until recently and what an absolute mess the admin is in. I only stayed 6 months and I still can't get over how badly organised the place is and how much money is wasted. No wonder they are in financial difficulties. And of course they have now lost a large number of staff to make savings so no wonder it's causing difficulties. Staff work ridiculously hard - I was regularly working 60 hour weeks - and it still wasn't enough to meet the crazy deadlines. I hope you hear something soon. We had stress sorting accomodation at another university this year so I feel your pain.

Fingers crossed for all those still waiting.

If this is the norm and DU find this process acceptable, then something is deeply wrong. It’s not fit for purpose. I’m pleased that lots of YP are now sorted and can enjoy the build up, it should be a very exciting time for all of them

We are still waiting. Glad some did get their allocations!

I spoke to a small, very popular college on Thursday 4th Sept and they had spaces and were waiting for the central team to send the next list of allocated students. They were also waiting for some unaccepted offers they made last week to time out so then more places would be freed up. That's a small college so I imagine large college has even more spaces and are waiting for allocation team. We were lucky enough to get a college allocation on Friday. I'm hoping it all works out for everyone who's still waiting.