Any thoughts on my dd's app for Spring 2020?

[wendow]

@wendow I hope your DD hears good news soon! My DD applied her sophomore year and flew through her WBI to PI to offer fairly quickly. She didn't have lots of work experience but did 1) come from larger university 2) lived away from home. While lots of kids get in from smaller universities, and from home, I think some of that may possibly be dependent upon how many roles they need to fill, as I suspect that the priority comes to those who meet the university/away from home criteria.
DD also applied for Summer alumni the year after her fall DCP-moved to WBI fairly quickly but waited for the PI to come, then waited until almost last wave for the offer. She applied again for SA this past spring and was NLIC at last wave (which she was fine with as she got a really good high paying internship in her field), never having even gotten to WBI!
All that to say: not much rhyme or reason as to why sometimes it is a fast process or why some kids make it through and others don't!
Also-and this is just a suggestion-from another group-putting an interest in everything is sometimes seen as a negative. In other words-it is ok to have a no interest in one or 2 areas, as it implies that thought and consideration went into thinking about the roles.. Also-the recruiters do look at social media...Not in anyway saying this is a factor but just FYI.

Anyway I really hope your DD makes it through! However JIC tell her to not give up-stories are around of kids trying several times before they get accepted!

Thank you for the words of encouragement! I will definitely pass them along to my dd

Regarding the bolded above, we've read the same thing. It's tempting to just check everything cause most of these kids applying really will do any of the jobs just to get the experience of doing the program but the system may see that as a negative. I know my dd put some interest in 14 roles (not sure how many are options) and her interest level varied. We spent a lot of time talking through each so hopefully, if she ever gets an opportunity for a PI, she will come across like she has carefully considered the roles.

I don't think her SM would turn off any of the recruiters but that is good to always keep in mind!

 

[DelftBlue]

I used to think it was her age but her last two apps have been when she's connected with other girls from FB who are also app'ing. Many are her age or younger and they get moved forward and get in. I think our current theories are 1) not having lived independently, and/or 2) not being from a big school DIsney recruiters have relationships with.

The living independently thing irks me cause some kids do not need to go away yet they are very much 'launching well' and 'adulting' even while they sleep at home. My dd was raised to be very independent and she is doing a fine job of being an adult. I honestly think she is more 'adult' than I was at her age even though I went away to college.

For the school, we are in CO and my dd goes to a small'ish school. My dd says a lot of the girls on the groups she has joined are from big SE schools and there seem to be a large amount of acceptances from those schools.

Again, just theories. Who the heck really knows!?!

I definitely agree that Disney tends to choose from big schools.

I have no doubt that you daughter is doing very well as an adult, I think the concern is that she might not know how to live with others. She may be able to handle a horrible roommate with no issue, but Disney has no way of knowing that. Disney is only looking out for Disney, so they are probably going for a safer pick.

And you are right, no one really knows. Just keep trying.

 

[Newsies]

Thank you, @Newsies, for your very thoughtful reply and your kind offer to look over my dd's app. We would love that!!! She did have a girl from FB or GroupMe, who is in her 2nd CP now, take a look but I think that is it. I'm not sure how to access my dd's dashboard and she is at work until tonight but I'll send you the sections you mentioned reviewing later today or tomorrow. Thank you again!

She did not have any movement from the WBI wave this morning.

Thanks for your thoughts on the living independently thing. We have both had a nagging suspicion that this was problematic for Disney but hoping that her other great qualities and work experience would at least get Disney to consider her.

I'm here to help! I know how frustrating this process can be. Please keep us updated!

She applied again for SA this past spring and was NLIC at last wave (which she was fine with as she got a really good high paying internship in her field), never having even gotten to WBI!

If you're referring to the Summer Alumni 2019 season-- now THAT was a mess. They accepted about 100 people a week after the applications went live and then NLIC everyone the day the apps were supposed to close.

 

[wendow]

I definitely agree that Disney tends to choose from big schools.

I have no doubt that you daughter is doing very well as an adult, I think the concern is that she might not know how to live with others. She may be able to handle a horrible roommate with no issue, but Disney has no way of knowing that. Disney is only looking out for Disney, so they are probably going for a safer pick.

And you are right, no one really knows. Just keep trying.

She is the oldest of 4 children and shared a room with her sister for 8 years so I think she will do just fine but I completely understand what you are saying and what Disney is thinking!!

