A view of the city of Genoa.
The city of Genoa in Italy (an Atlantis site).

Financing & Aid

Alumni often deem Atlantis one of the highest returns on investment in their educational path. Anyone can do it, and we offer several financing options, with fundraising being one of the best.

Overview

Anyone Can Do It, With Some “Resilience & Adaptability” (AAMC Competency #8)

Only you can tell whether Atlantis will be as impactful to you as it has been to our alumni. If you decide that Atlantis is a good investment for your future, there are ways to make the finances work, even without family support. 

Read more on how medical schools filter for resilience, and how that relates to financing

Making the finances work requires less resilience than you’ll need to finish your pre-health path, be admitted to med/PA school, graduate and finish your training. And although raising funds may be a daunting task to the average college student, it is not a big challenge for a pre-health student, when compared with getting into med/PA school. In fact, “resilience & adaptability” is #8 out of the 15 AAMC competencies that medical schools use to assess applicants. As we’ll illustrate below, resilient students can often fundraise all or most of their fees, and can even use that experience as a story in their med school interviews.

Here’s an overview of ways to finance Atlantis, which we’ll summarize in more detail below this section:

 

Two Ways to Pay

  • Pay in full (upon signing up)
  • Monthly payments (between signing up and the actual program)

Two Forms of Financial Aid

  • Vocation-Driven Fundraising (possibly the best of these)
  • Scholarships

Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools

John Daines headshot.

John Daines

  • Atlantis '17
  • Brigham Young University '19
  • Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt headshot.

Zoey Petitt

  • Atlantis '17
  • U. of Arizona '18
  • Duke MD '23
Yong hun Kim headshot.

Yong-hun Kim

  • Atlantis '17
  • Stanford '19
  • Mayo Clinic MD '24
Megan Branson headshot.

Megan Branson

  • Atlantis '18
  • U. of Montana '19
  • U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick headshot.

Sarah Emerick

  • Atlantis '19
  • Eckerd College '20
  • Indiana U. MD '25
Snow Nwankwo headshot.

Snow Nwankwo

  • Atlantis '19
  • Catholic U. of America '21
  • Georgetown U. MD '26
Tiffany Hu headshot.

Tiffany Hu

  • Atlantis '16
  • U. of Maryland '17
  • U. of Michigan MD '22
Lauren Cox headshot.

Lauren Cox

  • Atlantis '18
  • Louisiana Tech '20
  • U. of Arkansas MD '24
Kayla Riegler headshot.

Kayla Riegler

  • Atlantis '18
  • U. of Kentucky '20
  • U. of Kentucky MD '24

Anyone Can Do It

A chart showing that anyone can afford Atlantis with fundraising.

 

How To Pay

Despite the advantages of the other options, particularly fundraising, most students choose to pay directly to Atlantis. Both options below start by reserving your spot with a $900 deposit (which is included in the listed program price).

Two Payment Timelines

1. Pay in Full

Pay the balance upon signing up, together with your deposit. Paying in full does not have any impact on the refund policy (detailed in a later section on this page). It just means that you take care of the full payment in one transaction.

2. Monthly

After paying the $900 deposit when signing up, pay the balance in equal monthly installments, with no additional fees, finishing a few weeks before your program starts.

Students in the hospital where they are shadowing.
Atlantis students in the hospital where they are shadowing (Athens, Greece).
Students in the hospital where they are shadowing.
Atlantis students in the hospital where they are shadowing (Greece).

Financial Aid

We believe everyone on track to med/PA school can afford Atlantis. It takes the same “resilience and adaptability” that medical schools will want you to have. If you’re determined enough to pursue med/PA school, and believe Atlantis fits your path, then Atlantis is possible for you – and we’re here to help.

If you do not plan on paying for the program using one of the two options above, you have can cover (or partially cover) the cost through fundraising and/or scholarships.

