How does all of this work??? Questions from a parent???

[edk35]

Hello, my dd wants to apply for the CP for fall 2011. She is currently a sophomore in college. She knows that she has to do the web interview first to see if you even get the phone interview and that the applications usually come out in late Jan. That much I get. How does this program work as far as housing/tuition and will any of the classes transfer back to her college? Or will she basically be TAKING a semester off? What money are we responsible for? Is it basically what she would have to pay at her college for fall semester of 2011? I would love any information you can pass along. THANKS

 

[i3reakMeAgain]

Every school handles it differently. Her best resource at her school would be the Campus Reps. If there are none, or she's the first to do the program, talking to her advisor or the career services departments would help.

Everyone that does the college program at my school has to take a leave of absence for the semester. We don't have to pay any housing or tuition for the semester, yet they will hold any housing and/or financial aid for the semester when we return. None of the Disney classes would transfer back either, however, during my first program I took a bunch of online classes through a community college back home to keep up on school and to fill up some of my general education courses. It was way cheaper than if I had done it through my university. As far as out of pocket expenses to Disney - there is the $100 program fee you pay when you accept your role. This will get paid straight back to you over your time there through all the housing events the College Program team puts on (grocery bingo, pool parties, formal night, Thanksgiving, and many others). Also, it's recommended that students come down with a couple hundred dollars to get them through the first few weeks. Your first check will generally be very small and the second check will have two weeks worth of rent taken out. After that, everything should be smooth sailing.

Again, as far as the school questions, every school will handle it differently. Those were the steps I went through for my first program. The one I'm on is different all together, in that I just graduated and the only thing that factored in is that I had to be in school when I applied for the CP.

 

[edk35]

Every school handles it differently. Her best resource at her school would be the Campus Reps. If there are none, or she's the first to do the program, talking to her advisor or the career services departments would help.

Everyone that does the college program at my school has to take a leave of absence for the semester. We don't have to pay any housing or tuition for the semester, yet they will hold any housing and/or financial aid for the semester when we return. None of the Disney classes would transfer back either, however, during my first program I took a bunch of online classes through a community college back home to keep up on school and to fill up some of my general education courses. It was way cheaper than if I had done it through my university. As far as out of pocket expenses to Disney - there is the $100 program fee you pay when you accept your role. This will get paid straight back to you over your time there through all the housing events the College Program team puts on (grocery bingo, pool parties, formal night, Thanksgiving, and many others). Also, it's recommended that students come down with a couple hundred dollars to get them through the first few weeks. Your first check will generally be very small and the second check will have two weeks worth of rent taken out. After that, everything should be smooth sailing.

Again, as far as the school questions, every school will handle it differently. Those were the steps I went through for my first program. The one I'm on is different all together, in that I just graduated and the only thing that factored in is that I had to be in school when I applied for the CP.

Okay so it is not like an exchange program...where we pay for housing/tuition while she is there? Is that correct? Are you required to take classes even though they will not transfer back???

 

[i3reakMeAgain]

It is not an exchange program. Some other schools in my area considered it an actual internship so the student had to pay the school three credit hours to attend. Other people I know had it fall under a co-op program where they paid their school a co-op fee which was something like $200 per semester. Again, it varies from school to school.

California participants ARE required to take classes. Florida participants are not. However, I definitely recommend it. I'm taking an Exploration Series class right now, and I love it!

 

[edk35]

It is not an exchange program. Some other schools in my area considered it an actual internship so the student had to pay the school three credit hours to attend. Other people I know had it fall under a co-op program where they paid their school a co-op fee which was something like $200 per semester. Again, it varies from school to school.

California participants ARE required to take classes. Florida participants are not. However, I definitely recommend it. I'm taking an Exploration Series class right now, and I love it!

My dd has ONE friend that just got in for next semester. She also knows someone that has already done it that goes to her school. However I think dd needs to go to her advisor to find out the details before it all sneaks up on her. She was under the assumption that we still paid the same amt. for her fall semester to Disney that we would pay to her University. So apparently she is not getting all the facts from these friends. LOL THANKS

 

[cuethemusic]

There is no tuition for the college program. The only fee is $100 assessment fee when you accept your invitation. She pays for housing, and it will come out of her paycheck. She will have to pay for food, laundry, and gas UNLESS she plans on taking the bus provided to CP's, which is free.

