The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Hi, can anyone tell me about Collingwood College? was just allocated there and it wasn't my first choice.

Hi, can anyone tell me about Collingwood College? was just allocated there and it wasn't my first choice.

If you want to do the course at Castle, then go to Castle.

They're both old, relatively small, bailey colleges. Chad's has a lovely reputation and good food. Castle has lovely buildings and although my college and Castle are rivals the people I've met from there have all been nice. Good facilities, good for music, good for sport. Good location. Lots of formals, balls, socials etc.

Thank you for your reply!

Which college do you go to? And out of the people you know that go there, do they seem to be enjoying Castle?

I can't claim to know much about it but I have been allocated Collingwood too, although I chose it. It is meant to be one of the biggest and very sporty, although the teams go from something like A-G so if you want to take part (and even if you're not great) you can! It's not as formal as maybe I would have liked but reading through some of the Freshers' booklets (you can find them on the Collingwood website) it all looks very exciting!

Hey! Do you mind if I message you about Collingwood a bit?

I'm an international student. I had nooooo idea that we could choose. I was allocated Collingwood. I'm so scared I won't be able to fit in. Help!

Hi, everyone. I need some help.

I'm an international student and I had no clue that we were actually allowed to use a college (silly me). Anyway, I was allocated Collingwood and I heard it has a sporty reputation. Dude, I am the total opposite of sporty and I am just scared I won't belong.

Would it be possible to change colleges? Moreover, SHOULD I change colleges? Help? Please?

A lot of the colleges seem to be quite sporty (Durham is in general), but it's always optional so I wouldn't worry about it. I'm at Grey and I've never felt forced to take part in sports - if you want to participate you can, but it's not compulsory and you certainly won't be left out. People have never judged me for not doing sports. There are so many other clubs and societies either on a college level or university level, meaning that there's something for everyone regardless of what your interests are.

I'm not sure if you can change colleges once you've been allocated, but as I said, you don't need to worry about not fitting in

Okay, that was really helpful. Thank you I think I just panicked a bit there.
Do you mind if I PM you just to ask a few questions?

Allocated to St Aidan's . Really worried as nowhere near my first choice.. Any info much appreciated.

Hey everyone, what are your thoughts on living out of college in your first year? I really do want to live in college but it is quite pricey

I have been allocated to John Snow Was the city nice and did u have a look at John Snow college?

I'm not sure what your other options are, whether your family live nearby or whatever, but private accommodation isn't cheap either unless you look further away from the Uni and I'd imagine that's a bit isolating for a first year.

Living in college helped me get to know people and make friends, and I imagine that's even more significant if your college is catered. It's also a lot easier to do freshers events and bar crawls and JCR meetings and stuff.

That's not to say you wouldn't enjoy things and make friends if you didn't live in... but I think it would be harder.

No sorry i didnt look at John Snow, although I think they are slightly more formal for events and things which I wish stephenson was. I'm from round here so stockton has never held greatt appeal for me it has the most annoying roads in the area so I always go shopping at middlesbrough which I closer, easier and bigger. But stockton has been revitilised recently the shops are supposed to be nice and teeside park, which is a big out of town shopping centre is just near the campus and has lots of shops, restraunts, bowling, cinema etc and a supermarket so that I probably ure best choice for of site activities. Although I know a lot of people who like stockton way more than i do and i really havent given it much of a chance.