Two Forms of Financial Aid

1. Vocation-Driven Fundraising (possibly the best of these two)

Fundraising may seem daunting, but it’s actually one of the fastest, easiest ways to pay for your program. Pre-health students, we believe, greatly underestimate how much they can fundraise, and so we are constantly reminding prospective students about this. All it takes is an authentic story and being brave enough to ask. Starting a GoFundMe and mailing support letters is a winning combination for reaching your goals.

If you share how Atlantis fits into your personal story – and how it will help you in pursuing your vocation to healthcare – people will be excited to help you.

Based on online activity and anecdotal evidence, the average student who follows our fundraising advice raises over $2,000 and many students raise the entire cost of the program. Plus, you can consider using the story of your fundraising efforts in your med school applications and interviews, since it directly highlights AAMC competency #8, Resilience & Adaptability.

When you apply, our admissions team can help you get fundraising started. If you’d like to learn more before applying, feel free to contact us or ask to be connected with an Atlantis alum to understand their perspective on fundraising. You can also see examples of student’s GoFundMe campaigns below.

2. Scholarships

Many students apply for scholarships and grants through their university or through outside organizations. There are programs that sponsor students for valuable educational experiences domestic or abroad, so be sure to search for these. For some universities, there may be funding for summer experiences. In applying for these, consider explaining how Atlantis has impacted many of its alumni, and explain why this has happened, i.e. why Atlantis programs work well.

Atlantis also offers a limited number of need-based partial scholarships to certain programs. These are credited to the program invoice and not given out as cash. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so it’s best so apply early. Get more information and start your application here.

We Can’t Emphasize Enough How Well Vocation-Driven Fundraising Has Worked For Many Of Our Alumni

Atlantis Alumni Very Often Fundraise with GoFundMe (Usually Very Successfully)

Don’t let money keep you from participating in Atlantis. Check out the GoFundMe pages started by past students and download our Fundraising Guide for pro tips.

An Atlantis student standing outside the hospital where she is shadowing.
An Atlantis student standing outside the hospital where she is shadowing (Barcelona, Spain).

Fundraising is Smart: If You Were a Med/PA School, Which of These Two Applicants Would You Pick?

Factor

Person A

Person A

Person B

Factor

Income

  • Mid to Low
  • Mid to Low

Income

  • Same as Person A

Most AAMC Competencies

  • Median
  • Median

Most AAMC Competencies

  • Same as Person A

Basic Shadowing

  • Has basic US shadowing from local hospital
  • Has basic US shadowing from local hospital

Basic Shadowing

  • Same as Person A

Approach towards obtaining more and better shadowing beyond the basics

  • Enrolled in 360 Shadowing with Atlantis
  • Enrolled in 360 Shadowing with Atlantis

Approach towards obtaining more and better shadowing beyond the basics

  • Spent lots of energy finding beyond-basic shadowing

Financial position after shadowing

  • The same as before since most was fundraised and the rest was paid by part-time work with the time saved from not searching for shadowing
  • The same as before since most was fundraised and the rest was paid by part-time work with the time saved from not searching for shadowing

Financial position after shadowing

  • No change

AAMC Competency #8 “Resilience and Adaptability"

  • Fundraised most of the Atlantis fee following
    Atlantis’ fundraising methodology, showing entrepreneurialism and initiative, showcasing that in med/PA school applications and interviews
  • Fundraised most of the Atlantis fee following
    Atlantis’ fundraising methodology, showing entrepreneurialism and initiative, showcasing that in med/PA school applications and interviews

AAMC Competency #8 “Resilience and Adaptability"

  • Median

GPA/MCAT

  • Higher GPA/MCAT due to focus on classes
  • Higher GPA/MCAT due to focus on classes

GPA/MCAT

  • Median
The entrance to a Greek hospital.
The entrance to a Greek hospital near Athens (an Atlantis site).
Students shadowing in the hospital.
Atlantis students shadowing in the hospital (Athens, Greece).

Value for Money

Why 360 Shadowing?

Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Atlantis programs can give you a great version of the 1st, free you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivate/show the 3rd to medical school admissions committees.

Atlantis Costs Little in Comparison with Other Elements

A chart showing the relatively low cost of Atlantis with other elements.

