College/Grad School Path to Disney Corporate

[eclipseSD]

All this is hypothetical...

Say you are a smart high school junior/senior (1450-1600 SAT) looking at college (and possibly grad school) choices, while also looking forward to a great internship/career at a major corporation (we'll say Disney) during or after college. Assume this kid is a genius and can get into virtually any school.

Where would you start? Harvard, MIT/Sloan, Stanford, Wharton, Notre Dame, somewhere else?

What about grad school/MBA program? Harvard, MIT, Drucker, Wharton, Northwester, somewhere else?

Or would you compromise and do the 5 year MBA program at Claremont McKenna? Is there a different solution?

WDW Professional Casting

Disney College Programs

Considering many executives these days don't even go to great colleges or drop out, it appears that even an MBA/degree from the least of the best of the crop would guarantee you some sort of corporate job. Depending on your work effort, you could probably move up quite easily.

My best bet? Wharton Undergraduate Business Program -> Harvard Business School MBA Program -> Disney Internship -> Disney Part Time -> Disney Full

Anyone know Disney's historic preferences or unspoken qualifications for entry-level corporate/management type jobs/internships?

If you look at the current executives, there really isn't much of a pattern in their careers as most of them worked at /headed other companies before Disney. I'm curious about the ones who are home grown Disney from freshman year to the $100,000+ salary.

 

[wdwmaniac]

Well I am planning to goto MIT for my Masters and MBA after my fours years at VT. I've talked to some professor and exc. about what they did they said to:

1. Graduate with a 4.0 and good SAT/ACT scores.
2. Go to a 4-year college (doesn't have to be Ivy because there is a huge cost difference)
3. Transfer after Bach. To A top Business School like MIT.
4. Get internships and other work experience.
5. Get a real management job.
6. Then get an MBA.
7. Onto replacing Eisner.
If you go this way you will come out over qualified.
My best bet? Wharton Undergraduate Business Program -> Harvard Business School MBA Program -> Disney Internship -> Disney Part Time -> Disney Full
Many companies won't offer you a job if you come out with a MBA right off the bat. You have the smarts but NO experience. Also with an MBA most people want to get paid more but the smaller firms won't be able to afford you. If you go this way you will come out over qualified

 

[lebernadin]

To somewhat echo what maniac said; its all about your on-the-job experience. This goes for all industries.

Ask a friend who had a non-CS degree and then decided to get into the tech boom and grab a CCNA how they're doing these days trying to find a networking job? IT departments want a degree in CS, plus the CCNA/CCNP help to a degree. But the bottom line is experience.

I wouldn't rush right into your MBA if you don't have friends in high places. If you do, then you have nothing to worry about because you'll have the higher paying job waiting for you when you grab your MBA.

I don't see how anyone could ever consider starting at Disney on the ground level, with that pay, after a bach and MBA. How would you pay your college loans, much less your rent???

If you want to go corporate with Disney, make a name/resume for yourself elsewhere in a related field to that which you'd like to get into with Disney, and THEN walk into the Disney interview with all that on your resume and the right attitude.