How to Apply for the Walt Disney World College Program

The first thing to remember when you are interviewing with the recruiter for the Walt DIsney World College Program is that ENTHUSIASM IS IMPORTANT! It's more than just about smiling and saying hello (though that is important). And you don't want to be over the top in your excitement level, like Ace Ventura after 3 double lattes and a Red Bull. But be joyous about the prospect of working for Disney. It's tons of fun!

I don't think the procedure has changed much since I did it in 1998, but here's how it worked. I went to the orientation meeting on my campus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Go Vols!). This meeting was well advertised, so don't worry about it slipping by. If you want more information about the program, click here. From this meeting, you got the information to either set up an interview time or find out about the next step of interviewing.

Interviews were conducted 2 at a time. You're meeting with a program recruiter at the same time as someone else. The reason for this is simple: the recruiter wants to see how you interact with others. If you are selected as a Cast Member (meaning an employee), a big part of your job is interacting, smiling and being helpful to Guests (visitors) to Walt Disney World. When the recruiter asks the other person in the room a question, THEY ARE WATCHING YOU! So make sure to listen to the other person, smile, be pleasant and be genuinely interested in what they have to say. Don't look at the floor, waiting for your turn to speak, bored or nervous. The Disney World College Program is a fantastic opportunity, so take advantage of it!

Make sure to have a couple of questions ready to ask the recruiter. Not just for the sake of asking, but figure out what you want to know about the program beforehand. They will appreciate your being proactive about the process of learning. If you don't know the answer to a question, or the recruiter didn't cover it, ask about it. One good question to ask is about the next step. Once your double interview is concluded, ask what the next step is, so you don't leave the interview and think 'All right ... NOW what do I do?'

When I was accepted, I got an information packet in my mailbox a few weeks later (a large envelope that looks like something you'd get if you ordered a book from Amazon). If you don't get in, you'll probably just get a simple letter thanking you for applying. DON'T be discouraged if you don't get in. Apply next time and keep at it. Between being a powerful resume builder and being one of the most fun and memorable experiences of your life, it's worth it to keep trying to get into the Walt Disney World College Program. You can do it!

Hope this helps some people. If you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll be happy to answer it as best I can!