Graduating before the CP?

[PidginPea]

(Newbie here - I'm sure this question has been asked somewhere else, so sorry if this is a repeat...)

If I'm graduating spring 2010, and planning to do the WDWCP fall 2010, do I need to work with my college at all? I don't know how the process works - does Disney need approval from your college or anything? Even if you don't intend to get credit for it?

Basically... do I need to let my college know that I'm planning on going?

Thanks!

[souslocéan]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that you just have to be in school when you apply, not when you actually do the CP, so you should be fine. Disney didn't really need any sort of approval from my school at all, but my school wasn't even on the list so I had to figure it out on my own. Half the time CPers don't even do the classes due to various reasons..

So the bottom line is, no, I'm 90% sure you wouldn't need "approval" from your school - especially since my school is hardly even aware of the CP and I'm still somehow - miraculously- doing it (allegedly Disney checks to see if you're a good student at your school, hence the quotation marks.) If you're still uncomfortable/unsure you should shoot them an e-mail, all the Disney reps I've contacted have been very helpful and informative

Sorry I can't be more helpful to your situation! Good luck with everything!

[ZoeDisney]

You probably don't need to do anything. I'm graduating this semester and doing the cp right after. I'm not planning on taking any Disney classes either. I have not contacted my school about anything and I've already been accepted into the program. Just keep your gpa at a half decent level and you'll be fine. If you would like to know my gpa as an example, PM me.

[bgirl781]

^I'm in the same boat. I'm graduating in Dec and doing the cp in the spring. I know our campus rep knows I'm doing it, and various teachers know I'm doing it because they've asked what my post-grad plans are, but I have a feeling my school is clueless.

[PidginPea]

Great! Thanks everyone! Exactly what I needed to know.

My GPA and everything should be fine. I just didn't know if I needed to sit down with an advisor and let them know I plan on going.

The CP is not really related to my major, so I've kind of been keeping it quiet because I don't think my professors would understand why I'm doing it instead of going out and starting a career. But *I* definitely understand the value of the CP!

[ashley87]

I'm graduating in December too and doing the CP in the spring. I didn't tell my school anything. There's no reason for them to even care; I won't be a student there anymore when I'm at Disney.

[PidginPea]

Just thought of something else... if I *do* want to take one of the classes that the CP offers, am I able to take it just for knowledge and not for credit? I am interested in the Exploration Series.

[tink774]

Originally Posted by PidginPea

Just thought of something else... if I *do* want to take one of the classes that the CP offers, am I able to take it just for knowledge and not for credit? I am interested in the Exploration Series.

I'm curious about this too. I'm graduating in the spring and hoping to do CP next fall, and the classes sound like they'd be pretty interesting experiences. Is there any priority given to those who need/want the college credit as opposed to those who are just taking a class with no intention of earning any school credits?

[souslocéan]

Originally Posted by PidginPea

Just thought of something else... if I *do* want to take one of the classes that the CP offers, am I able to take it just for knowledge and not for credit? I am interested in the Exploration Series.

I'm pretty sure you can take any course you want, even if it's not for credit. I think that as long as you pay for the books, you should be fine. :)

And I don't think they give priority because from all that I've read, it seems that they TRY to get EVERY CPer to take a class. I could be wrong though, but I get the impression that they have enough space for everyone.

[kmg148]

You only have to worry about getting credit if you want it through your school. I took the Exploring Guest Services class in the spring and didn't get any credit. I just wanted to take it to learn something!

You can take up to two classes (more if you are in the Advantage program) so feel free to keep that to yourself too. You don't need to prove you are getting credit to do it (I know some internships require proof of credits and stuff) so don't worry!

[ashley87]

How much homework is involved with the classes? I might be interested in taking one just for the experience, but I know I'm not going to feel like spending my free time writing papers or doing projects, especially since I won't be getting credit.

[PidginPea]

Originally Posted by souslocéan

I'm pretty sure you can take any course you want, even if it's not for credit. I think that as long as you pay for the books, you should be fine.

And I don't think they give priority because from all that I've read, it seems that they TRY to get EVERY CPer to take a class. I could be wrong though, but I get the impression that they have enough space for everyone.

Thanks! I hope they do have space for everyone. That would be great.

Originally Posted by ashley87

How much homework is involved with the classes? I might be interested in taking one just for the experience, but I know I'm not going to feel like spending my free time writing papers or doing projects, especially since I won't be getting credit.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because I've never done a CP, but from what I've read on the wdwcp site and from the info session I went to, it sounds like the college credit classes DO give homework/written work, but the Professional Development and Exploration Series do NOT - the work for those is sounds like it's more small groups, discussing, networking type work. In the info session they said we'd be doing "projects" with other cast members in management and etc.

[kmg148]

Originally Posted by PidginPea

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, because I've never done a CP, but from what I've read on the wdwcp site and from the info session I went to, it sounds like the college credit classes DO give homework/written work, but the Professional Development and Exploration Series do NOT - the work for those is sounds like it's more small groups, discussing, networking type work. In the info session they said we'd be doing "projects" with other cast members in management and etc.

Yes. That is usually the case. In the Exploration Series (which I did, as I said) I never had homework. We would do projects in class with each other usually in small groups, lead by the managers who were presenting for that week. It was mostly managers from each line of business giving presentations.

I didn't take any of the ACE classes, but from what I understand those sometimes had homework requirements (making a resume, cover letter, etc.) and more "educational" aspects. They also require that you buy certain materials. I didn't need to purchase anything for my class.

[ZoeDisney]

I heard these (exploration or other) classes are good to put on your resume, even if you're not getting college credit. It's especially good if you want to do a Disney PI later on. This girl is really serious about her career with Disney. She goes into some detail about her classes and how they have benefited her. http://brennailya.livejournal.com/ She's on this board somewhere, but I don't remember her username.

[MaryPoppins86]

Originally Posted by ZoeDisney

I heard these (exploration or other) classes are good to put on your resume, even if you're not getting college credit. It's especially good if you want to do a Disney PI later on. This girl is really serious about her career with Disney. She goes into some detail about her classes and how they have benefited her. http://brennailya.livejournal.com/ She's on this board somewhere, but I don't remember her username.

i believe her username is Berlioz70