The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

I lived at home in first year

Just thought I'd ask this quick query here before I took this any further.

Basically due to start at Durham in October, thing is, the college that I am with expects 1st years to stay in Halls, and initially that was what I wanted to do. The thing is I've kinda changed my mind, I live pretty locally and can get to the Uni in 30 - 40 mins, so from a financial stand point, it makes sense for me to stay home. Getting to the point of this, is it easy to transfer college, I undertsand that people who live out have to be in St. Cuths college?

Anyone got any advice on this. I understand its easier for people to "fit in" when they are in Halls, but I've really thought about this, and the financial aspects is quite important to me.

Hey,

I lived at home in first year, and I'm from the same neck of the woods as you. I applied to Grey College but got an offer from St. Cuth's. At the time I was made the offer, I wasn't expecting to come to Durham but I ended up missing my firm. Given that I wouldn't be guaranteed my preferred accommodation, I decided to live at home for first year. I can tell you now, I wish I had lived in Durham.

First year is the year when most bonds are made, and it can be difficult breaking in if you're not there from the start. I've lived in college for the last year and yet I don't know a great deal of people there. Most of my friends are from lectures and societies (it's tricky going to events when you're not living in Durham). Are you planning on living at home for the duration of your course?

Regarding the change of college, I can't see any reason why you wouldn't be allowed to switch to St. Cuth's. You won't be taking up accommodation provision, you'd merely be another member and so logistically it shouldn't be a bother

a question or two about the online enrollment. i dont see how i can complete at this point, because i still dont know how much my student loan is going to pay or my term time address (when do we find this out?). is there a due date for when we're supposed to fill this out? also, i sent 4 passport size pictures with my license agreement - do i need to upload a picture as well?

a question or two about the online enrollment. i dont see how i can complete at this point, because i still dont know how much my student loan is going to pay or my term time address (when do we find this out?). is there a due date for when we're supposed to fill this out? also, i sent 4 passport size pictures with my license agreement - do i need to upload a picture as well?

I go to Hatfield, I was in your postion last year, really nervous about what it would be like and who I'd meet there. I hadn't read anything about it before I applied there so i was finding out about the Rah problem in the weeks leading up to going there (not the most reassuring sequence of events). When I got there i looked around for Rahs, and found none of them, well a few but they are in a minority so small as to be negligible, and even if there are rahs in your year, where is it written that you have to associate with them? I got through it just fine. There are Rahs at every college, though there are more at some colleges than at others (from the people I met last year there are a lot in Hild Bede (but of course, I might just have been unlucky and anyway, HildBede is massive). Hatfield is an incredible college if you want to feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. The spirit of the place is tangible (the jibes from other colleges just make you feel even closer to the Hatfielders by your side) Yes we have a reputation as a raucous college (we're not allowed on Palace Green on Matriculation day). But we take pleasure in that, there's no fun in playing by the rules all the time. John's and Chads I can tell you a little bit about aswell. John's is highly religious, I speak with no sense of hyperbole here, it is the most religious of all the colleges, no bad thing in itself unless like me, you're an atheist in which case it's either awful or a chance to debate metaphysics all day. It has a quaint little bar underground that makes you feel like a Borrower but it does make up for this by having the best college drink in the university (a tripod). Chad's is rather like a tamer version of Hatfield, the buildings are beautiful to live in and it has a great college spirit aswell but if you don't like green then it's best to stay away. The most important thing is that you want to live on the Bailey (meaning easy access to town and, most importantly, Klute).

I'm not a rah.... but I have some clothes from Jack Wills, which I'm now going to be too scared to wear at uni

Make a bonfire.

Ok, I will make one for you...

What days do college teams play on?

Which sport?

Wednesday is the main sports day though, and I think most college competition happens on the afternoon.

Basketball and maybe squash.

I'm not familiar with the set-ups for either of those, but I think they'll most likely be on Wednesdays