ehipassiko

Not yet!

That's great to hear about Smith. On the retreat stuff, I'll send you a DM.

Yup we got the same form letter -- you're mentioning the exact phrases I've been thinking were nice to read too. I made the decision to apply to MSW programs on very short notice and without much time, so I only have an application in at Smith and one at Westfield State. I know some of the teachers in your area pretty well, I've sat a few retreats with Andrea Fella and I did a month at Spirit Rock a few years ago when I was living in Seattle. You're right that CIMC has a great community. I think there's also actually quite a bit of dharma in the Amherst/Northampton area as well beyond Smith -- although I haven't yet been to the local insight meditation group, which is in Easthampton. IMS is only 45 minutes away, but in a very rural area, so the community is mostly staff-oriented, but there are opportunities for volunteering, and tons of amazing teachers going through there, the Forest Refuge, and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Wishing you luck and metta as well!

@Anatta I live in Belchertown, which is 20 minutes from Smith, so I got the letter on Thursday. I hope you've gotten good news since then! From your username, looks like you're a meditator too -- I'm hoping that wherever I get in there are others too. I have a friend from Insight Meditation Society who's in his second year of the Smith program.

I did not get an email, but did get a letter in the mail telling me I've been deferred to the regular decision pool. So -- another month-plus of possible waiting around for me.....