Choosing St Cuth's vs Josephine Butler

I'm applying to Durham and have narrowed down my college choices to St Cuthbert's and Josephine Butler, but not sure where to go from here! I think it seems the two are quite different, so what's good and bad about each one?

I'd like to self-cater but I'm not too fussed, and I'd like to have a single room if I can! I'll be doing biology or natural sciences (and speaking of which, is it unnecessary to apply for both - can I switch over?). Thanks for any help :smile:

Reply 1

Mellie

1

Dino ko

I'm applying to Durham and have narrowed down my college choices to St Cuthbert's and Josephine Butler, but not sure where to go from here! I think it seems the two are quite different, so what's good and bad about each one?

I'd like to self-cater but I'm not too fussed, and I'd like to have a single room if I can! I'll be doing biology or natural sciences (and speaking of which, is it unnecessary to apply for both - can I switch over?). Thanks for any help :smile:

I would go with Cuths. I am sure Butler is lovely (I've spoke to a few people who are enjoying it there) but hell fire, that's even FURTHER up the hill than Grey. Which is a good enough reason to pick Cuths.

Reply 2

arkbar

12

I might point out that to get from Cuths to Biology you need to both go up the hill and then up cardiac hill as well. It's a lot easier from Butler. However, Butler is broken so I'll say Cuths

Reply 3

tehjonny

8

Visited Butler the other day (I'm one of the plebian commoners from Stevo... :rolleyes:

), it was a nice mini-campus, modern and fairly well furnished.

I wouldn't want to walk into Durham central daily though, it was a serious trek. The 5 pints may have made it worse :p:

. It did also seem that it would get dull fairly quickly?

Reply 4

abacab

cuths!! butlers yonks out... massive trek for food, goin out etc. cuths!

Reply 5

Teehar

10

tehjonny

Visited Butler the other day (I'm one of the plebian commoners from Stevo... :rolleyes:

), it was a nice mini-campus, modern and fairly well furnished.

I wouldn't want to walk into Durham central daily though, it was a serious trek. The 5 pints may have made it worse :p:

. It did also seem that it would get dull fairly quickly?

heh I met one of you guys dressed in a surgery uniform, pretty lanky dude, very nice guy.

I live in Butler btw, so I may be seen as Biased but honestly, this is as unbiased as its gonna get.

Cuths is established and well known and I know people having a great time there, but then most people in Durham are happy with what theyve chose.

Butler has had problems in the past few days, obviously because its brand new and never been lived in, when a couple of hundred people arrive, some thingas are bound to turn up. However, I can safely say we're over most of the problems.

Apart from that, Butler is brand new, the people here are fantastic and its the bar is massive (almost too big). Having said that, Butler is far out from the main clubs, its about half hour walk from the centre. however, you can use the bus all day, for a quid. My department is a good way out, but I would still choose Butler if I ahd to do it again.

Also at Butler you're gauranteed a single room, with a fabulous new en suite (shower, sink, toilet). Plus we have a giant pile of dirt in the middle, lovingly referred to as 'the mound' which is great for all sorts of stuff you wouldnt want to do sober. Oh and Butler is self catering, but ive found people here who cant ook for anything and those that are masterchefs, but everyone helps each other out so no worries there.

I would say go for Butler because you want to do Sciences and Butler is very close to the Science Site, unlike cuths, which is a fair trek up the hill.

One more thing, there are loads of cuths people on TSR (probably saying summat in itself) who will try their best to convince you otherwise, so I suggest you look at both colleges and make a decision more on what you think than what others tell you.

Reply 6

tehjonny

8

6+6=6

heh I met one of you guys dressed in a surgery uniform, pretty lanky dude, very nice guy.

I live in Butler btw, so I may be seen as Biased but honestly, this is as unbiased as its gonna get.

Cuths is established and well known and I know people having a great time there, but then most people in Durham are happy with what theyve chose.

Butler has had problems in the past few days, obviously because its brand new and never been lived in, when a couple of hundred people arrive, some thingas are bound to turn up. However, I can safely say we're over most of the problems.

Apart from that, Butler is brand new, the people here are fantastic and its the bar is massive (almost too big). Having said that, Butler is far out from the main clubs, its about half hour walk from the centre. however, you can use the bus all day, for a quid. My department is a good way out, but I would still choose Butler if I ahd to do it again.

