The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Can anyone help me with a quick question because I've no idea what is going on with all this subforum thing & im on my phone and it's really laggy. Anyway:

i have an an offer of AAA for psychology. Is there any kind of slippage scheme for grades if I put them as my firm?

last year I got BBC however I should have got AAC (but I didnt I know so I cant really go making excuses) so I think I am capable of getting 2 A's but not sure about the last one :/ I might be able to get a B but would I get in?

thanks

I'd email now. Currently you've been offered a place for single honours politics, so only the politics department will have seen your application.

Within most degrees there's a certain amount of 'optional' modules so you can usually pick modules from almost any department, however this depends on numbers enrolled on each module, timetable constraints and the fact that the number of optional modules is different for each course (and changes over each year of the degree). However from the looks of it, if you are registered on the L200 politics course, there is only one completely free option every year, the rest are limited to modules offered by the politics department, so this probably isn't an option you want to follow.

From the sounds of it you want to do both definitely, in equal proportions? In this case you would have to be registered as a combined honours student, which is actually a completely different department.They'd need to check you fulfill all prerequisites, and as you say it's a very popular department so you wouldn't be guaranteed to be able to swap (as from what I gather it's always oversubscribed). You would be effectively be applying to a completely different department, for a completely different degree (as silly as that might sound), it's just down to how many spaces they are allowed to offer.

Email the politics department and see what they say though - but definitely do it now as they'll have already made a lot of offers, and there are only 75 places on either combined honours in arts/ social sciences each year! You wont lose your place by asking though.

I agree with pianoflute also after you ask them also ask of you could mauve apply through clearing or extra and ask if you have a good chance to get in. But be sure you don't lose you're place for politics.

As with any other university, it is at their discretion who to take if people do not make their offers. If you don't make the offer for Durham, you'd then have to be trying to establish if Durham would take you as part of the clearing process (ie. they pick from the near-misses until the spaces are full, if there are indeed any spaces left). They may not be even able to tell you on results day - I know several friends who had a very stressful few days! If Durham was unable to offer you a place, you'd then be guaranteed a place at your insurance choice (assuming you met their offer).

So it is possible, but is DEFINITELY not guaranteed, and really not a good way of looking at it as it pretty much relies on chance. Durham is very popular, and generally oversubscribed. I don't honestly know of that many people who missed their offers and still got in, as the majority of applicants will meet their offers, meaning there are less places in clearing. If you want to come to Durham, you'd basically need to work very hard to ensure you get that A. If you're going to be accepted through clearing, you really want to be a near miss (ie. have only just missed that A). I'd then also put a university down as your insurance with lower grades, in case you miss the offer and Durham can't take you.

Sorry to not have better news, but hope it helps!

Okay I have a few questions...

What did you wish you knew before you started Durham? Give as MUCH information as possible, no matter how inconsequential you may think it is...also include your subject and college

For those at Van Mildert, what is the college like? I got allocated there and it looks decent. I think it's near the science site (I'm doing Chemistry). The videos/website seem overly proud of the lake and the ducks (lol).

Is it generally cheap, like I've seen some colleges have their own shops? What is the price of a can of coke? (330ml, genuine coca cola not imported european cola!)

How cold is it, especially in winter? I'm from London and it can get pretty chilly sometimes, but I would think that it would be even colder up in Durham. Does everyone walk around huddled together like eskimos or is it really not that much of an issue?

sorry for the weird questions!

Got allocated to Cuth's, is there anyone here to support the idea it was the best choice? Got offer for MChemistry.
Any pros and cons?
Thank you in advance

Is imperial seen higher than durham? Like a difference that would matter? Love Durham but Imperial is supposedly such a better degree so it's making my decision so much harder.

X

Thanks for the information, also do you think there is any like segregation at Durham in terms of colleges? Like I just want to be part of the University and make friends with anyone and play sports (even competitive sports) with anyone...but I feel I'd be forced to stick with my college. And did you make more friends with coursemates or college-mates? And like who did you stay with in 2nd year etc...

Sorry to butt in, just thought the more people you hear from the better

Personally I'm mainly friends with people who are both on my course and in my college, but that's just how it turned out for me. That's not to say that I'm not friends with other people on my course who aren't in my college -- I am -- but there are a fair number of people in my college who are on my course.

If you get involved with uni-wide societies and volunteering etc, you will of course meet people from different colleges. I wouldn't worry about it too much

Thanks for the information, also do you think there is any like segregation at Durham in terms of colleges? Like I just want to be part of the University and make friends with anyone and play sports (even competitive sports) with anyone...but I feel I'd be forced to stick with my college. And did you make more friends with coursemates or college-mates? And like who did you stay with in 2nd year etc...

Combined Honours Arts (Theology, Education Studies & Philosophy) at Butler!

I wish I knew how much I'd love it here! I think I worried about a lot about things I needn't have worried about... I wish I'd bought more individual and distinctive saucepans, too. Seriously, I can't think of anything major I wish I'd known that I didn't think of before, except to worry less and look forward more!

I don't know a lot about Van Mildert, but one of my Education friends is there and she seems happy It's on the hill, so yeah it's pretty close to the science site, I'd say 15 minutes walk tops? There is no such thing as overly proud when it comes to your college my friend (I am, of course, joking).

Butler has it's own shop, it's not cheap. Far cheaper to be organised and buy food and drink in town or order online- as self-catered it makes a significant difference, the odd can of coke from a college shop probably won't break your bank, and if all else fails wait until the bar opens- at Butler a pint of soft drink is 60p.

It is cold. You acclimatise surprisingly quickly, I went back to the East of England in December for the vacation and was rather warm! I see less rain here, but the cold can be quite bitter, especially when it's first windy. You get used to it like you get used to the hills- don't turn up without a coat, gloves and scarf, but don't go worrying yourself about it, you get used to it pretty quickly!




I'm from Butler, and personally I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else, but I strongly suspect you'll feel the same in a year's time!! Most people seem to fall in love with their college. That being said, if I had to pick a second choice, it'd be Cuth's. Has a lovely feel to it, and some wonderful people. Also possibly wins on location
I don't know a huge amount about it, what I do know is hard to put into words, but I'd say it'd be my second choice and you've done well to be allocated there!
Hopefully someone from Cuth's will be along soon to talk more sense! Take some reassurance in the meantime




Depends largely, I suspect, on subject. I wouldn't say that being a Durham graduate is ever going to be a disadvantage, though. Don't choose a University purely based on league tables or perceptions- while it's a necessary evil to take the prestige of the University into account insofar as it probably indicates something, don't let it blind you. Choose a course which excites you, a city you have a heart for, a University which matches you... and let the league tables be, if anything, a rough guide to picking your top ten choices- then let other more important factors decide. I doubt you'd regret choosing Durham because it's "lesser" than Imperial (I have no idea whether it is). I suspect you may regret choosing Imperial if that decision is based entirely on prestige and reputation.
Durham and London are VASTLY different, the universities obviously reflect that as well- you're going to live there for at least 3 years, so I think at this point "seen as better" isn't the main priority!

Does Durham feel prestigious when you are actually there after a few months? Are the students mature? My concern is that it doesn't offer subjects like Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, which could rule me out.

Are college allocations set in stone?
I applied for Josephine Butler and got allocated Van Mildert. :/ After reading about it, it seems like a pretty cool college but I really don't want to be fully catered.
Is there any way of asking to have my college changed or being self catered at Van Mildert? Cause it could be a bit of a deal breaker for me