 

[wendow]

I'm here to help! I know how frustrating this process can be. Please keep us updated!

Again, I really appreciate your offer. It's so nice just to have people to chat with about this. I know my dd is already so stressed and I don't want to stress her out more by talking about reasons she isn't progressing. At least not yet. We are trying to keep the faith while her app is still alive

 

[Monykalyn]

If you're referring to the Summer Alumni 2019 season-- now THAT was a mess. They accepted about 100 people a week after the applications went live and then NLIC everyone the day the apps were supposed to close.

Yep! This was the year they opened it to ALL alumni regardless of how long they'd been out of school-my husband was going to apply but apps closed before he could. I also thought of applying just because-but I just don't think I could handle Disney as a CM anymore they way I did as a 21 year old no responsibilities to anyone but self! I'd be sassing the naughty guests and laughing when I get the "you ruined our vacation" meltdowns from entitled guests LOL.

 

[Newsies]

Again, I really appreciate your offer. It's so nice just to have people to chat with about this. I know my dd is already so stressed and I don't want to stress her out more by talking about reasons she isn't progressing. At least not yet. We are trying to keep the faith while her app is still alive

This is definitely the right mindset to have! Think positively, because you never know what might happen. I did my application, WBI, and phone interview ALL in the first week of applications opening in January 2016... and didn't get a job offer until April 7th, the week before the deadline to hear back! At the end of the day, everybody moves differently. There are SO many people who are making it out of AR this season, Disney seems to be pushing more and more through every day! I've never seen the amount of people who were stuck in "AR" make it out in other seasons, so things are looking good for her this year! You got this!

Yep! This was the year they opened it to ALL alumni regardless of how long they'd been out of school-my husband was going to apply but apps closed before he could. I also thought of applying just because-but I just don't think I could handle Disney as a CM anymore they way I did as a 21 year old no responsibilities to anyone but self! I'd be sassing the naughty guests and laughing when I get the "you ruined our vacation" meltdowns from entitled guests LOL.

This is EXACTLY what we couldn't understand in the FB group! They opened up the scope of applicants to literally hundreds of thousands more people, but accepted 1/100th of what they've accepted in the past!

 

[Monykalyn]

This is EXACTLY what we couldn't understand in the FB group! They opened up the scope of applicants to literally hundreds of thousands more people, but accepted 1/100th of what they've accepted in the past!

I know the Alumni Association has been moving more towards networking/mentoring stuff...we speculated that this was why they opened it up. I do NOT think they anticipated the response though. I also think priority is given to to Fall Advantage as those kids go through same training but are there longer (better ROI).

 

[Firepath]

Good luck to your daughter. AR is better than NLIC! Just my personal opinion and no one knows for sure but I think age and living independently is considered. I never even thought about the larger school thing. So my kid had 3 strikes! My kid took on some summer house sitting jobs so could truthfully claim independent living. That was the only difference and made it through after that. Just sayin'.

 

[720L]

Ugh. This living independently thing is not fair, but I understand. My DD has lived at home because she's planned on doing the DCP....that's her version of living at college. She's saving money for that. She is also very ready to get out of here LOL. Disney is our second home. It literally feels like home to us. She knows the area & the parks like the back of her hand.

 

[wendow]

Ugh. This living independently thing is not fair, but I understand. My DD has lived at home because she's planned on doing the DCP....that's her version of living at college. She's saving money for that. She is also very ready to get out of here LOL. Disney is our second home. It literally feels like home to us. She knows the area & the parks like the back of her hand.

It's not fair but I understand. My kiddo is living at home b/c we have a good school not far away and she can live here for free or take on debt to go away to college. We don't have the money to pay for 4 kids to all go away to school. It'd be loans for her so she's chosen to work and pay for her school OOP and not incur debt until she has too (most likely will for grad school).

Hoping for another wave of WBI's later this week since there was a wave of offers sent out today!!

 

[jeneric997]

Could she amend her application to put high interest in their most needed areas? If she can be in the sun, they are desperate for lifeguards.
DD got her offer today, it was for QS. She can't be out in the sun for long periods of time, so she was pretty sure that her need to be indoors and her experience in the food services industry would put her in QS. She was thrilled and thankful to get the offer.
Maybe if your DD changed some of her interest in the roles it would help? If she doesn't get through, I would tell her to get certified as a lifeguard and try again. Maybe she could be a camp counselor at a sleepover camp- that way she has the living away from home checked off??? Just trying to think of affordable ways to click those boxes. Hoping for some Pixie Dust for her!

