Hatfield vs Hild Bede

I've got about a day to decide which college to apply to before my school send off my application.. The options have been narrowed down to a couple of colleges. Just a few quesitons :smile:

I believe Hatfield has formal occaisions etc and is quite traditional. Is Hild Bede like this?

Hatfield is nearer the appartment that i am applying for (english) , whereas Hild Bede is a bit futher away, does this tend to be a bit of hassle or is the distance quite short?

I noticed on the Hild Bede website that the residences are quite scattered around, does this provide a bit of a disjointed atmosphere as everyone is split from one another?

Which college do you prefer and why?

Do each of the aforementioned colleges have any traits such as public school %, sports, thesps etc?

And finally, the shallow question of which college provides the most aesthetically pleasing females?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

Piggsil

16

May I direct you to our wonderful, newly updated FAQ section? :smile:

Reply 2

recurring

OP

11

Thanks for the link, that solves some of my queries.

Reply 3

Marrissey

Being a Hild Beder I'll try to answer a few of your questions:

Hild Bede is probably slightly less traditional in some ways than Hatfield. Both colleges still wear gowns to matriculation. Hatfield have regular formals where (I think, someone kick me if I'm wrong) they still wear gowns, Hild Bede have about two formals a term (which I feel makes them a bit more of a special occasion) which are black tie but don't require gowns.

The distance Hild Bede is from town si vastly exaggerated by most people, it's about 7 minutes walk at the most. I think the distance factor is only a real hassle if your lectures are on the science site (which English lectures shouldn't be). Obviously Hatfield is the closer of the two but it's not a big thing.

There are plusses and minuses to Hild Bede's layout, it is true that some accomodation (like Ravensworth, where I was in first year) is barely even in the college grounds, but Hild Bede also has the advantage of a big site with lots of grass to sit on in summer and nice gardens. Also, some Hatfield accomodation isn't in the college proper so I don't think there's much of a difference between the two in this respect.

I prefer Hild Bede (I'm trying not to be biased here) - basically I'm not a big fan of the Bailey college cramptness, I think it's nice having a bit of scenery and stuff at your college, rather than having to be in Durham city centre pretty much all the time. There's also the stigma that Hatfield is the rah college (even though it is a fact that Hild Bede has the largest % of independent school entrants), that might also get annoying. HB isn't the college I'd apply to were I applying now (that "honour" goes to Collingwood), but I would apply there over Hatfield.

I've already mentioned the public school thing - Hatfield is perceived to be public school, but Hild Bede is as much or even more so. Hild Bede is supposedly the most sporty college (mainly because we have the most people to choose from!), but Hatfield's pretty into its sports too so there's not much difference.

"Aesthetically pleasing females" really depends on the intake each year - that said, it probably levels itself out so not much between them.

Hope that helped a bit, I tried to objective.

Reply 4

recurring

OP

11

That was an extremely insightful account, which did help me. Thankyou very much :smile:

Reply 5

socialist cook

8

Marrissey

Being a Hild Beder I'll try to answer a few of your questions:

Hild Bede is probably slightly less traditional in some ways than Hatfield. Both colleges still wear gowns to matriculation. Hatfield have regular formals where (I think, someone kick me if I'm wrong) they still wear gowns, Hild Bede have about two formals a term (which I feel makes them a bit more of a special occasion) which are black tie but don't require gowns.

We have them twice weekly in Michaelmas term,and at the start of Epiphany term and then weekly there on in. (On Tuesdays and Fridays). Yes we wear gowns to them.

Marrissey

There's also the stigma that Hatfield is the rah college (even though it is a fact that Hild Bede has the largest % of independent school entrants), that might also get annoying. HB isn't the college I'd apply to were I applying now (that "honour" goes to Collingwood), but I would apply there over Hatfield.

I've already mentioned the public school thing - Hatfield is perceived to be public school, but Hild Bede is as much or even more so. Hild Bede is supposedly the most sporty college (mainly because we have the most people to choose from!), but Hatfield's pretty into its sports too so there's not much difference.

That's very interesting, statistics wise.... but i still would have applied to Hatfield had I been applying now! :cool:

Reply 6

Marrissey

Yeah, some of the Durham stats are quite interesting - that one certainly surprised me - I'll try to dig out the website they're on!

