Should I do the Disney College Program?

Question

I am interested in doing the Disney College Program, but I not sure if I should do it. This summer I am finishing my AA then I'm going to UF to finish my Bachelor's degree in Business. If I do the Disney College Program I would get held back 1 semester or maybe even a whole year if I decide to do it. And I would finish my BA in 2 years if I did not do it.

I am a very shy person and I don't have a lot of friends. I would see this as an opportunity to make new friends. I have never lived on my own so this is a chance for me to make new friends and experience being away from my family for the first time.

I have also heard some bad things about it. They only pay $6-$8 dollars and you have to pay for rent. They provide you with housing. You usually stay in a dorm type housing with 4-6 people. So rent wouldn't be very high. My sister said that you will have a crappy job and work long hours. That's the part I'm skeptical about.

What do you think I should do? Should stay or should I go?

Answer 1

You want to go several directions and really not prepared to begin the journey.

Sit down with yourself and a piece of paper. Now spell out very clearly "where" you want to be 10 years from today. Yes, exactly. Not generally.

On one sentence you want to "get your degree" but then in the same breath you mention your desire to "make friends". Do you want to have hundreds of friends but no degree? Do you want to have a good education and degree and still looking for friends? Can't have your cake and eat it too.

Which is your priority? Education or friends? You have another 70 years to make friends. You only have about 4 more years to have a degree. Now pick one of fulfills your priority.

All internship programs are crappy if you go there either "not knowing" what the program is meant to accomplish or if your expectations are not met because "you did not do your research homework" well. The program gives you a stipend to defray some expenses. Don't expect a salary. These programs are geared for "students" not regular people looking for a salaried job.

Answer 2

I would wait to go to UF.  You will have a lot more options when you get there that will pay a lot more than $6-$8.

You will have better access to many more companies that are offering internships.  This coming up UF career fair will have over 300 employers there.  And that is not counting the other companies that come to UF to hold information sessions and career workshops and events through out the year.  The career fair is held twice a year, once during the Fall semester and once during the Spring semester.

And what I have heard is that the Disney program is not that good and they treat their interns like c**p.  Of course, Disney treats most of their employees like c**p unless you are part of the lucky few that have upper level jobs.