The "Ask a Durham Student" Thread :)

Wrong. Add in to that nearly all those who went to VI Form, anyone who actually went to a state VI Form would put down comprehensive.

Hi, to keep the other thread on topic, and to get a variety of answers, I've moved this over to the ask a current student thread (I don't think it needs it own thread but if you want more detailed responses I'll create one for you).

Some of the positives: -

You get to study in a beautiful city. It offers a great balance, a small, quiet(ish) city mixed with college sport, societies, bars and some good city pubs with the occasional city life found in the country's top student and party city 20 miles north.

The college system. It's a unique feature of Durham (don't let people tell you the collegiate structure is just a poor imitation of Oxbridge's). You have a great social environment and an extra "support layer". There's always a risk when you're at larger universities, especially those without colleges, that you feel overwhelmed and lost. I don't think this is the case at Durham. Not for most.

Some of the negatives

Durham's chronic lack of organisation and the failure of SPA to resemble any thing close to competence. Still, this doesn't cause any major problems (I've never been aware of any). Also, some departments are very, very well organised. I'm not sure about English and languages.

I'm sorry, it can't be ignored, but the abundance of rahs. Still, they are a minority and easy enough to ignore. I see you're applying to Bristol? They are even more hardcore there (at least that's what I've heard).

Also, in some sections of the city, the traffic. Durham's lack of pedestrian friendliness in certain sections. You have a motorway not too far outside the city, with some busy A roads through the city. Durham's a lovely city but, like most cities, it has suffered from poor planning during the past forty or so years. This is something the council and university are adressing under their "Durham 2020 vision".

http://www.durhamvision.org.uk/page/488

also, im not much of a sporty person, but ive heard that approx 90% or something of the students actively participate in sports(!)....
even when i tell people that ive applied to durham tehyre like yeah, cool, but its a *sports* university...

is it possible not to be involved in sports but still have a good time here?

thanks!!

also, im not much of a sporty person, but ive heard that approx 90% or something of the students actively participate in sports(!)....
even when i tell people that ive applied to durham tehyre like yeah, cool, but its a *sports* university...

is it possible not to be involved in sports but still have a good time here?

What?
Please explain the logic behind this (if there is in fact any).

If you went to a comprehensive school, would you leave any shadow of doubt on your application form? Think about it.

huh? I meant how do people who went to VI form not count as going to a comprehensive?

Yes, that I understand. In what way is a VI form not a comprehensive though?

Not everyone who has been to a private school is a rah.

Anyone putting down VI form either went to a Private VI form, or went to a private school for the years preceding VI form.

I've heard 75-80%, it certainly is very high.

In my very first tutorial (all those many, many years ago) the tutor asked each of us what sorts of sports we were taking up. I was the only one (out of eight) who wasn't taking one. I've never felt left out (and, once I properly return to Durham, may take up sailing anyway).

WHAT??!

whats a tutorial?
and why do they ask you that? what if you genuinely dont wanna do sports?

is durham university a lot like school, as far as rules are concerned?? like do they monitor your every move and what you do, or are you more free to do what you want?

WHAT??!

whats a tutorial?
and why do they ask you that? what if you genuinely dont wanna do sports?

is durham university a lot like school, as far as rules are concerned?? like do they monitor your every move and what you do, or are you more free to do what you want?

no, it's not like school. It's univeristy, you have a great amount of freedom.

It does have a high participation rate in sport. But, like I said, it's not compulsory. I've never taken part in it and I've never felt left out. I know other students (both on and off TSR) who have never felt out of place.

It just does attract sporty types and has excellent sports facilities (plus it's had a strong history in rowing. It's the best rowing university in the country).

But, just to repeat, just because most students take part in sport it doesn't mean they are made to. They chose to.

A tutorial is a teaching session that takes part in a small group (anything from four to eight people usually). As a group you'll discuss a topic in depth/make presentations under the supervision of a tutor. This is in contrast to lectures where you'll usually just sit there in a theatre of up to 200 people, listen to the lecturer speak and make notes (or stare into blank space).

good good!

which degree are you studying towards? do you like it?

Philosophy and politics and I've been here since Oct 04 although I'm sitting out this year. I sat out last year for that matter.

Durham's lovely, the philosophy department's great (although it's hard getting motivated for these penultimate year modules - not really my area) and the politics department has some really interesting modules but I get really peeved at its organsiation sometimes. College life and support is great.

All in all, yes I'm liking it My first year (04-05) was quite good, second year (05-06) even better, third year (06-07) crap - but due to personal reasons and then I sat out last year.

Oh, "sitting out" just means that I'm not attending this year. I'm at home (only 20 miles away) and not attending teaching sessions. I'll be taking my exams in May and hopefully entering my fourth and final year come Oct 09 and getting back in the swing of things. I've withdrawn due to medical/personal reasons so my situation is a lot different to most. It does show how sympthetic and supportive your uni (both college and department) are to any difficulties you've had. They've been fairly good.

I do ramble......