Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for the DCP
Some of you may be wondering, "what is the DCP?"
Well the DCP stands for the Disney College Program. It is a five to
seven month internship with the Walt Disney Company. you would be working at either the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California or the
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The type of job or role, that you could be placed in can range from Merchandise in the Critter Country, to Slide Ops at Blizzard Beach. Already sounds like a dream? Well here are some questions to ask yourself before applying for the Disney College Program.
1. Am I eligible?
Disney lays out all the requirements needed in order to submit an application. Some of these requirements consist of being currently enrolled in an accredited program or institution and have completed at least one semester OR have graduated within the past six months. You also must be at least 18 years old by the time the program starts (sorry late babies), and have unrestricted work authorization. Really that is all that is required of you at the time of application.
2. Can I get college credit for participating?
This one really depends on your school, and your progression plan. I was lucky enough to have been able to earn a full semester's worth (12 credits) for participating in the DCP. It was also a requirement of my major to do an internship and complete a number of work hours in either a hotel or restaurant. Now not all colleges will offer you credits. So bonus question, are you willing to take a semester off to do the program?
3. Are you HONESTLY okay with working any role?
I've seen this happen more times than it should. People will put that they are interested in every role, and in their interview say that they are 100% open to placement. Although this may work if your just want to get it in, I believe that if you are honest with what you want to do it will work in your favor. Don't get me wrong you do have to be flexible about your choices and have one or two high demand roles, but don't go willy nilly because it may hinder your DCP experience. Question of the day! Which role would you like to be placed in?
4. Are you prepared?
And I don't mean about being prepared for submitting your application or the interview (though you should prepare for those). I am talking about living in standard apartments, working long hours, working late or early hours, cooking and cleaning yourself, and potentially not working the most glamours job.
5. Are you ready for your life to change?
The Disney College Program has genuinely changed my life. Not only has it changed my career goals, but also my major. I have made life long friends who I know will tell stories at my wedding, and I can say with 99.99% of my being that I was the happiest that I have ever been in my entire life. However, this experience may not happen to everyone. You may come to realize that you hate working at a theme park, or that you just can't stand living with your roommates another day. But the DCP will change your life.
Now that I have laid out some questions to ask yourself,
are you ready to apply for the Disney College Program?
The recruiting seasons happen twice a year, in August/September for their Spring program, and January/February for their Fall program. There is honestly so much that I could say about the DCP,
but if you want to learn more about what the program is,
feel free to visit their website at:
https://jobs.disneycareers.com/disney-college-program
or send me questions through the Contact Me section on my blog!
Good luck!
© 2017 Candid Miss Ash