College Program Questions

[dave2822]

Hey guys -

Perhaps all of my questions are covered in another thread, so if all this takes it to redirect me, that's cool too.

I am attempting to figure out how to get started in the Walt Disney World college program, hopefully during my junior year of college. My academic advisor has been of NO help, so perhaps you guys can do better.

I am just wondering how this process generally works. Is this a summer program? Will I definetly get school credit, or does it vary by univerisity? How do I go about setting up an interview?

Basically, I am looking for general information about this process. If any current or former CP members would care to help, that'd be great.

Thanks!

Dave

 

[pluto77]

www.wdwcollegeprogram.com is the main website for information. Just fill out the application online when your ready to apply then you have to go to a presentation to your school, or one nearby, the presentation schedule is on the website. There's also an online presentation if you can't make any. I think the interviews are all by phone now, but I'm not sure. You'll set up the interview at the presentation. The summer ones are only for college program alumni (although, someone on here before said they were currently trying new things for the program, so you could ask the college representative at the presentation). The the spring and fall are both 5 month ones, and there's also a spring and fall advantage which are 8 month ones, they both run through the summer. Also there's some that start in march if your college goes in trimesters. I would say it's definitely worth missing a semester of school for.

As for credit, it all depends on your school and if you take any classes when your there. Mine gave me 3 business credits just for going, a lot of people didn't get any, but there were a few people I met that we actually getting 15 !

I will just end by saying the college program was quite possibly the best experience of my life so far. I met some awesome people, some that I still hang out with. Just know that your going down there to work. I don't think some people realized that they would actually be working on the program, they just thought it would be partying all the time, which it is for some people I guess. :lol: In my experience, most people who don't like it, don't like it because they didn't realize how much work it was going to be. Not that you don't get time off, but during busy seasons, like Easter week I was working 65 hours a week, but that's on the extreme end. 40-45 hours was actually about average for me. I actually got a lot less hours in the summer though because there were so many seasonal people working.

 

[joanna71985]

Hi Dave. This is a good place to come to for answers, and like someone else said www.wdwcollegeprogram.com is a good place too. The CP is either a 5 month or 8 month internship, depending on when you go. There is also 2 differnt time periods- Spring and Fall. For example, I did Spring 2005, but I extended, so I was there Jan-Aug 2005. As for credits, it varies by schools. My first time down I got 11 credits from mine. I am hoping to get 12 for next semester (I applied for Fall 2006). I worked in Fantasyland Merchandise at the MK on my CP. I usually got around 35-40 hours generally. But during busy times I worked up to around 60. The CP is a great experience, and I highly recommend it for anyone who is considering doing the CP. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[packwingfn]

Hello everyone,

I've been a big poster on subsonicradio.com and asking the person who is a custodial at MGM. I would like some more feedback from this board as well.

With my school, I e-mailed the assistant to the dean about the program and she has never heard of it. She thought of it as an internship and with the school I am at, I would have to take an internship class to go along with my internship. That would be impossibile if I was at Disney.

Then I mentioned about that I could take a class down there and get credit while I'm down there but the way I have it set up is I would finish all of my classes and credits by Fall 2007 and attend the Spring Program in Spring 2008. I wouldn't really need the credits so I would just like to work down there.

My question for all of the College program alumi is: Who did you talk to in your school to work this out? ESPECIALLY A SCHOOL that hasnt even heard about it before. What things should I say and stuff?