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Education
St. Mary's Institute for Educational ExcellenceThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Customer Review Ratings
4.47/5 stars
Average of 17 Customer Reviews
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Review fromBrandon S
Date: 11/29/2023
1 starBrandon S
Date: 11/29/2023
Super scammy.
If you are considering an Atlantis program, move forward with extreme caution. This company has a track record of removing authentic removes. Previously, in the comments section of a now-removed sponsored post on The PA Platform (https://rb.gy/n8c3o5), many ripped-off students and parents expressed their concerns about this program. Even a European-based staff member for Atlantis articulated how the company poorly treats its staff and makes fake promises to students.
This company, also known as St Marys Institute for Educational Excellence, has an F rating from the Better Busines Bureau.
According to this TikTok, the company is potentially facing a class action lawsuit from its previous students: ********************St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 12/19/2023
We appreciate this individual's feedback, as SMIEE treats all customer concerns with paramount importance. Atlantis has been the leading provider of experiential healthcare education programs abroad for over 15 years, and alumni have gone on to 40 of the top 50 US MD programs. Countless achieving pre-health students have completed Atlantis programs in exciting locations around the globe, and gone on to make a real difference in their field as accomplished healthcare professionals. You can read some of their stories at ********************************************** As an organization, we do not appreciate the unfounded allegations this review unfairly makes. This BBB page is listed under the company's legal entity name to be transparent with our customers, and we couldn't remove past reviews, even if we wanted to. The personal attacks this individual makes in this review are both hurtful and harmful. They are unfounded and we are surprised to see such inconsiderate behavior and language to appear on this site. If this individual would like to reach us directly, they may do so at *************************.Review fromRobert M
Date: 01/18/2023
1 starRobert M
Date: 01/18/2023
Stay away from this company. It's unclear whether the testimonials are real. I am the parent of a student who intended to go on an Atlantis trip. We gave Atlantis $900 and then they cancelled the program without viable options/alternatives. Then, they did the same the following summer as other programs had introduced remote and viable alternatives. When we asked for the money back because they couldn't deliver, they said they had spent the money. No one answered the phones and no one returned messages. The BBB has many complaints against this company for the same thievery.
Also, it appears that they're white-washing their history by using the Saint Mary's Institute name and using internet/social media to deflect away from past Atlantis ratings. For an organization with a 10 year history, why do they only show reviews in 2022? That's because the white washing has wiped away past reviews associated with the Atlantis name. Same thing for Google reviews - only 6 reviews as of 1/17/22. They're employing classic white washing techniques. Evil...most evil.St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 03/08/2023
We appreciate this individual's feedback, as SMIEE treats all customer concerns with paramount importance. We do not, however, appreciate the unfounded allegations this review unfairly makes. Summer 2022 was the first time since pre-pandemic that our programs were able to operate, therefore, our recent reviews are a result of our recent participants. This individual claims their program was canceled, but in reality, were forced to postpone programs to later dates and alternative locations due to both travel restrictions and hospital requirements put in place at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We operate this BBB page under our legal entity name to be transparent with our customers, and we couldn't remove past reviews, even if we wanted to. The personal attacks this individual makes in this review are both hurtful and harmful. They are unfounded and we are surprised that the BBB is allowing such inconsiderate behavior and language to appear on their site. If this individual would like to reach us directly, they may do so at *************************.Review fromLaila V
Date: 11/12/2022
5 starsLaila V
Date: 11/12/2022
This summer, I had the pleasure of visiting Sibenik, Croatia with Atlantis. That trip was the most inspiring trip I have taken in my young life, and I hope to have many more experiences like it. I was able to shadow several wonderful doctors in the local hospital and learn their day-to-day life while also gaining insight into how my life will be once I start my career as a physician. The trip also allowed me to explore a country I have never even thought of visiting before, and now I would love to visit again! The culture was so rich and the people were super nice! I'd recommend any prehealth student to study abroad with Atlantis; it is such an eye-opening experience!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
Thanks for sharing about your experience in *******, *****! We're so glad to hear that your clinical shadowing experience with several doctors gave you insight into your future career as a physician. We're thrilled you could join Atlantis!Review fromBianca S
Date: 11/11/2022
5 starsBianca S
Date: 11/11/2022
I went on an Atlantis trip to Spain this past summer (2022), and I learned so much. I got to shadow multiple specialties: two I expressed interest in and one I had not considered (which was nice to explore). The doctors were super welcoming, drew diagrams for me, and tried to explain what was happening with each patient. I got to not only practice my Spanish but also see patient care in Spanish (something I was not exposed to as much at home). My program was located in Calatayud, and I had a wonderful site manager that picked out amazing cultural excursions.St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
Great to hear about your experience shadowing physicians in *****, ******! Though foreign language skills are not required for our programs, it's awesome you were able to practice your Spanish, and gain exposure to comparative healthcare systems. We wish you all the best on your journey to becoming a doctor!Review fromPaulina O
Date: 11/10/2022
5 starsPaulina O
Date: 11/10/2022
I believe my experience in Croatia was amazing. I was able to meet so many great people on the trip. I was able to connect with students like me and learn from their medical and research experiences. I was able to travel with them and make life-lasting memories. I also had amazing site managers who I learned so much from. They were able to expose me to the culture and answer any questions that I had. Apart from the traveling experience from which I got to see and experience many new things, eat good food, and learn about the country; the shadowing experience was incredible as well. The doctors who I was able to shadow were so nice and so open to teaching. They answered all of my questions and let me stand right next to the OR table. I truly believe this was the most information I was exposed to and was able to learn in a short time span. I believe the trip was planned in a really great and efficient way. I liked how Atlantis incorporated traveling and sightseeing time with shadowing hours. I also really liked how we were able to pick the specialties that we wanted to shadow. I am so grateful for my trip to Croatia and hope to travel with Atlantis again and gain more shadowing hours in another country!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