 

[wendow]

Could she amend her application to put high interest in their most needed areas? If she can be in the sun, they are desperate for lifeguards.
DD got her offer today, it was for QS. She can't be out in the sun for long periods of time, so she was pretty sure that her need to be indoors and her experience in the food services industry would put her in QS. She was thrilled and thankful to get the offer.
Maybe if your DD changed some of her interest in the roles it would help? If she doesn't get through, I would tell her to get certified as a lifeguard and try again. Maybe she could be a camp counselor at a sleepover camp- that way she has the living away from home checked off??? Just trying to think of affordable ways to click those boxes. Hoping for some Pixie Dust for her!

My dd checked about amending her app last week but was told she couldn't and that she could just bring up any changes when she gets a PI and can talk to a recruiter. Well, uh yeah, that would work *if* she could actually get a PI

Congrats to your dd!! My dd has food service experience too and while she doesn't really want to work in QS, she'd definitely take the role if offered. Hope your dd has a great time on her CP!

 

[bluezy]

It's not fair but I understand. My kiddo is living at home b/c we have a good school not far away and she can live here for free or take on debt to go away to college. We don't have the money to pay for 4 kids to all go away to school. It'd be loans for her so she's chosen to work and pay for her school OOP and not incur debt until she has too (most likely will for grad school).

Hoping for another wave of WBI's later this week since there was a wave of offers sent out today!!

My daughter is in the same boat as your daughter. Her application has been sitting at AR for 2.5 weeks now. It's so frustrating for her...especially since a friend of hers who doesn't have much work experience outside of 2 summer retail jobs, filled out her application a week after my daughter and she was contacted for a WBI about 5 days later. Meanwhile, my daughter worked at an art studio for 2 years (often running the studio herself and overseeing children's parties), currently works at Starbucks, and works at a local amusement park as the children's craft area shift leader and also as a character/actor, plus has been a Student orientation leader at her college along with working in the office at the college when they need her (and the school approached her about both of those jobs -- she didn't apply for them originally). Like your daughter, I think the thing holding her back is that she lives at home. She goes to a large university (the largest in our state) but her major is only offered at 3 of their branch campuses (it's not even offered at the main campus) and we live about 10 miles from one of those campuses. She knows her degree won't provide her with a huge starting salary when she graduates, so she's trying not to go in to debt for school and living at home saves her $15K per year!! And she's #4 of 5 kids in our family so she's very well acclimated to living with someone, sharing a bedroom and bathroom, etc. I understand why Disney might use the living at home thing as a way to weed out candidates, but it really feels like they should at least allow applicants to explain why they are living at home during college. This is so frustrating. And like your daughter, my daughter is stressed and frustrated about this so I'm trying not to talk about it with her anymore. I did say that if she doesn't get in for Spring, we'll work on improving her odds for Fall. She did have a former and current CP help her with the whole application process, but we might need to fine tune a few things. Though there's no way we're going to pay $15K for her to live in an apartment near campus (her campus doesn't even have on-campus housing) just to improve her chances to get in this program. I'm just clinging to the thought that since she's still at AR status and hasn't moved to NLIC, at least there is still a chance for her to move on....there must be *something* in her application that's keeping her there. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of our kids!!

 

[720L]

Yes fingers crossed! It sounds like all our daughters are in the same category. Qualified but living at home.

 

[wendow]

Oh @bluezy, I feel your frustration! As a mother to a really responsible and mature kiddo, it's so hard to see them passed over for one thing that really doesn't say much about the kid either way. Some kids choose to live at home cause they want to save money and have a local school with a good program and some choose to live at home cause they are clinging to mommy. Some kids go away to college cause they have the means to do so and want the experience of living away from home and some go away to college cause they want to party and live up the college lifestyle away from their parents. You will find kids on both sides of the maturity spectrum in both situations. To exclude the kids who still live at home without even speaking to them is unfair. We actually know three CP's who self-termed this last program. All three are kids who live away from home.

