CP and Study Abroad

[WishAndDream]

Hi! I am applying for Fall 2010 (my interview's in a few days; fingers crossed!). I'm pretty excited about the idea of doing the CP since I love love love WDW, but I've also always wanted to study abroad. I'm going to be a sophomore in the fall, so if I'm going to do the CP, I feel like I need to have a plan as to when I'm going to do everything. I don't want to say that studying abroad is more important to me than doing the CP (in some ways, I'm looking forwards to the CP a lot more), but I feel like having studied abroad will really help me later when looking for a job or applying to grad school in ways that maybe the CP can't. I should clarify that it's not my goal to work for Disney long-term; I've always thought it would be cool to do the CP, but I would stop there. I'm planning to double major Spanish and something else (still undecided on that part, possibly international relations). I'm not worried about having a hard time getting my credits in, despite that though; my advisor thought it would be fine to do both, and my study abroad will take care of most of my Spanish major anyway. The issue is that I'm not sure when it would be best to do both.

I was thinking of doing the CP this fall, then studying abroad in the spring, but that seems like a long time to be away from home. I'd have about a week in January before I'd have to head out again. Plus, that would take me away from my school for a full academic year, which I think they might not like so much. But I'm reluctant to do one this year (sophomore year) and one junior year, since then my only full years on campus would be freshman and senior year, and that's going to make it hard to have extracurriculars there.

I'm rambling now, lol. Anyway. Have any of you done the CP and studied abroad, or are planning on it? When did you do each? Do you feel like maybe a different plan would have worked better? Or am I just crazy for trying to do both?

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Hi! I am applying for Fall 2010 (my interview's in a few days; fingers crossed!). I'm pretty excited about the idea of doing the CP since I love love love WDW, but I've also always wanted to study abroad. I'm going to be a sophomore in the fall, so if I'm going to do the CP, I feel like I need to have a plan as to when I'm going to do everything. I don't want to say that studying abroad is more important to me than doing the CP (in some ways, I'm looking forwards to the CP a lot more), but I feel like having studied abroad will really help me later when looking for a job or applying to grad school in ways that maybe the CP can't. I should clarify that it's not my goal to work for Disney long-term; I've always thought it would be cool to do the CP, but I would stop there. I'm planning to double major Spanish and something else (still undecided on that part, possibly international relations). I'm not worried about having a hard time getting my credits in, despite that though; my advisor thought it would be fine to do both, and my study abroad will take care of most of my Spanish major anyway. The issue is that I'm not sure when it would be best to do both.

I was thinking of doing the CP this fall, then studying abroad in the spring, but that seems like a long time to be away from home. I'd have about a week in January before I'd have to head out again. Plus, that would take me away from my school for a full academic year, which I think they might not like so much. But I'm reluctant to do one this year (sophomore year) and one junior year, since then my only full years on campus would be freshman and senior year, and that's going to make it hard to have extracurriculars there.

I'm rambling now, lol. Anyway. Have any of you done the CP and studied abroad, or are planning on it? When did you do each? Do you feel like maybe a different plan would have worked better? Or am I just crazy for trying to do both?

I definitely plan on doing both - the College Program for Fall 2010 and then studying abroad for six months my junior year (2011). It's definitely doable, and if your advisor thinks it's fine to do both I say go for it!

 

[DisneyGirl421]

I would definitely study abroad. I went to Italy for a semester in fall '08, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I'm also a little different, as I studied abroad my junior fall, and now am doing the CP after I graduate. It wasn't feasible for me to do both and still graduate in four years, so I opted to go abroad during my school years, and then do the CP afterwards.

 

[kmg148]

I would do it if your school was receptive. For example, I could have studied abroad spring semester of sophomore year and done the CP spring semester of junior year. I didn't end up studying abroad (just went on a short study tour trip instead) but I wish I had!

Some schools won't give credit for the CP, so just keep in mind how your school works and if it will put you behind. Some don't have programs with colleges abroad either, so you may be put behind again. If your school transfers credits from abroad and gives you internship credits (or anything like those to keep you on track) you should do both! I would suggest going abroad first though, but that wouldn't work for everyone, so find out the information and trust your heart!

 

[Disney_Lover06]

I would definitely study abroad. I went to Italy for a semester in fall '08, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I'm also a little different, as I studied abroad my junior fall, and now am doing the CP after I graduate. It wasn't feasible for me to do both and still graduate in four years, so I opted to go abroad during my school years, and then do the CP afterwards.

I'm doing the same thing. My goal was to graduate college in four while participating in a study abroad and the Disney College Program. I studied aboard for two summers - one in Ireland/Paris and one in South Africa. This May I'm graduating in four years and am starting my CP in August. It's possible but it does take some planning.