It's amazing that you were able to shadow physicians and watch surgeries from such a close viewpoint. Our goal is to provide the highest quality, AAMC Compliant, observation-only clinical shadowing, and it sounds like you really enjoyed your experience, *******! Thanks for sharing!Review fromPaulina O
Date: 11/10/2022
5 starsPaulina O
Date: 11/10/2022
I believe my experience in Spain was amazing. I was able to meet so many great people on the trip. I was able to connect with students like me and learn from their medical and research experiences. I was able to travel with them and make life-lasting memories. I also had amazing site managers who I learned so much from. They were able to expose me to the culture and answer any questions that I had. Apart from the traveling experience from which I got to see and experience many new things, eat good food, and learn about the country; the shadowing experience was incredible as well. The doctors who I was able to shadow were so nice and so open to teaching. They answered all of my questions and let me stand right next to the OR table. I truly believe this was the most information I was exposed to and was able to learn in a short time span. I believe the trip was planned in a really great and efficient way. I liked how Atlantis incorporated traveling and sightseeing time with shadowing hours. I also really liked how we were able to pick the specialties that we wanted to shadow. I am so grateful for my trip to Spain and hope to travel with Atlantis again and gain more shadowing hours in another country!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
Great to hear about your experience in shadowing with Atlantis in *****!Review fromChloe P
Date: 11/10/2022
5 starsChloe P
Date: 11/10/2022
Over the Summer of 2022, I attended the Atlantis Shadow Abroad Program in Pavia, Italy, and Calatayud, Spain. I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend the opportunity to other students interested in medicine. I was able to shadow various different specialties, including OBGYN, orthopedics, ear, nose and throat, general surgery, and emergency medicine. It was valuable to see different specialties and see how other the healthcare systems differed from the United States Healthcare Systems. We also got to experience different cities and cultures. We went on group excursions with our site leader and got to travel on the weekends to different surrounding areas. The housing accommodations and group meals/excursions were tremendous.St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
Being able to shadow in 5 different specialties and in 2 different countries is such a unique opportunity, and we're so glad you were able to experience that! Absolutely, having firsthand exposure to different healthcare systems is so valuable for those interested in a career in medicine. We can't wait to see how your experience as an Atlantis Alumni continues to positively impact your healthcare journey!Review fromKevin M
Date: 11/09/2022
5 starsKevin M
Date: 11/09/2022
This past summer I participated in an Atlantis Service-Research Project with Roche Diabetes in Barcelona, Spain. Over a span of three weeks, our group consulted for this biotech pharmaceutical company, helping them with their customer success structure. I have always aspired to become a physician, but this experience exposed me to the business side of healthcare. I am extremely blessed for the network that I was able to develop through this Atlantis program. In addition to consulting for Roche Diabetes, Atlantis provided safe housing that was located in the center of Barcelona. After work, I explored the incredible city with my newly-made friends. On the weekends, Atlantis offered excursions to local towns that shared the history and culture of Spain. To this day, I remain particularly close with my friends from this Atlantis Service-Research Project. If you are a pre-medical student interested in learning more about healthcare, I highly recommend attending an Atlantis trip!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
It's great to hear about your time collaborating on this project with the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Such challenging and unique opportunities in healthcare are hard to come by, and we're so glad you were able to participate. Best wishes for your future healthcare journey!Review fromJulia R
Date: 11/09/2022
5 starsJulia R
Date: 11/09/2022
The summer of 2022, I participated in Atlantis Shadowing Abroad Program in Calatyud, Spain. As a second year, pre-Physician Assistant student, this was an incredibly unique experience to shadow a variety of physicians and experience a health care system vastly different than the United States. During my program, I shadowed a variety of specialties from OBGYN to general/orthopedic surgery. This was such a special opportunity because I was able to have amazing communication with the accommodating hospital staff who spoke amazing English and were eager to teach. In the different departments I had the opportunity to observe a variety of OBGYN procedures and consultations, scrub in for general and orthopedic surgeries, and ask endless questions regarding the services provided and differences between health care systems and medical schooling in the country. I also had an amazing time getting to know my site manager who made the experience fluid, accessible, and enjoyable to explore the site city. I loved meeting other pre-health students from around the country and creating relationships with likeminded individuals. This experience was truly one of a kind and allowed me to gain a holistic perspective of health care. I would recommend Atlantis to anyone who is pursuing pre-health and looking to have an international experience!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
It's great to hear that your Atlantis experience was so valuable to you as a pre-PA student! We hope that your time observing in those specialties helps to inform your future career in medicine and we wish you all the best!Review fromJonas W
Date: 11/08/2022
4 starsJonas W
Date: 11/08/2022
Being in Barcelona over the summer was an amazing experience socially (meeting locals and fellow students) as well as professionally (hands-on experience working in the field I want to pursue). I would highly recommend this opportunity for any who likes to travel and who wants to further develop their career. The program also offers a great way to network with fellow peers and industry experts. The quality of life was also quite high with amazing housing facilities, curated group outings, and meals at local restaurants!St. Mary's Institute for Educational Excellence
Date: 06/24/2024
Thanks so much for sharing about your experience in *********, *****! We're so glad to hear that this opportunity has benefited you personally and professionally.
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