Jessica U.
Step 2 CS Canceled & No refunds for CS Training Course!
UPDATE 3/2/2021: USMLE Success Academy's response to my review is false and defamatory. It's an example of the hostility I mentioned in my original review. Be cautious when using this company. They lack integrity. My first contact with this company was on 4/8/2020 to inquire about partial payment. They allowed me to pay 50% and register. I paid $1000 on 4/23/2020, registered for the June 29 - July 3 course, and expressed my concern in an email about CS cancellations/changes due to COVID. They said, "We will certainly be able to reschedule your session date if need be so, please do not be concerned." On 5/26/2020, CS was postponed for 12-18 months, and I emailed asking for a refund on 5/27/2020. Since then, I have tried other avenues to get a solution to no avail, and CS has since been canceled indefinitely. After their review response on 2/14/2021, they called and emailed me. I responded via email, requesting only email correspondence. They said, "...email communications are often misinterpreted and lack the sincerity required for finding amicable resolutions." I responded, requesting if the phone conversation can occur on a recorded line, to which there was no response. In every communication, I have been professional and respectful. ORIGINAL REVIEW 2/14/2021: I paid $1000 towards a prep course in April 2020 that I can't use and no longer need because NBME canceled Step 2 CS indefinitely. USMLE Success Academy will not give even a partial refund for a service I did not receive. They have also been extremely hostile to other medical students who are trying to get their money back. I filed a complaint with BBB, to which there was no response. Their only offer in early communication via email was a transferable credit that does not expire, but I did not need any other courses. I do not feel comfortable referring other students to this company considering their treatment of other students during an exceptionally challenging time. A partial refund is more than fair and reasonable ask in these circumstances. Medical school is an exorbitant financial endeavor, and I could not afford to pay for the full course upfront. I had to get family members to help me. Having this company be so dismissive and insensitive of what it takes for students like me to get through school is intolerable.
Response from USMLE Success AcademyFeb 14, 2021
Ms. Udeogu cancelled her Step 2 CS Course multiple times before the pandemic began to effect everyone in March 2020, was provided with our full Step 2 CS Course Materials upon her registration, was never charged the required late change fees, and was not required to pay the balance of her tuition in order to accommodate her. We accommodated her date change requests as a courtesy each time in order to assist her even though she did not provide adequate notice of her date changes while we still incurred the expenses of having to compensate our physician instructors to be present on the dates she had requested since we were unable to fill her spot on each date due to her late requests to do so. Even though Ms. Udeogu was ineligible for a refund for having changed her dates multiple times and without adequate notice, we still provided her with the opportunity to either attend our Courses at any time in the future or with a credit that she or someone she designated could use at any time even in light of the fact that we incurred significant losses as a result of her switching her dates multiple times without adequate notice which all occurred prior to the pandemic in March 2020. Ms. Udeogu has been providing false information in her posts, has not provided all of the relevant details, has made threatening and derogatory remarks to our customer service representatives, and trying to use the pandemic to her benefit in an attempt to coerce us to provide her with a refund of her deposit that she is not entitled to. All students that were eligible for a refund were provided with one immediately and the very few students that were not eligible for a refund were offered with several options to accommodate them as we only have our students’ best interests and well-being as our main priority. The USMLE Success Academy strives to provide the absolute best customer service experience and USMLE Preparation Courses to each and every student. We will always work with each student to make sure that we meet their 100% satisfaction.