To anyone with experience in either of the programs:

[MickeyMouse98]

Hello everyone, I'm new to these forums. My name is Logan, and I'm from Texas. Disney has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I want to get involved as quickly as possible. I'm just having trouble with a few things. First of all, I'm a little confused with the differences between the programs. I understand that the College Program is for people with a semester of college, and Career Start is for those who have been within 48 months of graduating highschool. But where I get lost is the order in which the programs go, and how the College Program works with your college. Do most people go through the CollegeProgram first? And then CareerStart for a future with Disney? I would like to go to college in Florida, but I don't really have the money for out of state tuition, so I want to know how the program works with Texas Colleges, because I know several colleges in the area offer it. I also would like to know what the chances are in eventually becoming a fulltime employee with disney after the programs. Please help! Thank you!

 

[Frizzbird]

The Career Start and College Programs are not necessarily linked. You can do just one or the other or you can do both. If you do both you would do Career Start first since you do that before you attend college and then after your first semester do the College Program. That being said one or the other doesn't prepare you for a future with the company or get you FT. By doing either of the programs you can network and possibly make connections that can lead to a future with the company but that is something you have to put the effort into doing. Also just fyi I believe that the Career Start program has a more limited list of roles available than the College Program.

The College Program is completely separate from college and is not a "college" in and of itself. It is an internship program. Colleges may or may not give you credit for completing the program or taking classes through the CP. They may allow you to take courses through the individual school while completing the program that will count for credit. It all depends on the individual school and the only way to find out is to ask admissions officers. It is quite possible that the admissions counselors may not know anything about the program and can't help. If your school does not give credit the CP website lists some schools such as the University of North Carolina Greensboro that does give credit and you can apply there and get credit through them which would possibly be able to transfer back in to your school.

When it comes to TX schools I'm not sure which ones give credit. I believe that the UT Austin has in the past, as well as Texas State and possibly A&M. I know people from all 3 of those Universities that did the program. That being said the best and really only way to find out is to check with the individual schools when you visit them.

 

[MickeyMouse98]

Oh, I'm sorry, I knew they weren't linked, I just wanted to do both. I guess I should've made that clear. So if I ended up doing both programs, I would go to Florida for the summer program for Career Start, go back to Texas for college, and then go back again for College Program?

I'm sorry if this is difficult, I'm just trying to figure it all out. I know some colleges don't support the program, but I figured the colleges that did support the program would offer hours or credit for it.

I thought that with the program came opportunities for more specific internships? I'd heard that you had to apply for them when it became closer to that time, and that it was difficult, but that's what my question was directed towards.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Oh, I'm sorry, I knew they weren't linked, I just wanted to do both. I guess I should've made that clear. So if I ended up doing both programs, I would go to Florida for the summer program for Career Start, go back to Texas for college, and then go back again for College Program?

I'm sorry if this is difficult, I'm just trying to figure it all out. I know some colleges don't support the program, but I figured the colleges that did support the program would offer hours or credit for it.

I thought that with the program came opportunities for more specific internships? I'd heard that you had to apply for them when it became closer to that time, and that it was difficult, but that's what my question was directed towards.

Yes, you would do Career Start first, finish at least 1 semester of college and then apply for the College Program.

Within the College Program you can pick specific roles to work during your program. You can also take classes that count towards college credit- if your school accepts them.

I'm not sure if this is what you're talking about, but there are also Professional Internships with WDW. These are the more specific, actual internships with the company. You can apply for these for after the College Program. There are some of these internships that are College Program Alumni Only and some that are not.

Here's the link to the PI website.

I hope that helped some!

 

[Frizzbird]

Oh, I'm sorry, I knew they weren't linked, I just wanted to do both. I guess I should've made that clear. So if I ended up doing both programs, I would go to Florida for the summer program for Career Start, go back to Texas for college, and then go back again for College Program?

I'm sorry if this is difficult, I'm just trying to figure it all out. I know some colleges don't support the program, but I figured the colleges that did support the program would offer hours or credit for it.

I thought that with the program came opportunities for more specific internships? I'd heard that you had to apply for them when it became closer to that time, and that it was difficult, but that's what my question was directed towards.

bellaDisneydncr (Hi!! ) basically answered everything I would have. The timeline you outlined sounds right. I have no idea what the Career Start seasons are like but if they do indeed have a summer only one then that sounds like an awesome plan.

As for possible colleges that give credit if you go to this page and scroll down to the question "how can I benchmark with other schools..." there is a purple link that says "Credit Acceptance Benchmarking Report" at the beginning of the second paragraph. That lists schools and info about if they give credit for the program and how much. I know it is a bit out of date b/c it lists a contact for my school and the person doesn't even work there anymore. However it should give you some idea of what schools might give credit and people to possibly contact.

As for the professional internships doing a CP definitely opens up a wider range of PIs you can apply for. As bella mentioned there are some that are Alumni only which means that you have to have done a program to be eligible to apply.

 

[Ajaz]

When it comes to TX schools I'm not sure which ones give credit. I believe that the UT Austin has in the past, as well as Texas State and possibly A&M. I know people from all 3 of those Universities that did the program. That being said the best and really only way to find out is to check with the individual schools when you visit them.

A&M is my school! And they definitely will work with you to find a way to give you some credit for the CP. I'm pretty sure most of the major universities (and probably the smaller ones) in Texas will give some credit.

 

[MickeyMouse98]

Thank you so much! Yes, the professional internships are what I'm looking for, thank you. I'm just trying to get all of the planning done ahead of time, to make sure I can make this dream a reality.

I was planning on UT, because I love Austin. But A&M, and UNT are close seconds and thirds for me.

Thank you so much!

 

[haleyg]

career start has a fall program Sept-Jan and a spring advantage program Feb-Aug.

 

[Ajaz]

Thank you so much! Yes, the professional internships are what I'm looking for, thank you. I'm just trying to get all of the planning done ahead of time, to make sure I can make this dream a reality.

I was planning on UT, because I love Austin. But A&M, and UNT are close seconds and thirds for me.

Thank you so much!

UT and UNT are great schools as well. I was accepted into both, but A&M was just right for me. Austin's a great city, but I don't think I personally could live there. And UNT was just a little too close to home for me (I'm from the DFW area). Good luck!