Hey Team,
This is just a super brief update on the overall status of the MW thing as it stands.
A little procedural update. After not passing the Stage 2 exams for more times than I can remember, the Institute stipulates that I can’t just keep resitting the exam and failing. Fair enough.
The last time I sat the Stage 2 exam was in June 2025, so I was unable to register for September 2025, and have another stab at the exam this year. I know that there are are lots of great students going for it again, at various stages of the journey.
I’m actually enjoying not thinking about it much this year. Did I mention I’ve started that Podcast with Brad? That, and being busy at work is keeping me quite happy at the moment.
But, the Applications. Are. Open. for September 2026, and I’d half mentioned to a couple of people close to me that I’m deffo not done with it all, at all, just yet.
Do I Apply? Can I?
So, I had until Friday 8th May (later this week) to get in touch with the MW Education people, and see what the lay of the land is for me to dip my toes back in. So I did. Last week.
Specifically I asked:
Subject: Rejoining the Study Programme in Sept 26
Message: I’d like to enquire about the next steps in rejoining the study programme.
After three attempts at the S2 exam, and taking this year away from the programme, am I still eligible to rejoin as an S2 student, or am I required to fully reapply this year?
If you could clarify please, as the application deadline is the end of next week.
Thanks,
Dan
Then, I checked in with a couple of study groups for their groupthink on the potential responses, I put my phone back in my pocket.
Potential responses were:
Wait another year, apply in May 2027, and rejoin the program as S2 in Sept 2027.
Apply this week, and start from scratch again, heading into S1 in September.
Couple of asked if I’d actively deferred this year, or whether I’d just stepped away, as that might have made a procedural difference. Plus, lots of positive “no harm in asking!!”, “would be good to have you back!!” type affirmations, which are always comforting.
Without too much fanfare, the next morning a simple email reply came.
RE: Subject: Rejoining the Study Programme in Sept 26
Message: Thank you for your email.
The readmission policy means that unfortunately you are not eligible to reapply this year. You will be able to apply to rejoin the programme in September 2027.
You will need to reapply fully and take the entrance exam, at which point you can request to go straight into stage two.
Best wishes,
That’s actually not the worst thing in the world.
Let me explain.
I had a looming sense of doubt about getting back into study, because there was nothing in the student guide that I could see about the options to students that were in my position. I know more than one person who is in the same limbo, and so it can’t possibly be a unusual situation for the Institute to clarify.
I half-thought that I’d have to re-sit Stage 1, which would have meant spending the next year (September - June), preparing and going through all the foundation stuff again, the introductory study days, and the mixed flight 12-wine tastings that I spent most of 2022/3 doing with a naïve aspiration for a swift process.
Having to do all that again, after passing first time in June 2023, would have felt like a step backwards. Not to over-mention the £5k that I’d have to pay again.
Instead, by intention is, from September, try and act like a student again, hop back into some blind study groups, read more about wine. Perhaps dredge my way through some practice essay papers, dry notes when I’m on the train. Slowly, slowly, getting ready to apply and sit the entrance exam again.
All, just to prove to myself whether I’m ready for another go at the full Stage 2, by this time next year, so I can reapply with a bit of confidence.
So, that’s that. I’ll carry on with the pod, and taking the rest of the summer off. Then, we’ll be (unofficially) back at it from September.
Dan
Second Press: Episode 8.
If you’ve made it this far.
This week’s episode of the Second Press podcast is with Richard ‘Chief’ Siddle, and it’s a great one.