 

Watch Video: 20+ Alumni Now In Med School Explain:
Atlantis Is a Major Reason I Got In Here

Atlantis Can Contribute To What Med Schools Want In Their Applicants:

 

Healthcare Exposure

Compared to typical clinical experiences, 360 Shadowing with Atlantis means greater depth, breadth, quantity, and intercultural perspective.

Focus on Grades

Most students don’t prioritize GPA/MCAT enough. Doing 360 Shadowing over break accomplishes so much extracurricular-wise that you can cut out some of your other activities during the year.

Show Competencies

360 Shadowing lets you refine and showcase most of the 15 AAMC competencies that med schools assess candidates on, creating powerful stories for your applications and interviews.

Value For Money

Other Ways Atlantis Proves Its Value

Read about more how Atlantis proves its value, including covering a lot of ground on medical school applications and making the most of your break.

A student getting ready to kayak.

Take the Quiz: How Good Are Your Extracurriculars Relative to Expert Advice?

We’ve built the “Shadowing and Extracurricular Readiness Score” calculator to allow you to look at several expert statements and track to what extent your current extracurriculars follow best practices. We believe this exercise to be very useful regardless of whether you end up considering Atlantis.

The Cost of Atlantis Compared with Other Study Abroad Options

The typical Atlantis program costs less, on average, than other study abroad programs (semester or summer). However, Atlantis only runs shorter programs during college breaks, so that pre-med students can focus on GPA and on taking their core classes in the U.S. instead of abroad during the semester. This is just one example of how Atlantis is designed around what matters to pre-health students.

Our single-country programs cost roughly the same as other short-term non-semester programs. However, Atlantis is not the right option if you are simply looking to travel and have fun for a long length of time at a cheap per-day price. For that, there are options that are cheaper per-day, like average semester programs and non-healthcare summer programs, or just travelling on your own.

Atlantis is the best fit for serious pre-health students who want both travel and to make the most of that travel. If your main goal is to be a great doctor or healthcare professional, but you want study abroad as part of that journey — for the experience and because it can help with med/PA school admissions — this is the right fit for you.

Atlantis is the leader in pre-health study abroad because we help you make the most of your limited time with an experience that is truly tailored to serious (yes adventurous) pre-health students. Our unique experience has enabled many alumni to be very successful.

Greek columns.
Greek columns in Athens (an Atlantis site).
A student eating ice cream.
An Atlantis student enjoying ice cream on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).

What’s Included

Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing (Service-Research Project programs do a full-time project instead), housing, breakfast daily, some other group meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. The majority of fees go toward year-round partnership development as well as ongoing operations, logistics, and promotion. Students are responsible for flights, transportation to and from the airport, and other meals. Based on past students’ experience, we advise budgeting $150 of spending money per week. See the full list of what’s included here.

 

Questions and Answers

How much will I spend on flights?

Flights cost less than you might expect. In fact, students who search smartly can usually find flights for under $800 total. That might not be the first price you see on the first search you do, and it depends on where you’re flying to and from. We encourage students to research flying from various U.S./Canadian cities and to look at various departure dates, as you may want to take advantage of traveling before or after your program – especially if it will drastically reduce the price of your airline ticket. Check out our flight tips for some helpful advice!

What about Service-Research Projects (non-shadowing programs)?

The same “what’s included” list applies to all Atlantis programs, shadowing and non-shadowing. When you read the list, just skip the few points that are clearly about shadowing hours at the top.

Students standing on surf boards by the ocean.

See More Information Specifically for Parents

Refund & Program Credit Policy

The $900 deposit is not refundable, but it will carry over as program credit (except in the case of last minute withdrawals, as seen below). See the full policy below:

Policy Date Effective
Full refund, deposit counted as credit toward future programs >90 days before program
No refund, 100% of paid fees (including deposit) counted as credit toward future programs <=90 (but >45) days before program
No refund, 20% of paid fees (including deposit) counted as credit toward future programs <=45 days before program

Students on a set of stairs.
Atlantis students outside the hospital where they are shadowing (Genoa, Italy).
A student learning how to kayak.
An Atlantis student learning how to kayak on a program excursion (Genoa, Italy).
A basic table showing two comparison columns to indicate the benefits of 360 shadowing.

