Application Process

Joining Atlantis: Step by Step

Step One: Online Application

The online application can take less than 15 minutes to complete and consists of:

General Information
Academics – no transcript required
Additional Questions
Program Preferences
Short Responses

As you fill out your application, keep in mind our open programs, since you’ll be asked about your preferences.

Side note: Atlantis has helped many alumni be admitted to medical school, and we want your participation in Atlantis to be a major help down the road, when you fill the (much longer) Med School application (or the application for the healthcare track you choose). Atlantis alumni have leveraged Atlantis into their future medical school application and admission.

Get Started With Your Application

Step Two: Chat with an Atlantis Alum & Admissions Decision

This part’s simple — you’ll have a short discussion with someone who’s done the program before. It’s a chance for both of you to figure out if Atlantis feels like a good match. We’re hoping to get a sense of your interest in healthcare, your maturity, and how you might work with our hospital partners abroad. But just as important, it’s your time to ask questions, too!

Curious why they chose Atlantis? What it was really like? How it helped them with med school or other goals? Ask away — they’ve been where you are and can share what it’s like from the inside.

To get the most out of it, think ahead about what you’re hoping to get from the experience — anything from the kind of clinical exposure you want to how the logistics and finances might work for you.

Step Three: Enrolling in the Program

After you’ve had your conversation and both you and the alum feel like Atlantis is the right next step, you’ll get an offer with your program dates and location. From there, you’ll just need to complete a few quick steps to lock in your spot. We’ll send you what’s called the Enrollment Checklist — here’s what’s on it:

Agree with the student agreement
Submit the $900 non-refundable deposit
Choose a payment plan

Once your Enrollment Checklist is approved, congratulations! You’re enrolled! You’ll get a confirmation email and meet the awesome Post Enrollment team who’ll help you get ready for your program.

Pre-Departure

As you prepare for your program, our Post Enrollment team will make sure that you feel confident and comfortable with what to expect. They will be your point of contact regarding travel logistics, vaccine records, and payment questions. You will receive details on the Site Manager, program housing details, and arrival day logistics no later than two weeks before the program start date.

Students arrange their own flights and arrival transportation to the program housing, but Atlantis programs include many important things that are part of your experience. For more pre-departure information, consult our FAQs.

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Some Common Questions

Do I have to apply for multiple programs separately?

The application process is the same regardless of the country you apply for, the number of countries you’d like to visit, or whether you’re interested in Shadowing versus Service-Research Projects. Once accepted, your acceptance extends to all Atlantis programs. See our open programs here.

Is there an application deadline?

Applications generally remain open throughout the academic year, until at least the early Spring of each year. However, as you’ve probably noticed, most of our programs are made up of small groups. For that reason we are frequently filling programs and opening new ones, every month, while they are available. If you are not ready to apply, we can keep you updated as our programs open and close.

How long before I hear back?

On average, the application process takes 2–4 weeks. The time it takes to advance through the 3-step application process depends on the volume of applications, which varies throughout the year. Applications can be expedited due to extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, our team reviews applications in order of submission.

Am I eligible?

You must be at least 18 years old by the time your program is set to start, and attending or recently graduated from college. If you are a high school student, you are eligible to join our regular college programs if, by your program start date, you will be (a) 18 years or older and (b) enrolled or about to enter college. If you are an international student, you are responsible for researching and acquiring any travel documents you may need in order to travel to your program destination(s).

Who It’s For

Anatomy of An Atlantis Applicant

Pre-Health, Not Pre-Med?

We are proud of the fact that our students come from a diverse set of backgrounds. They range from incoming college freshmen to recent graduates, post-college gap years, and post bacc students. Atlantis students:

Are at least 18 years old by the time their program is set to start
Have a genuine passion for healthcare, commitment to excellence, and professionalism
Go on to pursue a wide range of health professions: MD, DO, PA, Nursing, PT, OT, Pharmacy, and many others

Alumni Outcomes & Testimonials

Impact on The Actual Med School Application

Impact on The Med School Interview: Atlantis Alum vs Typical Pre-Med

Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools

John Daines

Atlantis '17
Brigham Young University '19
Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23

Zoey Petitt

Atlantis '17
U. of Arizona '18
Duke MD '23

Yong-hun Kim

Atlantis '17
Stanford '19
Mayo Clinic MD '24

Megan Branson

Atlantis '18
U. of Montana '19
U. of Washington MD '24

Sarah Emerick

Atlantis '19
Eckerd College '20
Indiana U. MD '25

Snow Nwankwo

Atlantis '19
Catholic U. of America '21
Georgetown U. MD '26

Tiffany Hu

Atlantis '16
U. of Maryland '17
U. of Michigan MD '22

Tiffany Hu

Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School

Program:

Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016

Undergraduate:

University of Maryland class of 2017

Admitted medical student at:

University of Michigan Medical School

Major:

Neurobiology

Honors:

Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship

Extracurricular Activities:

American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern

Describe Atlantis in Three Words:

Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.

Why did you choose Atlantis?

I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.

What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?

Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.

What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?

Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.

What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?

I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.

How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?

Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.