Also at Butler you're gauranteed a single room, with a fabulous new en suite (shower, sink, toilet). Plus we have a giant pile of dirt in the middle, lovingly referred to as 'the mound' which is great for all sorts of stuff you wouldnt want to do sober. Oh and Butler is self catering, but ive found people here who cant ook for anything and those that are masterchefs, but everyone helps each other out so no worries there.

I would say go for Butler because you want to do Sciences and Butler is very close to the Science Site, unlike cuths, which is a fair trek up the hill.

One more thing, there are loads of cuths people on TSR (probably saying summat in itself) who will try their best to convince you otherwise, so I suggest you look at both colleges and make a decision more on what you think than what others tell you.

I think you may have met Dan, or possibly Lewie, both fantastic blokes. Yeah, I was surprised at how large the bar was to, nice though...and cheap :p:

. Sorry about all the shouting by the way...but you did start it :smile:

. Oh yeah, tell the blond rep that was doing that quiz thing she doesn't need to shout...it is a microphone :rolleyes:

.

I think I stood on 'the mound', and pretended to assassinate a certain President...

Reply 7

Teehar

10

tehjonny

I think you may have met Dan, or possibly Lewie, both fantastic blokes. Yeah, I was surprised at how large the bar was to, nice though...and cheap :p:

. Sorry about all the shouting by the way...but you did start it :smile:

. Oh yeah, tell the blond rep that was doing that quiz thing she doesn't need to shout...it is a microphone :rolleyes:

.

I think I stood on 'the mound', and pretended to assassinate a certain President...

yea it was dan I think.

ffs, I know what you mean, Sams a really nice gal but she needs to learn to use that microphone. oh and dont worry about the shouting, all the freshers couldnt really give a **** but the reps were trying to kind of get some sort of 'spirit built up'. I thought it was a bit silly.

lol about the mound.

Reply 8

Kingers

im at cuths now, it has a great spirit! we have the best bar and the best songs, mostly about hatfield. the cariac hill isn't so bad if you are staying at cuths as you can walk up the slopey hill (15-20mins). JB is alright, it just f
doesnt really have a reputuation (i.e its not that fun)

off now, im at loft, but my nose is bleedng as i got headbutted by a friend lol, got to get up tomorrow for elective ANTHROPOLOGY AHAHAH!

Reply 9

angelmouse

Dino ko

I'm applying to Durham and have narrowed down my college choices to St Cuthbert's and Josephine Butler, but not sure where to go from here! I think it seems the two are quite different, so what's good and bad about each one?

I'd like to self-cater but I'm not too fussed, and I'd like to have a single room if I can! I'll be doing biology or natural sciences (and speaking of which, is it unnecessary to apply for both - can I switch over?). Thanks for any help :smile:

For Biology I would definatley go for Butler - it is so much quicker getting to the site from Butler than it is from Cuths (I've lived in both), again for self catering both Butler and Cuths do offer it of sorts - in Butler everyone self caters which does give us a really nice atmosphere as those who can cook help those who can't. Where as Cuths does a half self catered option (and a fully but I can't remember if freshers are allowed to apply for that), however this isn't on the Bailey site but up at parson's field, leaving you with much further to walk to lectures and things, and a 20ish minute walk back from cuth's if you do go for a meal there.
(My own personal opinion now)
I've found Butler much more welcoming than Cuths, and less almost cliquey, whilst we may be a new building and having a few teething problems so are Cuth's (last I heard their drains were broken too). The walk to town in the day is fine as you can just get the park and ride for £1 (with student card) and go back and forth as much as you like, and at night it's still fairly easy - Butler is no further up the hill than Collingwood really. If I was applying again I would choose Butler but it is entirely up to you.
I'd say come up for a visit to both places and see which one you like more and where you could see yourself becoming a part of better.

Reply 10

Dino ko

OP

Thanks everyone for your help! After asking the admissions tutors I've decided to apply for biology and natural sciences, and I chose a different college for each, so now I've got time to come and visit them and have some choice. :smile:

Reply 11

Kingers

^ not sure if you can choose a different college for each, are you staying at the uni itself or travelling in?

Reply 12

Eddie K

2

I would say that Cuth's is the better overall choice, given your circumstance. Butler is much closer to the Biology building than Cuth's, but then again if you're living on Parsons Field, which is one of Cuth's areas, the walk is only fifteen minutes anyway. There is also a good chance that not all of your lectures will be in L50 (the Biology/Psychology lecture theatre) and that they'll be down on the main science site or indeed at Elvet Riverside, which is further in town and closer to all Cuth's accomodation.

