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struggling to find a college to apply to..

hey, i'm not sure exactly what college i want to apply to.

I'm going to be doing economics, i would prefer not to be sharing a room and i really hate old 60s architecture and so would prefer not to live in it. Oh and i don't really want to be doing with the whole gown and formal thing, i'm an average guy, i'm not into posh traditions etc..

I'm leaning towards Van Mildert atm because it seems to be an ok compromise, is there anywhere else that might suit me?

Whats this about St Cuthbert's Society aswell? Do the students live alll over Durham? etc

THank you!

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Reply 1

Vincente

St hild and st bede college? it cerainly doesn't have any of those traditional stuff going on there. Though the buildings aren't that modern either despite being opeded in the mid-70s.

Reply 2

receipt

Hi, yes i've just been looking at that place. Are the people there nice and not too snobby? I was also looking at the prices, i think 3.8k for a 28 let was a bit steep..

Reply 3

Fields

Well I think the rent is standardised across all colleges, so that's not really a factor.

Reply 4

iliketurtles

Cuth's has its traditions, but none of them are too formal (more along the lines of jism wresting, yard drinking, etc).

Years ago people in Cuth's lived in society owned accommodation all over Durham, but now I believe all first years are guaranteed accommodation on the Bailey or at the Parsons Field site. The Bailey is very historic (definitely not 60's!) and Parsons Field is much more modern (but definitely >60's), so you have a choice over where you'd like to be. Take a look at www.cuths.com

Alex

Reply 5

arkbar

Er, isn't Hildee Bedeee relatively formal in its formals? Personally, I'd say Cuths or VM

Reply 6

Teehar

Butler is brand spanking new, all single rooms, all en suites and great kitchens. however, we have gowns for matriculation (though I think thats only wise, seen as its one off, compulsory and in a cathedral) and the few formals we have are completely optional (to the point that not many people actually go to them).

here are a few pictures of Butler:

the residence buildings

the room, it looks smaller here than it is.

Gym, laundry room and main sports hall. the bar looks the same but is opposite this building.

fridge/freezer in the kitchen, you can also bring your own portable fridge but you dont really need to.

the rest of the kitchen.

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Looking at the photos of the rooms is like looking at photos of Brooks House (Cuths new ensuite accomodation) but smaller versions! Crazzzzzzzzy!

Reply 8

receipt

thanks for all the replies, and especically thanks for the pictures, butler looks very tempting!

what is it with cuths? it isn't a college is it? can someone explain to me exactly what happens, because they are based in the bailey etc...

Reply 9

Teehar

Rach:)

Looking at the photos of the rooms is like looking at photos of Brooks House (Cuths new ensuite accomodation) but smaller versions! Crazzzzzzzzy!

you can tell durham uni dont have much imagination :p:

so how big is brooks house (how many rooms) and any chance of getting there as a fresher?

Reply 10

arkbar

You can tell architects are unimaginative tossers, it looks just like every other new student housing(which isn't to say it's not nice).

Reply 11

Rach:)

Brooks house is quite big, it has 192 single ensuite rooms in flats of 6 with an absolutely huge kitchen! It's brand new this year and also has its own bar and jcr, in addition to the main one at the bailey. First years can live there if they opt to be self-catered.

Peasant....Cuths is basically a college but run by students instead of the uni....meaning that it is instead called a society. It gives the students a lot more choice in what they want in their college. The uni has tried to change Cuths to a college several times but the students have protested, for obvious reasons.

Reply 12

danfel

(Butler looks a lot better in real life btw!)

Reply 13

Teehar

danfel

(Butler looks a lot better in real life btw!)

yep, you been on the three legged bar crawl?

we should probably meet at some point.

Reply 14

angelmouse

Butler and Cuths were both built by the same people to the same plans if i remember correctly so the rooms and kitchens and stuff are the same size

Reply 15

iliketurtles

Rach:)

It's brand new this year and also has its own bar and jcr, in addition to the main one at the bailey.

Yup, we now have 3 bars :biggrin:

Brooks House looks almost 100% identical to Butler, but of course the fact that it's Cuth's makes it 1000% better :wink:

I think Brooks is actually bigger than the Butler buildings (it has an extra floor).

Here are some pictures for comparison,

the 'showerpod'

Reply 16

Teehar

oh god you're right, they are EXACTLY the same, 'cept in Butler youre guaranteed to get a room like that :biggrin:

Reply 17

receipt

is all cuths accomodation like that and self catered? those pictures are tempting me to apply there!!!

(why is cuths a society? can you be put anywhere in durham???)

Reply 18

Jelkin

Hild Bede isn't that formal! We don't wear gowns for formals, and they're optional. And the atmosphere here is really laid back, and there are so many people it's always vibrant and buzzing. Admittedly, my room is slightly 1960s (I'm in the worst accomodation block), but it's just so homely and MINE that I love it! It's large and the window is nice and big. Many HB buildings are old and nice, and it's all leafy and green. I'm sure Cuth's is lovely but I'm not sure that I'd want to go there personally because the students are spread out around Durham too much whereas in the colleges they're usually roughly in the same place. I thought I really wanted to be catered when I came here, but now I'm really glad I'm not - I love just wandering along for free food at mealtimes without having to bother cooking! (NB: I know it's not actually free.) Plus, I can always make myself something if I feel like it, as there's a kitchen on every floor.

Re: snobbishness, I couldn't comment on what it's like in any other college but here at HB I literally haven't met anyone snobbish. Rah-wise, no one's stood out, apart from a few people who dress like them. I know some private schoolers and some people who have lower incomes, but we all hang around together and occasionally make a joke about it because no one cares at all!

Hild Bede Hild Bede Hild Bede. Or, at least, it was the right place for me. Just make the right decision for you!

:smile:

Reply 19

Teehar

peasant

is all cuths accomodation like that and self catered? those pictures are tempting me to apply there!!!

(why is cuths a society? can you be put anywhere in durham???)

no not all rooms, its only one house out of many for cuths. most cuths rooms arent en suite and self catered. some people have said that you can get self catered if you wish, but I'm still confused on that cos Id assume theyre in high demand, being new, and as a result if they had more applicants than rooms surely some would end up in the other accomodation.