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Durham Applicants 2008 Thread

schrodinger's cat

I'm quite sceptical about the 'best in britain by a mile' business considering Cambridge and Imperial, but i know it has a good reputation.

Whilst I (and many others here) aren't a massive fan of league tables and the such, the Physics website points out that:

"The Times has ranked us as the top Physics department in the UK in four out of the last five years."

Might help a little :smile:

Reply 241

schrodinger's cat

13

I wasn't trying to insult Durham's reputation; i am applying here and would be pleased to get an offer as i recognise it as one of the top. I do not pay any attention to league tables (by 'the Times' do you mean the good university guide because that seems to consistently rank them lower - currently 4th) and i think it really quite churlish to suggest cambrige isn't the best with its research and proffesors.

Before we get draged into an argument we don't want i would settle that it is one of the best 4 in england and that it is impossible to determine 'the best' as it entirely depends on the factors you use to rank it.

Reply 242

dobbs

17

Erm by "The Times" I mean - that quote was taken from the Durham Physics website, so whatever they mean! :redface:

And whilst I'm not arguing, or know nothing about Physics to be honest, just because Cambridge is Cambridge, it doesn't mean it's the best department in the country you know? Universities can be the "best University" by those league tables but within them subjects can differ, and yes you say they currently rank lower, so maybe that's what they mean when they say they've come top "4 out of the last 5 years" - this year they're not top.

A little while back, Geography at Durham was at the top of the UK league tables. And I believe English has been up there too. Obviously yes there's the reputation of Oxbridge, but as I say, Durham has some very strong specific subjects, and I have heard quite a lot of times that Physics really is strong, with it being one of the top departments in the world :smile:

Reply 243

vector

15

It is one of the top, but it's not Cambridge. I'm not aware of any league table that places Durham above Cambridge,

Reply 244

dobbs

17

vector

It is one of the top, but it's not Cambridge. I'm not aware of any league table that places Durham above Cambridge,

Surely the department wouldn't lie on it's own website? :confused:

Reply 245

Itchynscratchy

10

dobbs

Erm by "The Times" I mean - that quote was taken from the Durham Physics website, so whatever they mean! :redface:

And whilst I'm not arguing, or know nothing about Physics to be honest, just because Cambridge is Cambridge, it doesn't mean it's the best department in the country you know? Universities can be the "best University" by those league tables but within them subjects can differ, and yes you say they currently rank lower, so maybe that's what they mean when they say they've come top "4 out of the last 5 years" - this year they're not top.

I am fairly sure that durham physics was joint third last year, and in any case certainly wasn't 1st (Although it was when I applied and in my first year). The info on the department page may be out of date.

My previous post may have been lost due to the page change but I will repeat the main point. I really don't think becca was being deadly serious, no doubt she will come along later and confirm this. (I hope!!)

Reply 246

vector

15

Cambridge is top in the 07 and 08 lists, can't find any further back.

Reply 247

schrodinger's cat

13

dobbs

just because Cambridge is Cambridge, it doesn't mean it's the best department in the country you know? Universities can be the "best University" by those league tables but within them subjects can differ

I really didn't want to drag this out any further - but just with that point. Yes universities are stronger for some subjects than others and Cambridge is very, very strong for sciences and Physics included. This is why i didn't mention places like Oxford which are also sometimes placed above Durham.

I realise that this is mostly due to a few misunderstandings - but i think the comment about it clearly being the best in the country was too far (or a joke as suggested).

Reply 248

Piggsil

16

Joanna May

Becca, what was your offer?

I got an offer of ABB (with atleast Bs in French and German).
And my point about the Physics dept being the best in the country was not made in jest, I just don't have any evidence to back it up, hence the "or so I'm led to believe" (i.e. by lots of people I know who did/are doing Physics) but as Steve says, Durham was top when he applied, so it's not like I majorly exaggerated or anything...
And I know Durham is a really important centre for Astronomy or something...Carlos Frenk blah blah blah. But I would just like to point out I know NOTHING about Physics so ignore me. :redface:

I know abour Scrodinger's Cat though. :proud:

And Dark Matter Halos and Satellite Galaxies. :proud:

Reply 249

dobbs

17

Becca

And my point about the Physics dept being the best in the country was not made in jest

Thank you! :smile:

Similarly, I'm not saying I know best or that I have the evidence, I'm simply going off the website and what I have been told by others. Maybe the info is out of date and fair enough now it's not the best department in the country, but at some point in the past few years, it was.

Reply 250

Itchynscratchy

10

dobbs

Maybe the info is out of date and fair enough now it's not the best department in the country, but at some point in the past few years, it was.

But there is a difference from that statement and saying its the best by miles. The former may be/may have been true, the latter certainly isn't nor ever has been.

Reply 251

schrodinger's cat

13

Itchynscratchy

But there is a difference from that statement and saying its the best by miles. The former may be/may have been true, the latter certainly isn't nor ever has been.

Agree and would also like to say that coming top in one of the very many (and unreliable) 'league tables' doesn't necessarily make you the best department in the country that year anyway.

Reply 252

Itchynscratchy

10

I would also like to point out that i do agree with dobbs statement earlier that just because its oxbridge doesn't automatically make it the best. I suppose the whole point to this discussion is that there is very little difference between the top 5 or 10, all of which can claim to be the best for different reasons

Reply 253

schrodinger's cat

13

Yes, i wouldn't disagree with any of that. Oxbridge doesn't automatically make it the best. I deliberately left Oxford, which often comes higher than Durham for Physics, out because i feel that it is it's overall reputation that propells its further. Cambridge on the other hand is a science specializing university and has a reputation for being the 'best' for a reason; huge research funds and world wide famous experts in their field teaching.

I really am going to try and stop this now - after all i am applying to Durham and not Cambridge and Itchynscratchy's point of the the closeness of the top 5 stands.

Reply 254

chidona

15

Heya!

Subject: Economics
College: St Chads

Choosing St Chads was a shot in the dark, really - I didn't get a chance to go up to Durham for the open days, so I was really only going off the prospectus - which is a risky thing at best, I know. Still, I'm optimistic about it! =D

Reply 255

*Fool'sGold*

11

Hannah_

History and modern languages, Grey :biggrin:

*high five* :biggrin:

Reply 256

ally.pants

Subject: Anthropology
College: St Johns

Reply 257

Solution 9

PPE- Grey

Anyone else choose Grey? It was either that or Cuths for me, and I chose Grey simply because it looked modern and there would be less chance of me sharing a room. Shame as Cuths looked better for socialising

Reply 258

*Fool'sGold*

11

9 Solution

PPE- Grey

Anyone else choose Grey? It was either that or Cuths for me, and I chose Grey simply because it looked modern and there would be less chance of me sharing a room. Shame as Cuths looked better for socialising

I chose Grey!! Same sort of reasons, it seemed more modern and forward thinking and that's what I think I'd feel more comfortable with, I think going somewhere like Castle would be too...I don't know..stressful. heh. I've heard stories about fines for stupid things in the older colleges.

Reply 259

schrodinger's cat

13

I chose Grey simply because it was the closest to the science buildings. meh - i was in a hurry and i'm sure i would have a good time whichever college i was in.

Durham Applicants 2008 Thread

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