h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Or 'Durham University', as it insists on calling itself now. (It's official name is unchanged, though.)

I've been mulling over this one for a while, but this is an awkward time because the new college ( http://www.dur.ac.uk/butler.college/ ) won't properly start up until the next academic year.

Magnificent! Do we have a taker, RFJS...?

How strong are the colleges' separate identities? How many get to live in the castle?!

Some facts:

Founded: 1832.

Students' union website: http://www.dsu.org.uk/

And what a fabulous collection of famous alumni: Sportsmen: Will Carling, Jonathan Edwards, Nasser Hussain, Phil de Glanville, Will Greenwood
Politicians: Mo Mowlam, Jack Cunningham
Television: George Alagiah, Gabby Yorath, Jeremy Vine
Writers: Minette Walters, Hunter Davies
Legends: David Bellamy, Biddy Baxter!

'How strong are the colleges' separate identities?'

Well, by tradition everyone hates Hatfield; Mary's isn't spoken of in quite the same hushed tones now it's gone mixed-sex; the Stockton colleges are regarded in Durham as some sort of alien planet. Others maybe don't have quite such distinctive reputations (and may be glad of that).

'How many get to live in the castle?!'

A lucky few, reputedly, but I'm not really au fait with other colleges' living arrangements.

Unless anyone else requests this -- I know we have some Durham alumni around -- I'll have a look at it after the exam season.

Durham is a very lovely place. Although it's longer since I left than I would like

Rivalry between elements of my college and Hatfield got so bad when I was there that my college was barred from their bar. But then again, Hatfield bar isn't that nice anyway (unless it's been severely renovated since I was there ) Castle's bar is pretty nice, though.

When you apply, do you have to state a college preference, or are you allocated to one randomly?

And why is there antipathy towards Hatfield?

Good luck with the exams, RFJS! Ah you can see by the weather - how it makes complete sense to be outdoors - that it's exam season... We may have chosen the wrong time to run this!

I was thinking the timing might be problematic...

You get to state a college preference, yes. Although if you don't get into your preferred college you may be made an offer from another; in Mary's pre-mixed days its (possibly just slightly overblown) reputation was for a student body consisting of sluts, lesbians, militant feminists and people rejected by other colleges.

Hatred of Hatfield is a bit like hatred of the French, a sort of game based on sheer tradition. Well, it perhaps has a bit to do with its reputation (and its traditional rival Castle's) as a haven of rahs, but I don't think there are that many people who hate rahs.

when did Mary's go mixed? I mean it must be some time in the last 3 years... never came across that rep for Mary's though

I didn't like rahs because I... well it doesn't matter


Hatfield bar was so expensive too for lemonade it was £1 a pint most others didn't go over 50p and it wasn't even a glass made of glass it was plastic... that place was so cheep and tacky and run down.

Mary's had its first mixed intake at the beginning of this academic year.

okay well I hope they put more gents toilets near the bar as last time I went the sink was broken and filled with vomit... *coughs*


WEll the older colleges are still very formal and make you wear robes to the "formals" (they still do that right, it is one thing I know first years found very shocking at first, at least amoung the people I met)

Yes, we still do that.

Pardon my thinking the first years you met must have been easily shocked.

most first years are easily shocked... when I was a first year first years used to come ask me for directions

That and I went to Collingwood so we didn't even do that, we had the mega expensive mega-formals

I'll chip in with my knowledge/recollections but haven't time to write this one so am hereby not volunteering

How come no one has mentioned the not college?

St Cuthberts Society - too cool to be a college

Apparently is about to have much more accommodation - always used to be that it had next to none, and you only got to live in for one year if that. Has lots of semi-self catering around, and is also the natural home of mature students.

I miss it.

Don't worry, I'll be sure to mention the chimney that fell through the roof last year, and the discovery in the same year that they'd been operating their bar without a licence for two years...

Well, if you're willing to leave this for a few months I can start giving you info about Van Mildert College from a first-year's viewpoint...

Ooh, and if you need any tips from a fellow Mildertian, LQ, let me know otherwise enjoy your time there

Given that I originally said 'after the exams', I suspect the eds. would sooner not wait a few months.

So you did turn Cambridge down, then? I wonder what people here will make of that.

Fair enough; I wasn't overly expecting you to hang around. If it is still going in a few months though (I know certain entries which took far longer than that...) I might always start to contribute, however.

Yep, I have now joined the relatively limited ranks of "people who have declined an offer from Oxbridge". Didn't like the course disadvantages enough for the benefits of the reputation, especially as I think I prefer Durham as an institution as well.

On the open day, when I told fellow applicants to Durham I was thinking of doing it, they all seemed more interested than in any way...put off, or similar, by it. Just hope they're the same when I actually get there.

However, this is getting off topic. Sorry any other users...any more comments about my situation can occur on my PS.

I went to Durham and graduated in 2002. Was at Mary's before it went over to the other side

I do admit my (now husband) and I did sit in the hallway playing guess the sexuality once. However there was no shortage of males appearing sheepishly during the early morning fire drills.

I chose Durham because I knew the city from a young age and always loved it. I applied to Trev's but didn't get the grades. However I don't resent my time at Mary's otherwise I wouldn't have me my husband.

Durham has to be one of the few places where the shortest route from your exam hall back to your halls is through the cathedral and it's clositers.

I have to say I found the Cathedral a great place to just go and sit and be quiet when the stress of my degree was getting to me. IT must be one of the most peaceful places and I'm not even a church goer.