Our dd's sound a lot alike! My dd is in a group me with about 50-60 other girls (group keeps growing lol) and quite a few got acceptances yesterday. One girl is like my dd - 3rd time app'ing and not moved past AR'ed yet - and like my dd, she still lives at home. So definitely seems to be the problem! We are trying to figure out what to do for next time as it makes zero financial sense for my dd to move out but there may be 'creative' ways to be able to honestly say she's lived independently. We moms should brainstorm some ideas if our girls don't get in this time.

 

[bluezy]

Well, my daughter moved to NLIC status this morning. To say she's devastated is putting it mildly. She stayed at her boyfriend's house last night so he's dealing with the brunt of her meltdown and I'm just trying to be encouraging and comforting via text. She said she's crying too much to talk right now. I know this is not the end of the world but it sure feels like it to her. We have a trip to Disney scheduled for next June. Normally I would use that as a distraction from her sadness, but I think mentioning the trip will only make things worse right now so I'm trying to come up with all the reasons it's good that she'll be at home for spring. <sigh> It's going to be a long couple of days ahead in this house. Hoping for better outcomes for the rest of you still waiting.

 

[720L]

Well, my daughter moved to NLIC status this morning. To say she's devastated is putting it mildly. She stayed at her boyfriend's house last night so he's dealing with the brunt of her meltdown and I'm just trying to be encouraging and comforting via text. She said she's crying too much to talk right now. I know this is not the end of the world but it sure feels like it to her. We have a trip to Disney scheduled for next June. Normally I would use that as a distraction from her sadness, but I think mentioning the trip will only make things worse right now so I'm trying to come up with all the reasons it's good that she'll be at home for spring. <sigh> It's going to be a long couple of days ahead in this house. Hoping for better outcomes for the rest of you still waiting.

Oh I am so sorry. Devastating. But she can always try again!

 

[bluezy]

Oh I am so sorry. Devastating. But she can always try again!

Thank you. The devastation was only compounded by the fact that her friend who had a WBI last week got contacted for a PI today. And while this girl "technically" lives on campus at college, she comes home for 4 day weekends (doesn't have classes Monday & Friday) because she misses her family. <sigh> It's so tough for my daughter because she wants to be happy for her friend (they've been friends for over 15 years!) but just can't muster much joy for her today. The good news is that after working her shift at Starbucks today my daughter is in a much better mood. Her supervisor was very sympathetic and understanding of her disappointment today. And my daughter's friend who is a CP now has also been really helpful today telling her not to get discouraged and that she would help her with the next round of applying and that she'd get the friend who helped *her* to look at my daughter's stuff a well. And I also reminded her of all the fun things that happen at Disney during the fall/holiday season that she could enjoy if she does a Fall semester CP. She'll be ok. I know this was a tough reality check for her...it's the first job she ever applied for that she didn't get. Tomorrow is a new day...

 

[wendow]

Well, my daughter moved to NLIC status this morning. To say she's devastated is putting it mildly. She stayed at her boyfriend's house last night so he's dealing with the brunt of her meltdown and I'm just trying to be encouraging and comforting via text. She said she's crying too much to talk right now. I know this is not the end of the world but it sure feels like it to her. We have a trip to Disney scheduled for next June. Normally I would use that as a distraction from her sadness, but I think mentioning the trip will only make things worse right now so I'm trying to come up with all the reasons it's good that she'll be at home for spring. <sigh> It's going to be a long couple of days ahead in this house. Hoping for better outcomes for the rest of you still waiting.

I'm so very sorry to hear this We've been through this twice with the first app not being a terrible surprise but certainly disappointment. Second app was all out devastating. My dd laid in bed all day and cried (and she'd not a crier or emotional type) so that was hard to see. By the next morning, she (puffy eyes and all) was getting back to normal life. She was still sad for a long time but chin was up and she was only looking forward to the next round. It sounds like your dd is getting to that point quickly as well.

My dd met a girl last time she app'ed who also had been NLIC'ed (she's actually ahead of my dd - she's in her 4th app now) and they found out they live 20 mins from each other. This girl (surprise, surprise) does also still live at home. Anyways, they've become close buds and get together a lot. The two are going to WDW in October and I'm so worried they are going to get NLIC'ed before and it will really dampen their trip. It's a sad thought but I just hope, if they are going to get denied, it happens after their trip so they can really enjoy their time and dream about being on their CP's there together.

By next June, hopefully @bluezy, your dd has been accepted for her CP