Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DS should NOT do a foundation year when he's a straight A student?

57 replies

SilverEyes15 · 20/08/2017 13:54

DS is intelligent. Was expecting AAA for his A-Levels and was going to go to a good uni, unfortunately he didn't sit the A2 modules for one of his subjects due to anxiety. We tried our best for him to get the chance to sit it but we got no where. He has finished with A*A and an A in AS Level.

He tried contacting the uni as he got an A*, so may make up for it and they said no. He was offered the foundation year instead. He is taking it???

Before he fully enrols please tell me this is the best thing to do!? I though foundation years were for people not getting the grades!?

OP posts:
BigGreenOlives · 20/08/2017 13:57

He hasn't got the grades though has he? Accepting a place on the Foundation course will get him to the same place as resitting his A level and will probably boost his confidence more than spending a year repeating what he did this year.

llangennith · 20/08/2017 13:58

My son had to do a foundation year in physics which he had to pass to be accepted into the actual physics degree course. He passed and got a good degree.

Kerberos · 20/08/2017 14:00

The people who'd done the foundation year at my degree kicked ass when we all joined them in year 1. I'd suggest he does it.

Bobbiepin · 20/08/2017 14:00

You've also got to remember that he will be required to sit exams in university, anxiety or not. Universities will want to make sure that they don't miss out on funding if he drops out after a year because his anxiety prevents him from sitting the exams. Without meaning to sound harsh, he's very lucky to be given a place at all considering he only has AS grades.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 20/08/2017 14:01

It could be really good for him as he will feel more comfortable when he starts his actual degree. If he resits his anxiety may get the better of him again

Papafran · 20/08/2017 14:02

No, I wouldn't recommend it. He will need 3 A levels for graduate schemes anyway. Get him to sit the A-level at the next opportunity and go next year instead. Sounds like he has a bright future with grades like that!

DontTouchTheMoustache · 20/08/2017 14:02

Bobbie he has two A Levels, it was only one subject he didn't take the A2 exam for

SylviaPoe · 20/08/2017 14:03

Was he entered for a full A level or an AS level. Was he supposed to sit the exams and just didn't turn up on the day, or was his entry withdrawn?

Xocaraic · 20/08/2017 14:03

Yes, yabu. Foundation year will
Allow him time to get used to Uni pace and he can use resources to help manage anxiety around exams etc. It will be a year well spent.

BertrandRussell · 20/08/2017 14:05

You need 3 A levels for all degree courses, don't you?

Polter · 20/08/2017 14:16

Sounds like a sensible plan to me, giving him an extra year to settle and learnt the ropes. Loads of people take less conventional routes to university, many won't have A Levels at all.

mummmy2017 · 20/08/2017 14:16

The foundation year is a way into the 3 year course.
You pass Foundation and you have a place next year..
It also gives you a taste of the course and lets you move one of several ways.
Let him do it,better to to the Foundation and move on next year than do A level and mess up a 2nd time and still have to do a foundation year.

Original poster
SilverEyes15 · 20/08/2017 14:18

@Bobbiepin ?????? His 2 A levels are actual a levels... only 1 is an AS HmmHmm

OP posts:
Sirzy · 20/08/2017 14:18

If he has struggled with anxiety then it may be better for his mental health as it gives him a gentle, less pressured step up.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 20/08/2017 14:19

I think a foundation year sounds like an excellent opportunity for your DS especially if he has anxiety.

notanotherNC · 20/08/2017 14:21

You need 3 full A level to go to uni. He only has 2. He will either need to go get another A level or he can do the foundation year. I think the uni are being more than accommodating and reasonable.

Original poster
SilverEyes15 · 20/08/2017 14:21

Unfortunately he just didn't turn up Sad he was extremely unwell that morning from the stress (vomiting, etc.) and went down the unwell route but as GP said anxiety, it wasn't classed as illness. He wasn't in a good way.

It's not every exam he's like it and definitely wants to go to uni but it just got him that morning.

OP posts:
Papafran · 20/08/2017 14:28

OP, think about it carefully (and advise your son to do the same).

A foundation year is largely for people who do not have traditional A-level qualifications. Unfortunately, in some competitive professions such as law (which is where my experience lies) and banking, top employers do not look favourably on foundation years. Yes, someone will no doubt come up with an example of an exception where they know someone who has done really well with a foundation year. That is the exception, not the norm. Top graduate employers will be looking for at least 3 A-levels. He has two A* grades so he is in the category of students who have a shot at the top careers. Don't let him compromise his chances by only having 2 A-levels and a foundation year. A lot of it will be a repeat of A-level stuff anyway and he is likely to be bored.

I work in higher education, previously in legal practice and have lots of experience at careers guidance for the legal profession. It is still very traditional (and so are a lot of graduate careers).

Bluntness100 · 20/08/2017 14:29

I think it would help him hugely to do it. He hasn't got the grades, I'm sorry, no, he needs three a levels, an A* might make up for a lower grade in another subject yes, and unis consider this, it doesn't make up for not having the third a level at all.

If he suffers anxiety the access course would break him in gently.

Remember a level is harder than gcse and uni is harder than a level. There are exams every year at uni and you need to pass to continue to the next year. Each year is harder than the last.

I think I'd encourage him to do to help with the anxiety issues.

diddl · 20/08/2017 14:30

So if you think that he shouldn't do the foundation year, what do you think that he should do?

Resit his A level that he didn't take?

Butterymuffin · 20/08/2017 14:31

He'd be better off spending the year redoing the third A level and working, which will earn him some money and also allow him to apply and get a range of offers again. Foundation degrees have an image problem.

Butterymuffin · 20/08/2017 14:32

Foundation years, I mean.

LIZS · 20/08/2017 14:32

I'd have thought that anxiety would have counted as an extenuating circumstance if certified. How many papers was the A2 he missed? If there had been coursework as well his grade may have been predicted if a significant % was already taken. He may get a uni place with his current points but it won't be in the same calibre uni/course as if he resat or took the Foundation. Is the same A2 syllabus even still available next year? Is his anxiety now under control or would a year out resitting be beneficial to his mh?

MirabelleTree · 20/08/2017 14:33

If he does a Foundation degree does that mean he has extra fees versus resisting the A level for free ? If so I'd go for a resit and get him working and doing things to boost his confidence.

Sofabitch · 20/08/2017 14:34

A much cheaper way is to take a gap year and resit the exam.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.