Reply 7

ChrisH2107

5

Marrissey

Yeah, some of the Durham stats are quite interesting - that one certainly surprised me - I'll try to dig out the website they're on!

That would be appreciated :biggrin:

Reply 8

Marrissey

Oops - looks like I was wrong - from the latest available figures (2003/2004 - so not that recent), it looks like the college with the most people from an independent school is Chads (I was surprised) with 48.92%, followed by Hild Bede with 46.85% and then Hatfield with 44.64%, the least was Aidan's with 28.55%. I am aware that Rah =/= independent school (having gone to one myself and not being a rah), but I think it's the best statistical indicator you can get.

All the stats, for those interested, are at http://www.dur.ac.uk/spa/ under the "statistics" heading - it won't let me link directly.

Reply 9

ChrisH2107

5

Marrissey

Oops - looks like I was wrong - from the latest available figures (2003/2004 - so not that recent), it looks like the college with the most people from an independent school is Chads (I was surprised) with 48.92%, followed by Hild Bede with 46.85% and then Hatfield with 44.64%, the least was Aidan's with 28.55%. I am aware that Rah =/= independent school (having gone to one myself and not being a rah), but I think it's the best statistical indicator you can get.

All the stats, for those interested, are at http://www.dur.ac.uk/spa/ under the "statistics" heading - it won't let me link directly.

Thankingyou.

Reply 10

socialist cook

8

Talking of independent schools, i found it weird that in a lot of counties there are no grammar schools anymore and that when grammar schools were scrapped by certain county councils some of those schools that are independent now used to be grammar schools...

In Plymouth we've still got grammar schools(state ones), and i went to a comprehensive and a grammar school(so i've had a taste of all of the state system!).

Reply 11

Piggsil

16

Yeah there aren't any grammar schools in Cumbria anymore, so you basically have a choice between private school (of which there are about 3) and comprehensive.
I think in places like Leeds and Newcastle the old grammars are now fee-paying.

Reply 12

Rach:)

1

I went to a grammar school, but in surrey there are quite a few of them. Cuths has the smallest number of students from grammar schools....hmmm :confused:

Reply 13

lilsk8achic666

Rach:)

I went to a grammar school, but in surrey there are quite a few of them. Cuths has the smallest number of students from grammar schools....hmmm :confused:

Then you're a lucky bugger to get in :biggrin:

Reply 14

goldenbarnes

11

Thought I might catch the attention of some specialist Hild Beders, which is what I think I need, rather than posting on the random questions thread, although off topic.

You're not allowed mini fridges. Is this strict? If not, then this next question doesn't apply.

Is there any chance of me blagging a fridge if I take my prescription and eye drops that **need** to be refrigerated 24/7? If yes, then the next question doesn't apply.

Is there a communal fridge which my eye drops could make their home, and would it be safe? Not that I think someone's going to steal my eyedrops, but, you know...

Reply 15

Marrissey

goldenbarnes

Thought I might catch the attention of some specialist Hild Beders, which is what I think I need, rather than posting on the random questions thread, although off topic.

You're not allowed mini fridges. Is this strict? If not, then this next question doesn't apply.

Is there any chance of me blagging a fridge if I take my prescription and eye drops that **need** to be refrigerated 24/7? If yes, then the next question doesn't apply.

Is there a communal fridge which my eye drops could make their home, and would it be safe? Not that I think someone's going to steal my eyedrops, but, you know...

Basically, the people who report you for having stuff in your room you shouldn't are the cleaners - if you take a mini-fridge you run the risk of having it confiscated because they tend to take up a lot of power - that said, if you need one for medical reasons I would imagine there's a good chance college would let you if you phone them up, although if by blag you mean get one provided for you, I don't think that'll happen.

There are communal fridges in all the blocks I think - there are more in some than others. That said, I can well see why you might not want to store medicine in a communal fridge, depending on who's living in your block stuff can be nicked/tampered with etc. Probably best move would be to ask college about it - they may be able to store your eye-drops in a safer refridgerator for you or something.

Reply 16

goldenbarnes

11

Thanks a lot (that's not meant to sound sarcastic) - you've reassured me.

Hatfield vs Hild Bede

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