My college program experience

[steviej]

On January 2, 2007 I pulled out of my driveway in new jersey while crying and looking at my parents and grandmother who were also crying. As I began the long drive I asked myself, what have i done?

After all, I had never ever been on my own before, had never lived away from home, what have I done? Now, I'm going to go be on my own over a thousand miles away for 5 months.

Fast forward almost a year and a half later, I ask myself that same question. What have i done? but now, i mean, what have I done by leaving florida.

The college program was without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest experience of my life. If I was able to do it, anyone can. I was stationed in innoventions in EPCOT, while my roommates had it a little tougher than I did. I was only supposed to stay 5 months, but wound up staying for a total of 8 months through august. I sacrificed my summer at the jersey shore to work, I never would've thought!

The reason I haven't been to these forums in so long is because it breaks my heart to visit because of how much I miss it all. Well I'm done rambling, thanks for reading, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate!

 

[sum41914]

Glad you had such a positive experience.

So how were your room mates, I always seem to get "The Bunch" of roommates, you know ones who don;t do dishes because their parents do them, or won't clean up before an inspection, the ones who steal your friends/girl friends ect...

What Operations were you in?

Any Tips for people who haven't been?

-Sum

P.S. Less than a week left till im on my 3rd CP as a Summer Alum.

 

[steviej]

well because i extended, i had to change rooms and thus had a 2nd set of roommates. My first set of roommates were honest, great, straight headed guys. My second set of roommates were kinda sloppy and were quite active in drinking to be honest. now i dont wanna make them sound like bad guys because i loved my second set of roommates as much as i did the first.

i worked as a host at innoventions.

hmmmmmm, if i had to give any advice, it would be to relax, because its gonna be great, if i could do it, anyone can.

 

[joanna71985]

I hope I get good roomies this summer. I have been lucky so far in that my roomies haven't been too bad. The only thing is that, except for my second CP, I haven't really seen them due to working hours.

 

[Dreamstuff]

I hope I get good roomies this summer. I have been lucky so far in that my roomies haven't been too bad. The only thing is that, except for my second CP, I haven't really seen them due to working hours.

I hope when I go my roomates and I have schedules that are close to each other, I would hate not getting to know the ppl I LIVE with.

 

[joanna71985]

I hope when I go my roomates and I have schedules that are close to each other, I would hate not getting to know the ppl I LIVE with.

Yeah, it can be hard. My first and third CP we all had varying hours, and never saw each other. In fact, on my first CP me and one roomie had the latest hours (I closed at the MK, and she worked nights at POP in merchandise), and on my third CP me and another roomie had the latest hours (I closed at Epcot in custodial, and she closed at MK in custodial).

On my second CP though, I saw all my roomies, and was very close to them. I worked with 2 of them in the same role, and the 4th worked at AK (so she was home early).

 

[steviej]

well during my first round of the cp, all 3 of my roomies worked at mk, but despite that, i spent a decent amount of time with them. my second set of roomies, one worked attractions at epcot just like me, but the other one worked at mk attractions, so didnt see him as often as i wouldve liked

 

[joanna71985]

Where in NJ are you from, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[steviej]

Don't mind whatsoever, im in bergen county, little place called moonachie. what about you?

 

[joanna71985]

Don't mind whatsoever, im in bergen county, little place called moonachie. what about you?

I live in Bergen County too, in Closter (it's about 20 minutes outside NYC).

 

[steviej]

hmmmmmm, never heard of closter. So what did you do on your first 2 cp's? where are you planning to stay, chatham or vista?

 

[sum41914]

well because i extended, i had to change rooms and thus had a 2nd set of roommates. My first set of roommates were honest, great, straight headed guys. My second set of roommates were kinda sloppy and were quite active in drinking to be honest. now i dont wanna make them sound like bad guys because i loved my second set of roommates as much as i did the first.

i worked as a host at innoventions.

hmmmmmm, if i had to give any advice, it would be to relax, because its gonna be great, if i could do it, anyone can.

