Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Everest Institute • Norcross, GA
Studying Massage Therapy (completion in 2009)
• 7/20/2011
"While I'm satisfied with Everest's training, I do think they charge way too much for it. It is obvious that the main purpose of the school is to make money. That's not to say they don't provide good training; they do. But they charge for it. They charge a lot for it. It is possible that some other schools are less expensive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would tell prospective massage therapy candidates to at least consider Everest, but also to look around and ask about costs up front. I did not ask enough questions about costs. My decision to attend Everest was based more on location and convenience. If, after investigating several schools and potential students thought Everest was a good fit for them, I would wholeheartedly tell them to go there. If they apply themselves to their studies, in less than a year they can be an LMT. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I was hired right out of school by an established massage therapy business, in part based on Everest's reputation. I have been told by people in the business that Everest produces workmanlike students who have good training in the basics of massage therapy and that most can then be trained in whatever modalities the hiring therapist stresses. |
| Program Quality | 6 | There are many, many places to take classes and become certified in massage therapy. Everest is probably about middle of the pack in terms of their training. That's not a bad rating; I just don't think they are necessarily tops in their field. Competent, yes. Outstanding, not really. |
| Instruction | 7 | The quality of instruction was certainly good enough that I passed the state certification exam on the first try. In fact, I found the certification exam very easy. However, I would point out that the quality of instruction doesn't matter if you don't apply yourself. I applied myself to my studies and passed easily. I have classmates who did not apply themselves and either dropped out or have not received their certification. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Everest is somewhat challenging, but not terribly difficult. I worked a full time job while in school and managed without too much stress to attend class and do well. Again, it depends on the effort the student puts in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While there is a great deal of book study required, it was the intensive hands-on approach that I liked best. We practiced techniques on each other almost from the first day. Near the end of my time at Everest, we ran the school's walk-in clinic and got valuable hands-on experience with paying customers. Massage therapy is, by definition, hands-on anyway. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Flexibility is a strength at Everest. I worked full time and was able to take classes mostly at night. However, when my work schedule changed, I took advantage of daytime and even some morning classes. That flexibility kept me on track without major stress. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I think Everest has decent instructors in the massage therapy program. My main instructor had years of real experience running a successful business, so that class time was devoted not just to massage therapy, but to the business side of things, too. That has proved very valuable to me in my first two years of actually working in the field. |
| Social Life | 2 | Everest is primarily a job training place, not a social mecca. To be fair about my rating, I didn't go to Everest for social things. I went to be trained in massage therapy. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I got my initial job through Everest, but I had to constantly contact the school. They don't just automatically help graduates job hunt. I would say I had to prod Everest quite hard in order to get them to respond to me. Some of the contacts they suggested were too far to drive to on a regular basis. They take a shotgun approach to job hunting, just sending graduates any and every job they find with little attention to whether it is a good fit or not. Eventually, though, they did come through for me. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I don't think there is much to an alumni network beyond the Everest web site. I don't keep up with people from the school at all. |
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