Questions about colleges

I have been finishing up my UCAS application, but realised that for Durham you have to pick your college now. I have looked into colleges, but have some questions:

I am looking at self-catered colleges, as this is likely cheaper. Not many colleges offer this, why is that? Also, I am applying for Computer Science, so have been looking mainly at Hill Colleges.
I saw that John Snow and Stephenson colleges are moving to the main Durham site, but haven't been able to find statistic on the new rooms - I was wondering how many places each will have, and whether there will be non en-suite rooms unlike at Josephine Butler; and also whether JB will shrink since I believe they're all occupying the same circle. Will there even be any difference between the 3 beyond size? Is the self-catered St. Cuthbert's Society (Parsons Field?) significantly further way, or roughly equidistant? It's hard to tell from maps). I was also confused, as my booklet from the open day states University college (too far away anyway?) is fully catered, while the website https://www.dur.ac.uk/undergraduate/live/colleges/ourcolleges/ says FC/SC.
Also, if you don't get your first choice, are you allocated a random college, even if it doesn't have the kind of rooms you want?
Finally, are college spaces allocated per subject (say, 7 CompSci students, 13 Psychology students, etc.), or randomly?

Thanks

Reply 1

fourbias

Hi, I can't answer all of your questions but I'l answer what I can!
In all honesty, not many people know what is happening with John Snow and Stephenson moving over to the city campus. I think John Snow are joing with JBo (Butler), or maybe sharing their accomodation space. I think your best option would be to apply to JoBo or Cuths.
JoBo is all ensuite and all selfcatered, and whilst it is a hill college its verrry far up the hill, especially from town.

Although I may be slightly biased in my answer, having lived at the Parsons site and studying at both the Science site and Elvet riverside,I have to say Parsons is in the perfect location. It's 10-15 mins from the science site, 5 mins from elvet, and 5-10 mins from town. It looks far out on a map but it honestly isn't, its on the same side of town as Hild Bede but not as far out. Most rooms are ensuite, and even though some are shared it really doesn't make a difference. I actually found that the shared accomodation made for easier socialising between flats and between flatmates, as brooks house (the ensuite block) could be quite isolating at times bc you don't really have to leave your room. At Parsons you have the option to go self or part catered and can buy meal tickets/packages.

If you don't get your first choice college yo'll be reallocated to one that most matches your original choice, but unfortunatly you can't request to change unless you have proper reasons, eg medical issues. I don't know how colleges are allocated because the current fresher intake for cuths has loadsss of maths and music students so it oculd be random or subject specific.

Sorry for such a long answer, if you have any other questions about life at Durham or any Cuths specific questions feel free to pm me :smile:

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Reply 2

UnidentifiedBody

What are the points used in measuring how one college "most matches" the one you applied for?

Reply 3

YellowSpudmarine

Original post by fourbias

Hi, I'm also looking for self-catered and picked st Cuths. Will they actually ask us if we want self catered or fully catered once we are accepted into a college?

Reply 4

fourbias

Original post by YellowSpudmarine

Hi, I'm also looking for self-catered and picked st Cuths. Will they actually ask us if we want self catered or fully catered once we are accepted into a college?

Yep- you have to fill out an accommdation preferences form where you rank which accommodation you would prefer (eg. meal package, ensuite or catered shared room). you also put down hobbies, if you like going out or staying in, and what time you study or go to bed so they can best match you to your flatmates.

Once youre given your accommdation it's harder to change between fully catered and self catered due to there being limited free rooms, but if youre given self catered you can easily apply for the meal package to become partcatered (10 meals a week) or vise versa

Reply 5

fourbias

Original post by UnidentifiedBody

What are the points used in measuring how one college "most matches" the one you applied for?

I'm really sorry but I dont know! one of my flatmates applied for collingwood but got reallocated to cuths so I really couldn't tell you. maybe it has something to do with key features of a college eg the sportiness of cuths and collingwood ?

Reply 6

YellowSpudmarine

Original post by fourbias

Thank you. This is really helpful. It's also nice that they even want to know your hobbies :smile:

Reply 7

UnidentifiedBody

Original post by fourbias

Yep- you have to fill out an accommodation preferences form where you rank which accommodation you would prefer (eg. meal package, ensuite or catered shared room). you also put down hobbies, if you like going out or staying in, and what time you study or go to bed so they can best match you to your flatmates.