That's awesome Innoventions. My favorite part is the recycling part where you get to make the lil robot thingy, I have way to many of those things.

Glad you had good room mates, I could probably write a book about bad room mates with the ones Ive had. My favorite was the two that would fight about the Thermostat in the apartment. One wanted it on 60 and the other 85 and it would get hot then cold then hot, then I came home one day and one of em had taped a bowl over the thermostat, then the next day the A/C was broken, apparently the pipes had frozen because of the number of temp changes in a day :brick:, that night I sad w/e and went to DtD for the night then to a friends house...

I have also had the "inspired Musician" that was last summer, this dude would stand out on our balcony/porch thing and play his Viola, to much duress of the other people in the building, we had security in our apartment more than once, but this dude was able to talk his way outta termination :hammer:

OT Joanna, how did your roomie like AK? I hope I get to work there this time. I was looking to get away from MK for a year been there the last 2 times and needed some change.

-Sum

 

[Bug715]

I only had one roommate which I didn't want cause you sorta have to get along with them. She worked at MGM and I was at MK so I'd get in late and she'd have to get up early. We didn't see each other much which was good because we didn't really get along. I remember my friends and I laughing at her when she complained about having to work one night until 1am. ummm hello I usually got off at 2 and many nights I got off later than that. I actually loved my late hours which really surprised me.

 

[steviej]

yeah, with my first set of roommates, on some weeks, i wouldnt get to see them too often, cause i would work the nightmare 3:30 to 9:30 shift at epcot :animwink:. when i got home on occasion, they were just getting ready to go to work

 

[joanna71985]

hmmmmmm, never heard of closter. So what did you do on your first 2 cp's? where are you planning to stay, chatham or vista?

I did merchandise, character attendant, and then custodial over my first 3 CPs. I stayed in Chatham for each.

I am hoping to stay in Patterson for this one.

I have also had the "inspired Musician" that was last summer, this dude would stand out on our balcony/porch thing and play his Viola, to much duress of the other people in the building, we had security in our apartment more than once, but this dude was able to talk his way outta termination :hammer:

OT Joanna, how did your roomie like AK? I hope I get to work there this time. I was looking to get away from MK for a year been there the last 2 times and needed some change.

-Sum

I remember him!!! He drove me CRAZY!!!!

She liked it. Back in 2006, she worked at EE. Then she came back last summer, and did custodial at AK.

 

[steviej]

jeez, thank goodness none of my roommates were that bad. they did have their bad habits though

 

[dani8706]

I hope when I go my roomates and I have schedules that are close to each other, I would hate not getting to know the ppl I LIVE with.

It's really not too big of a deal if you work different schedules than your roommates. The girl that I actually shared my room with would be gone for work before I got up, and would be sleeping by the time I got off at night (she was hospitality at Port Orleans, I was merchandise in World Showcase). Luckily, we were both really courteous and would try to be quiet for the other if they were sleeping. Plus, you'll get to see each other on your days off. Besides, I ended up being much closer to the people I worked with-you're around them A LOT more than you'll be around your roomies! (At least I was anyway...50 hour weeks were the norm for me).

 

[vwayfan123]

i know what you guys are saying about the roomates with different time schedules. when i was there in fall 07, i can only think of a few times when 6 of us where in the living room at one time. it was kinda funny, i remember one of my roomies sayin "the whole family is here". most times people would be at work, out at a friends or in their own room so it never gets too crowed in the apt.

but yea, i miss it everyday and would give anything to wake up in my old room to my roomate getting ready for work and just spend one day in the vista/disney life

 

[ExDisneyEmploye]

It was a great experience for me. It changed my life in a million ways ,when I really think about it I always encourage people who are thinking about it to go.

 

[sylvesterT21]

It was a great experience for me. It changed my life in a million ways ,when I really think about it I always encourage people who are thinking about it to go.

I am so glad to hear so many people who have had great experiences with the College Program. I am so excited to go on my first program next January (if I get accepted of course)