Foundation year at first choice or take insurance place?

[YourJoyousDenimExpert]

Interested in experiences of Foundation years….wondering if it’s worth it when insurance offer would allow them straight on to course?? Thinking it’s an extra year of building debt…..

You may not have the option of the insurance if you met the firm offer. If you would benefit from Foundation to gain experience and skills, and clearly the uni thinks you would, do it.

DD did this and it was absolutely the right choice for her
Of course, there will be extra debt (and extra cost for us) but this time last year she thought her life was over and now she is living her best one!!!
I am sure she will hit the ground running this year

In the grand scheme of things one year is nothing. Which uni does DC prefer?

I did a foundation year many moons ago (wrong a-levels for the course) and it was fine. It’s never been an issue for me
professionally, I don’t think anyone cares.

It can depend on the course and the reasons for not meeting the grade requirements for their first choice uni. For eg, if they missed out on their A Level grades because they struggle with exams but thrive on coursework, and their insurance uni doesn’t use exams to assess the course, they might be fine going straight into the first year.

Thanks for replies. There is a preference for the first choice - so to do the Foundation year. Just not sure really and struggling with all the good news posts I am seeing on FB!! It’s so tough when they are disappointed with results.

I agree, it is tough, but honestly, sometimes these situations are actually for the best. Due to illness, my DC was very disappointed with their a level results and ended up taking a year out to consider their options. They then applied to university the following year and was offered a place at all their choice. They ended up going to the one which had offered them a foundation year. They completed that and went on to the full (Bsc) course. Six months in, they were offered the opportunity to switch to the Msc course so ended up being there for five years altogether. At the end of the MSc, they were awarded the university prize for the best 'journey' and had their work published in a prestigious peer review journal. They were then awarded a generous bursary for their post grad year and are now working at a high level in their chosen career. Yes, it's an extra two years debt for them, but that is far outweighed by the career progression so far. I am not sure they would have been as successful had they just gone straight onto the full degree at one of their other choices.
My best wishes to your DC. I am sure they will make the right choice for them.