Foundation year??

Hi,
I got BDD for my results.
I wanted to studying biochemistry at reading uni. But I applied for a foundation course. But i feel like it's an expensive option.
I want to go straight into year 1. Reading uni is a good university and I do want to study there. But I don't want to be a year behind. Idk, any advice?
Psych and neuroscience were 2 other degrees I had in mind, but i chose against it because the career choices are quite limited.

Hi,
I got BDD for my results.
I wanted to studying biochemistry at reading uni. But I applied for a foundation course. But i feel like it's an expensive option.
I want to go straight into year 1. Reading uni is a good university and I do want to study there. But I don't want to be a year behind. Idk, any advice?
Psych and neuroscience were 2 other degrees I had in mind, but i chose against it because the career choices are quite limited.

Hi,
I got BDD for my results.
I wanted to studying biochemistry at reading uni. But I applied for a foundation course. But i feel like it's an expensive option.
I want to go straight into year 1. Reading uni is a good university and I do want to study there. But I don't want to be a year behind. Idk, any advice?
Psych and neuroscience were 2 other degrees I had in mind, but i chose against it because the career choices are quite limited.

Have you spoken to someone at Reading as the BSc course is in clearing at CCD/CCC. You are only really one grade out so if they are having trouble filling the course you could be lucky.

Hi @DaydreamingTeen
A foundation year has lots of pros - it can help you access a degree course, you can develop your knowledge of a subject much more before starting your degree, and it can help transition you to uni life. So there are lots of perks to completing one.
It does mean an additional year in education, which may add more to your finances towards higher education, like you say. I don't think completing a foundation year would be a waster of your time and money, but you need to think about is it something you definitely want. It is an extra year in education, but regarding your education, it will benefit you and help you move onto your course.
I also appreciate that the thought of an extra year you weren't really expecting can feel like so much more time added on to your studies. I did a foundation and I found it actually boosted mely confidence in my subject and I enjoyed having a year of education that wasn't as pressured by exams or my degree.
Have you researched into the other courses you've mentioned or any other courses available for biochemistry at other unis? I think it would help to have a look and then this might help you decide as you can determine if there's a better option out there for you instead.
If you're sure you want to go straight to first year, it might be worth checking for other biochem subjects available in Clearing, but I would do this sooner rather than later to give yourself as much time to prepare for September as possible.
I hope you can get to a decision and remember that there isn't a wrong answer necessarily, but it's down to what you feel more comfortable and able to complete.
All the best. 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU

Hey, I called them just now. It's my chemistry grade that's not letting me do the subject (I got a D, and they wanted a C)
:/

Hi,
I got BDD for my results.
I wanted to studying biochemistry at reading uni. But I applied for a foundation course. But i feel like it's an expensive option.
I want to go straight into year 1. Reading uni is a good university and I do want to study there. But I don't want to be a year behind. Idk, any advice?
Psych and neuroscience were 2 other degrees I had in mind, but i chose against it because the career choices are quite limited.

Good evening @Daydreamingteen ,
It's great to hear you wish to study at the University of Reading.
The best course of action is to ring our clearing hotline. The lines open at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning, and we will be able to talk you through your options. You can find the contact details here.
You can find information about BSc Biochemistry here, and you can see whether it is available via clearing and the grades required for clearing. If you were to apply to the course via clearing, you could go straight into the first year as long as you successfully gain a place, but this will be decided once you have spoken through your options without the clearing team. They are all super friendly and want to help you, so please don't hesitate to discuss your options with them.
I wish you all the best, and we hope to welcome you to Reading in September.
All the best,
Ella
BSc Ecology

Hiya, thank you for responding to me. I have just called them and they were definitely helpful ^^

Hey there 👋
As @BCU Student Rep have kindly pointed out, whilst foundation years do come with a financial burden, there are many advantages of completing a foundation year. A foundation year will not only allow you to get to know the university and the local area more, but will allow you to gain a more in-depth understanding of your course which will be highly beneficial in future years. Many people who have completed foundation years have gone on to achieve a first-class degree in university, and felt that a foundation year was instrumental in their achievement of a first-class degree.
From what you have said, it seems that Reading University is the university that is most appealing to you, and so a foundation year there will allow you to fulfil your goal of attending that university, and saves you the stress of trying to find another university in quite a tight deadline. However, if you are really adamant that you don't want to complete a foundation year, I would advise looking at what other universities have places available through clearing - factoring in the things that are most important to you such as location, course modules, clubs/societies, etc.
Whilst psychology and neuroscience would lead you to great career paths, if it's biochemistry that you are most passionate about I would say to stick with that course and either do a foundation year at Reading or check out other universities offering this course.
I hope you can come to some sort of conclusion soon, and let us know if we can provide any additional advice.
Best of luck at university 😀
Lauren
WrexhamUniReps

What if you've already studied/covered basically all of the content on/in the Foundation Year?

Then that would be reflected in the grades you get in your A levels. Covering the content is not the same as understanding/retaining the information. The foundation year may cover some or all of the same information but it is to ensure that you understand and retain that information so you are not out of your depth when you start year 1.

When I say covered, I mean studied. As in 2 years of studying it... It just feels like a waste of time because I already know everything that will be taught in the Foundation Year. Btw, I did 2 BTECs, not A levels

Well unless you have the grades and subjects specified by that university how else are you going to prove to them that you know everything that will be covered in the foundation year? You really need to speak to somebody in their admissions team.