Foundation years

[GRW]

My DD has missed the grades she needed to study Biology at her firm choice, but they have offered her a foundation year with entry to the biology degree next year. She has been accepted by her insurance choice for the 3 year degree Biology degree. Does anyone have any experience of foundation years? Her heart is set on her first choice, but I am not sure if the extra cost of another year of study would be worthwhile. She needs to decide soon, but at the moment is out celebrating with her friends. Well done to everyone's DC who have done well.

I think you need to weigh up the relative merits of the courses and relative merits of the universities. If she does not want to go somewhere, will she be successful and make the best of it? If it takes lower grades, how good is it? Is the university that has offered the foundation a better university? Do they guarantee a place on the degree course after the foundation? My gut reaction would be to do the foundation.

Thanks for your reply. The university that has offered her the foundation year is Sussex, with a guaranteed place for next year as long as she does well. Her insurance choice is Keele which she did like a lot as well. I know that she she worked hard, so maybe doing the foundation year will fill in gaps in her knowledge.

I'd would also recommend doing the foundation year. It's a great transition from A level to degree work and Sussex is a better option than Keele

Hmmm. It would be Sussex for me all the way! I tend to think she is right but only because Keele looks like a prison block in the middle of nowhere! (Posters will hate me for that!) I am sure both courses are good but where you are in the UK is important to some students . She should go where she wants to go and Sussex is a bit more exciting - in my view!

My ds is going to Sussex, to do a foundation year. Made the choice to go to Sussex as felt it was a better uni than his other choices. Also he really wanted to go to campus uni x

Thanks for the responses, which have helped me feel more certain that Sussex is the right choice. She has decided to go for it.

We were really impressed when we went to the foundation year talk on the open day. Glad she has made her mind up.

I did a biology foundation year and it was brilliant. At first I was really reluctant, but I wanted to go to university and it was the best route for it. I think it was actually a benefit to me really as the foundation year was not as hard as the first year of a BSc, so I could cruise along a little, go out partying and find my feet without having to worry so much. Subsequently when I got on to my first year I could settle down a bit. I knew the town I was in, knew people, knew lecturers, where the labs where and so on. The way exams are laid out and marked at university are different too, and I much prefer that to A Levels so there was less worrying about grade boundaries as I knew I needed X number of marks to get through, and so did everyone else. The cost really isn't huge as many people go on placements or change courses and will have another year to fund too. I certainly haven't noticed a huge financial difference. Its well worth it!

Yes Sussex is campus but has the great advantage of Brighton nearby!