I would choose Cuth's because it gives a good compromise for what you want out of your accomodation. It is close enough to the science site to be convienient and close enough to town/all of the other colleges to make socialising and going out easier. You will also have the ability to choose the self catering option at Cuth's new Brooks House, and you are almost guaranteed a single room.

Plus, Cuth's is fantastic anyway. :biggrin:

Reply 13

Teehar

10

Eddie K

I would say that Cuth's is the better overall choice, given your circumstance. Butler is much closer to the Biology building than Cuth's, but then again if you're living on Parsons Field, which is one of Cuth's areas, the walk is only fifteen minutes anyway. There is also a good chance that not all of your lectures will be in L50 (the Biology/Psychology lecture theatre) and that they'll be down on the main science site or indeed at Elvet Riverside, which is further in town and closer to all Cuth's accomodation.
A lot of assumptions there dont you think? firstly, that he will have to traipse to Elvet riverside, when all the geoggers I know say theyre based at the main science site. Also, if parsons field is fifteen minutes away, then Butler is only 2 minutes away, this of course being in the world of crazy times or marathon runners.

I would choose Cuth's because it gives a good compromise for what you want out of your accomodation. It is close enough to the science site to be convienient and close enough to town/all of the other colleges to make socialising and going out easier.

socialising is perfectly fine here at Butler. You also seem to forget to mention the difficulty of inter-college relations, considering the horrible rivalry and cliques that form within days.

You will also have the ability to choose the self catering option at Cuth's new Brooks House,

and is this self catering guaranteed?

and you are almost guaranteed a single room.

meaning you could get completely screwed over and end up sharing.

Plus, Cuth's is fantastic anyway. :biggrin:

wont argue with you there, but IMO all colleges are fantastic (apart from maybe grey). I just wish people would give more realistic advice, rather than a 'come to my college!' rant.

Reply 14

NeverBeNormal

Im a fresher at Cuths and I would recommend Cuths. You say its a far trek to the science site but if u stay at one of the places at Parson's Field its almost as close to the science site as Butler (although butler is a tad closer)/ Plus at Parson's Field u can choose self catering or semi-self catering option and have an option of going self-catering + ensuite if u so desire.

Cuths has the best accomodation choices and parsons field now has its own bar and is only 5-10 mins max to the city centre and the Bailey bar.

Reply 15

Teehar

10

NeverBeNormal

Im a fresher at Cuths and I would recommend Cuths. You say its a far trek to the science site but if u stay at one of the places at Parson's Field its almost as close to the science site as Butler (although butler is a tad closer)/ Plus at Parson's Field u can choose self catering or semi-self catering option and have an option of going self-catering + ensuite if u so desire.

Cuths has the best accomodation choices and parsons field now has its own bar and is only 5-10 mins max to the city centre and the Bailey bar.

I dont think anyone can argue that Butler has the best accom. for self catered. the only real argument was location, but if you're doing sciences, this doesnt even exist.

Reply 16

Dino ko

OP

Kingers, I'd be staying in the uni. Whoops, I'd assumed that you could apply for different colleges for each, as the Ucas form let me.

Reply 17

Itchynscratchy

10

You can choose a different college for each. Plenty of people on here have done/are doing.

Reply 18

arkbar

12

when all the geoggers I know say theyre based at the main science

Geographers don't actually know anything.

socialising is perfectly fine here at Butler.

I think Mr Ed was implying that it's quite a trek from Butler to town (which it is, you can't really dispute that).

Reply 19

iliketurtles

12

6+6=6

I dont think anyone can argue that Butler has the best accom. for self catered. the only real argument was location, but if you're doing sciences, this doesnt even exist.

..except that Brooks House is built to the same standard as any of the Butler accommodation, and given the fact that Brooks House accommodation is the same as Butler I'd definitely rather be in Cuth's than Butler just for the amazing atmosphere that Cuth's and fellow Cuthbertsmen have.

People always criticise Cuth's for being further away, or far out, but really it isn't, so I don't know where people have got that misconception (possibly from that crap uni map which bears little resemblance to reality).

The Parsons Field site is <2mins away from Elvet Riverside and the DSU, much closer to the town and about 7-10 mins walk to the Science Site (probably a bit closer compared to Butler).

Come on a Cuth's open day, then you'll see how good it is.

Alex

Choosing St Cuth's vs Josephine Butler

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