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Should i reject Cambridge for Durham?

I've already posted this in the cambridge forum, wanted to know what you guys think!

So erm, i kinda already know the answer to this question, but wud i be stupid in turning down cambridge to go for durham. I dont have an offer for durham yet, so i could still get rejected. If i get one, ill will deffinatly have to go and visit the department and the college

I just get the impression that durham is a bit more friendly, less stressed and i would have a better night life

One of my teachers says go were you will be happy, others have said i will be stupid to turn them down....

what do you guys think? Academic Rigour, or being happy?

Reply 1

Janey145

You've done very well to get into Cambridge - congratulations!
I applied to Oxford and Durham knowing I'd be delighted with either, and having been rejected from oxford, I'm nervously waiting for Durham's reply...
I think the question really hinges on where you really want to go. I see your reasons for considering Durham, and they are probably true - Durham courses are known to be intensive, but I think the 'stereotype' and therefore a lot of the pressure is removed. On the other hand, Cambridge is Cambridge. You have to consider where you will feel happiest - they're both great places to live and study. My friend turned Cambridge down for History, to go to Durham, and she has never regretted it.
My advice is until you have an offer from Durham, don't do anything, because it's not unheard of for them to reject applicants with Oxbridge offers.
Try not to stress - it really isn't going to drastically affect your life.
Well done again!

Reply 2

Itchynscratchy

10

I think it is a mix of both happiness and reputation. Personally, I would choose Cambridge unless I was absoutely convinced that I would not be happy there.

Reply 3

Winnipeg

I think you should go where you think you will be happiest. I applied to Oxford just on the basis of "I've got good enough grades to apply, so why not give it a go?" Although I was slightly disappointed when I was rejected (they spoilt my nice little run of offers on UCAS track! :mad:

) I realised at that point that Oxford was definitely NOT the place for me. I have heard how challenging the courses are and how much work you receive and even though I really love languages and am not lazy when it comes to studying, I think that the Oxford work load would probably cause me to have a nervous breakdown! I would rather be happy at a good uni than overly stressed at an excellent one :smile:

Reply 4

Christophicus

18

Hmm tricky decision.
I applied for natural sciences at cambridge and got pooled and eventually rejected. I know someone doing natural sciences at cam (first year) and they're finding it near impossible and my other friend doing engineering (first year) has spent a lot of his holidays catching up with work! My other friend turned down maths and physics at Downing and is now at Durham with me and he's really happy here. He turned it down because he just wanted less pressure on him and wanted to be free from work once in a while.

It's completely up to you but I am very happy at Durham. :smile:

Reply 5

ssmoose

13

Go for happiness. If you think Cambridge will make you happiest go there, if Durham will go there. I don't think a 2:1 from Durham will hold you out of many jobs or further academic study, but a Cambridge degree is something considered special by most.

Reply 6

Sarey

Hey, well done on the offer :smile:

I know how you feel, I applied for NatSci at both Cambridge and Durham too, I hoped I'd get Cambridge but I really liked Durham as well, I was dreading having to decide but ended up having the desicion made for me. Now I'm really hoping for an offer from Durham. All I can say is that in the end its your choice, go where you think you'll be happy and don't let anyone pressure you into doing something that you don't want to do and I'm sure you'll be happy wherever you end up :smile:

x

Reply 7

UglyDuckling

3

I think there's no absolute answer .. you won't know which is the happiest place unless you study there .. perhaps you should give Durham a visit as well. But if I were you, I would go for Cambridge. There are people who rejected Oxbridge for Durham, but only in a very small amount.

it also depends on your personal need .. like me, I don't need a place with a very good night life, but I do need a place that is close to London. And in terms of reputation, people outside UK would hardly know what is Durham .. The overall ranking for Durham is not as good as Cambridge as well ..

Reply 8

Agbonlaheto

Dull
Uninspiring
Repetative
Horrid weather
Arseholes it is full of
Moronic

1year at Durham is fun - its small, cliquey and generally nice. 2years are bearable although you begin to realise that the aforementioned characteristics are negative as much as endearing. 3years and the boredom kicks.

Reply 9

Jenii

15

You think Durham has a better nightlife? Durham is smaller than Cambridge. Go to Cambridge, you would be stupid to turn it down unless you had a really good reason.

Reply 10

Tufty_Katie

Congrats again on the offer! One of my friends turned down Oxford for Durham, and my sister did as well, so I guess it's not for everyone! If you get an offer at Durham, I'd strongly suggest coming on an open day to see a bit of what college life is like as it'll give you a better idea. I applied to Oxford and although I desperately wanted to go to Castle, I probs would have accepted if I had got an offer, but that's just me!

Reply 11

Trixie_the_Pixie

I would go to Cambridge if it were me because in terms of nightlife, its not that far from London if you really get bored and even though the work load may be a lot theyve given you an offer so they must think you can handle the academic side of things. But at the end of the day, its your choice so you should do what feels right. Good Luck! :smile:

Reply 12

Mattmoy_2000

9

Cambridge will stretch you. A lot.
It's swings and roundabouts, no-one can tell you where you'll be happier or whether the extra careers prospects are worth the exponential increase in work. Visit both places and see which one you like best.

Reply 13

ssmoose

13

Cambridge will stretch you. A lot.
It's swings and roundabouts, no-one can tell you where you'll be happier or whether the extra careers prospects are worth the exponential increase in work. Visit both places and see which one you like best.

It stretches you unless you are exceptional by Cambridge's exceptional standards, though chances are (no offence) that you are not.

Reply 14

goldenbarnes

11

You're more likely to regret not going to Cambridge than you are not going to Durham.

Reply 15

~the_one~

1

I'd say go for Cambridge, first of all its bigger than Durham, its 45mins from central London if you feel in the need for abit more nightlife, and the benefits far outway the down sides.
If i were you i'd at least have a go at Cambridge, and if while your there you really really cant handle it, nothing stopping you from dropping out and reapplying (aside from the hassle). I find that people usually cope in the surrondings there in.
Durham seems all talk and no bite. Its pretty low on league tables, and seems to have no bases for its reputation.

Good luck what ever your decision.

Reply 16

arkbar

12

Go where you actually want to go.

Reply 17

Agbonlaheto

~the_one~

Durham seems all talk and no bite. Its pretty low on league tables, and seems to have no bases for its reputation.

Just in case everyone else misses this analysis from ~the_One~ on our little university i'd just like to say: Thanks. For. That. Also why would Durham want to bite?

Seeing as someone negative repped me for suggesting Durham isn't that great, I expect this barstool to get an absolute hammering. A banning awaits - surely?