As far as school goes, it depends. If there is a campus rep at her school, she should talk to them. If not, talk to her student advisor. Some schools will offer credit for the program as an internship or co-op, and may offer credit for the classes disney offers. If she has any student loans/financial aid she may have to take classes online during the program to keep it. Otherwise, she could take the semester off...see what your advisor suggests. Also, the classes that disney offers are free but you have to pay for the books and supplies, and they only advise you to take at most 2.


I am doing the spring 2011 program so I literally just went through all of this...if you have any questions feel free to PM me (your daughter too!)

 

[edk35]

There is no tuition for the college program. The only fee is $100 assessment fee when you accept your invitation. She pays for housing, and it will come out of her paycheck. She will have to pay for food, laundry, and gas UNLESS she plans on taking the bus provided to CP's, which is free.

As far as school goes, it depends. If there is a campus rep at her school, she should talk to them. If not, talk to her student advisor. Some schools will offer credit for the program as an internship or co-op, and may offer credit for the classes disney offers. If she has any student loans/financial aid she may have to take classes online during the program to keep it. Otherwise, she could take the semester off...see what your advisor suggests. Also, the classes that disney offers are free but you have to pay for the books and supplies, and they only advise you to take at most 2.


I am doing the spring 2011 program so I literally just went through all of this...if you have any questions feel free to PM me (your daughter too!)

So how much is housing? I wonder how much comes out of her pay?

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

So how much is housing? I wonder how much comes out of her pay?

The actual amount depends on what housing complex she lives in, but I believe that they are all around the $80-$100 range per week. (those aren't exact numbers, but around what they are.)

And as to your earlier questions about the classes- I believe that at some colleges the classes you take on the CP can count for credit (so she would at least be getting a few credits out of being away from school). But that depends on the individual school- so she'd have to talk to her adviser.

 

[cuethemusic]

So how much is housing? I wonder how much comes out of her pay?

As bellaDisneydncr said, it's usually between $80-100 a week depending on which apartment complex she gets and how many rooms her apartment has. The more bedrooms, the cheaper it is for her.

 

[SportsChick]

Like others have said, a lot depends on her school. Mine doesn't accept any ACE classes for credit (what the Disney classes are accrediated with) so I'm actually taking a couple of online classes from my university.

I live in a 1BR at Patterson and pay $95 per week in rent (I have one roommate). this is the most this semester for a regular CP (ICPs in the Commons have higher rent, but regular CPs can't live there). The 3BR at Vista is the cheapest, I think it's $78.

There are a few of us around that are here now, and quite a few alums if you have any more questions

 

[dsanner106]

The ACE course list is a fairly recent thing, so schools that have not honored credits from the Disney program may now do so. Even if she cannot get credit, my daughter highly recommends taking at least one Disney Course. The Disney You course, for example teaches you to promote yourself, interview well, write resumes, etc. You leave the class with multiple resumes you can update going forward, business cards etc. All that is great, but the experience of being in the Disney Education program is unique. Corporations pay big bucks to send employees to Disney courses and for her, they will be free. Most schools don't have a fee of any sort, and it is optional for you to take online courses from your school if you don't want to fall behind.

Drew

 

[edk35]

Thanks everyone. This is very interesting and you have answered several of my questions. We really hope she makes it. She plan to apply in late Jan./early Feb. whenever it opens up for Fall 2011. I told her to get on here and start asking, reading posts and learning stuff she might need to know for the phone interview. I am probably going to be surfing this board frequently myself. We are going to Disney on Jan. 21st for 5 nights.... can't wait. This will be her 18th trip. IT IS IN OUR BLOOD!!!

 

[edk35]

Is there a website/link that we can look at with the class information? THANKS

 

[daisyduck123]

 

[cuethemusic]

this is a direct link to the classes section. the purple topics on the upper right will tell you more about the classes and credit, etc. https://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/students/education/edu_overview.html

She should definitely check this board out. When I was first looking into the program I found it SO helpful, especially the CP questions thread stickied at the top. It's a lot of reading but it answers nearly all the questions you could possibly imagine.