Alternatively, See a More In-Depth Version of The Above Table

Compare A Typical Applicant With an Atlantis Alum
*(In-Depth View)*

Med School Concern #1: Exposure to Healthcare

Average Applicant to Med School

Average Applicant to Med School

Typical/Possible Atlantis Alum

AAMC-compliance

  • Did hands-on volunteering, possibly without proper training
  • Did hands-on volunteering, possibly without proper training

AAMC-compliance

  • Did observation-only, AAMC-compliant shadowing

Complexity of procedures

  • Observed day-to-day office tasks + appointments
  • Observed day-to-day office tasks + appointments

Complexity of procedures

  • Often observed complex procedures like a C-section, or a partial hip replacement

Closeness to MD-level work

  • Exposed to healthcare setting in general
  • Exposed to healthcare setting in general

Closeness to MD-level work

  • Focused on the MD profile + perspective

Number of specialties

  • Exposed to 2 or 3 specialties
  • Exposed to 2 or 3 specialties

Number of specialties

  • Saw 6 specialties in 6 weeks (typically one per week), and 8 or 9 total

Number of environments

  • Experienced one local environment and one hospital setting
  • Experienced one local environment and one hospital setting

Number of environments

  • Experienced a variety of cultures, department dynamics, hospital sizes, and city sizes

Number of doctors

  • Shadowed 2 or 3 doctors and potentially met their colleagues
  • Shadowed 2 or 3 doctors and potentially met their colleagues

Number of doctors

  • Shadowed 10 or more doctors and met many department staff and residents

Total number of hours

  • Completed a smaller number of hours
  • Completed a smaller number of hours

Total number of hours

  • Did 100+ shadowing hours in 5 weeks (20+ hours per week)

Hours over time

  • Picked up hours piecemeal throughout the year
  • Picked up hours piecemeal throughout the year

Hours over time

  • Concentrated hours over 6 weeks during summer break

Value per hour

  • Had less valuable experience in a given time
  • Had less valuable experience in a given time

Value per hour

  • Had highly valuable experience in a short time

Multi-country shadowing

  • Shadowed only in the U.S.
  • Shadowed only in the U.S.

Multi-country shadowing

  • Shadowed in Spain, Italy, and Hungary, plus the U.S.

Relevant study abroad experience

  • Had done non-healthcare study abroad
  • Had done non-healthcare study abroad

Relevant study abroad experience

  • Combined the best of study abroad’s cultural immersion with world-class clinical shadowing

View of the medical profession

  • Wasn’t aware of the parts of medicine that differ across cultures
  • Wasn’t aware of the parts of medicine that differ across cultures

View of the medical profession

  • Developed a balanced view, identifying what’s essential vs. culturally contingent in medicine

Knowledge of comparative healthcare policy

  • Lacking firsthand knowledge of different advanced healthcare systems
  • Lacking firsthand knowledge of different advanced healthcare systems

Knowledge of comparative healthcare policy

  • Informed and able to maturely analyze comparative healthcare

GPA

  • Achieved similar results to peers
  • Achieved similar results to peers

GPA

  • Spent more time studying and achieved better results than peers

MCAT

  • Scored average on the MCAT
  • Scored average on the MCAT

MCAT

  • Scored above average by focusing more on academics and doing more MCAT prep

Number of distractions

  • Spread thin with commitments to volunteering, clubs, societies, publications, sports, hobbies, leadership roles, etc.
  • Spread thin with commitments to volunteering, clubs, societies, publications, sports, hobbies, leadership roles, etc.

