Are Access Courses looked down on? DD (19) is thinking about doing 1.

[SilverLine2017]

DD is 19. She was doing 3 a levels but dropped down to just maths as she no longer wanted to do the other ones (as she made the wrong choice) and started a job while doing the 1 a level. She has a maths a level (at grade E) and wants to do science. Is an access course frowned upon? Is she better doing applied science as an extended diploma level 3? It's just that takes 2 years and not 1 and ultimately she will end up at the same place. She wants to go to a local uni that's at around 50th place.

I know lots that have done an access course. I'd say it is the better option given your DD over 18. Speak to the college and admissions at the uni she wants to apply. They will be able to advise accurately.

access courses are generally seen as pretty hard work so if she survives it and does well it will not be looked down on. Whether it will be enough for a 50th place university depends on how well she does but it will have to be very well. If she is not prepared to work very hard at academic work look at apprenticeships instead.

She should contact the uni, she may not need an access course as a 'mature' student, it depends on the uni and the course.

Some universities offer a foundation year, others offer classes over the summer. They can advise on the best route for her.

Access definitely isn't looked down on by universities - in fact they value the students who take that route. At the FE college where I work we send students to Russell Group universities and last year 4 students got into Oxbridge via the Access route.
Because it's a one-year course, the workload is very heavy and I would urge your dd to make sure she's weighed up the amount of work from both courses to see which one suits her best - the biggest risk of failing is with students who can't complete all the work.