Number of distractions

  • Focused on one or two extracurricular activities they were passionate about

Energy level

  • Was tired and overwhelmed but felt like they hadn’t done enough
  • Was tired and overwhelmed but felt like they hadn’t done enough

Energy level

  • Was less overwhelmed, with space to enjoy classes and fall more in love with medicine

Confidence in healthcare path

  • Is fairly confident, but hasn’t had it “click” that medicine is their calling
  • Is fairly confident, but hasn’t had it “click” that medicine is their calling

Confidence in healthcare path

  • Is very confident, having seen incredible procedures and realized, “This is where I want to be, serving people”

Service Orientation

  • Wrote in their personal statement about approaching medicine with a service mentality
  • Wrote in their personal statement about approaching medicine with a service mentality

Service Orientation

  • Actually spent quality time with passionate, other-oriented doctors abroad whose salaries are relatively lower

Social Skills

  • Shared in their interview some examples of doctor-patient interactions and some takeaways
  • Shared in their interview some examples of doctor-patient interactions and some takeaways

Social Skills

  • Shared unique stories from a wealth of experiences where their social strengths and weaknesses played out

Cultural Competence

  • Was able to talk generally about personal growth with study abroad or with an academic program serving immigrant communities
  • Was able to talk generally about personal growth with study abroad or with an academic program serving immigrant communities

Cultural Competence

  • Showed a rare perspective, having seen different cultural backgrounds on display, in a healthcare setting, as a genuine outsider

Teamwork

  • Saw multiple examples of teamwork while shadowing
  • Saw multiple examples of teamwork while shadowing

Teamwork

  • Saw an even wider range of teams within the hospital departments, with unique stories about doctors in Surgery versus doctors in Internal Medicine, for example

Oral Communication

  • Showed no/little practice with another language in a clinical setting
  • Showed no/little practice with another language in a clinical setting

Oral Communication

  • Talked passionately in their interview about communicating across the language barrier within the hospital; even though most doctors will speak English, there will be some language barrier some times

Resilience & Adaptability

  • Shadowed close to home in a familiar setting
  • Shadowed close to home in a familiar setting

Resilience & Adaptability

  • Stepped outside their comfort zone and managed lack of sleep or changes of plans, showing resilience with interesting travel stories

Note that some elements in the above only take place in certain programs e.g. multi-country experiences only happen in multi-country programs. Also, Atlantis programs do have far greater depth, breadth, quantity of shadowing, and degree of intercultural perspective, than the vast majority of clinical experiences that premeds have; however the examples above are illustrative of why that generally is, i.e. not all Atlantis participants have seen a certain exact type of surgery. Please see our many testimonials to obtain many perspectives on the program.

 

 

A basic table showing two comparison columns to indicate the benefits of 360 shadowing.

Compare A Typical Med School Applicant With an Atlantis Alum

Compare A Typical Med School Applicant With an Atlantis Alum

Med School Concern #1: Exposure to Healthcare

Average Applicant to Med School

Average Applicant to Med School

Typical/Possible Atlantis Alum

Depth

  • Surface-level
  • Surface-level

Depth

Breadth

  • 1-3 medical specialties
  • 1-3 medical specialties

Breadth

Quantity

  • Average quantity
  • Average quantity

Quantity

  • 50-200 hours in one school break
  • Concentrated
  • Time, energy, and academic focus saved by not having to find–and travel weekly to and from–a weekly 2 hour campus clinical experience, for instance

Intercultural Perspective

  • Shadowing/volunteering in one country, one cultural context, one regulatory environment
  • Shadowing/volunteering in one country, one cultural context, one regulatory environment

Intercultural Perspective

  • Shadowing in a new country, context, and environment (but at the same sophistication level as the US)

GPA/MCAT

  • Average stats; study time taken by inefficient extracurriculars
  • Average stats; study time taken by inefficient extracurriculars

GPA/MCAT

  • Such an intensive experience during breaks allows for the “luxury” of focusing on academics during the year

Stories

  • Ordinary stories for apps/interviews, fewer opportunities to develop competencies
  • Ordinary stories for apps/interviews, fewer opportunities to develop competencies

Stories

See a much deeper version of this table.

 

 

A view of the interior of a building with arched windows.

Some Key Atlantis Stats

  • 1/10 of U.S. pre-health advisors has been to our programs.

Jumpstart Your Future In Healthcare