Disney College Program rejection

My DD(18) received a rejection email today saying she was not accepted into the Disney College Program. Needless to say, she's devastated. She is a Disney fanatic and was pinning so much hope on becoming a part of the Disney family through the program. btw, her phone interview a few days ago went wonderfully.

I told her to try again next time, but right now she's too down to even think about it. :(

I also told her it could have been just a matter of numbers - they were at capacity etc.

Anyone have any advice or words of wisdom based on personal experience or general insights? Is there any rhyme or reason behind the rejections? Would you recommend that she try again?

Thanks everyone.

Oh, I'm sorry. How disappointing for her. I'm not sure if she can apply again? I think she should if she can. I'm sure it is a numbers thing and not a personal thing, though it is always hard to not feel rejection on a personal level. I really have no insight, but it seems to me they might have a limit on how many from each region or school, and that might have affected her chances this time?

Maybe this will work out for her in the end, that other opportunities will come up that she would have missed had she done the college program. Or maybe it would have made her see Disney differently in a not all positive way? But that's no consolation when she's just feeling sad about it for now. Sometimes you just have to have a pity party, cry for a bit, and then move on. I deal with rejection in my work all the time, and I've had my share of pity parties. It's never fun. Again, I'm sorry and best wishes to her.

Oh, I'm so sorry. It is always hard when what you really want does not become a reality. No words of wisdom except to just be understanding and allow her to feel her feelings for a while then help her to move on. I like the pity party idea, never done that before. Hope all turns out and she can find a new goal...like the sooner she graduates, the sooner she can get a full time job either at Disney or to earn money for many more Disney trips in the future...:pout:

Very thoughtful response! Thank you, SBETigg. Everything you said makes sense and I know my DD knows all of that on an intellectual level, but right now she's very emotional.

I know as her mom that these kinds of experiences help build character, because certainly we all have to deal with rejection and things not going our way throughout our lives. My fear is that she is hardened by this and may have bad feelings toward Disney now. We are a Disney family through and through so I don't want this to affect the way she feels about Disney and WDW.

I do wish Disney would do more than just send a form email. Seems cold. Would be nice if they offered some reason why she was rejected, or at least encourage her to try again next time.

Thanks, Figgie. Yes, I know she'll get through it! And hopefully something will come up that makes her realize it was probably best not to be in the program right now.

I know what you mean about fearing it will taint her feelings on Disney. I hope not, but it's hard. In the end, it's still Disney and a happy place, so I hope that conquers all. Pity parties are always best with cupcakes, by the way. It's good that she has you looking out for her.

Believe me I know how you both feel.
My DD went through the same thing.
It's an unbelievable feeling for both of you.
Here is the good news. :thumbsup:
She reapplied her next year and was accepted.
I really - really - really encourage her to apply again next year. I think she will do fine.
I'm going to send her some powerful PA Pixie Dust.
:tink::pixie::tink::pixie:

Tell your DD not to give up!! Same thing happened to my DD last year....after weeks of waiting, she finally got a rejection email. She was even a CM at our local Disney store and that didn't even seem to help get her in the program. From what we were told (by former CP participants) was that students are selected based on "seniority"...college seniors get selected first, then juniors, sophomores, and finally freshmen. My DD actually switched from a 4-year to a 2-year college for this school year because she didn't like the new tuition & credit hour policies that were implemented for the 2012-2013 school year. She reluctantly re-applied for the Disney College program this year and has been accepted! By being in a 2-year college, she's viewed as a junior so that definitely improved her ability to get in.

I'll say it again...don't give up hope! She needs to be persistent and keep applying. Dreams DO come true!! :mickey:

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." A mantra that was drilled into my head over and over again by my parents as a child. So tell you daughter "Don't give up".

Some of the most "successful" people in history failed or were rejected over and over again, before reaching "success". What made them successful was their refusal to give up trying.
It's little solace to your daughter right now, but in a few days, encourage her to keep on trying.
:thumbsup:

I did the program a few years back and I can tell you a few things can impact whether or not you are chosen. Someone already mentioned seniority and that is one reason. Others include whether or not you submitted your application in a timely manner, if they had any openings left in the areas of work you showed interest in, and unfortunately, if you seem to Disney enthusiastic over the phone they may reject you. However, I would not give up hope and I would encourage her to try again. I assume she was hoping to go for Spring 2013? If so, Fall 2013 would be better anyhow. The weather will be ideal overall and she will have so many fun things to do like the F&W Festival, MNSSHP, and all the Christmas events! Plus, since it is busier then, they need more CMs!

I was going to ask what year is she in school? They do tend to pick seniors. I remember the heads of my department telling me not to try freshman year because you will not get the most out of your experience until you are older and that is why Disney does that.
I also recommend her going for a fall semester. She will LOVE it! The hours are great whereas summer can cause burn out really quick.
My roomate in college was rejected and I was accepted. I originally wanted summer but they took me for fall and after talking to alumni cp's they told me I would love the fall and why.
If she is a freshman tell her to not take it personally, it is just not her time. She will get more out of it when she is older and then if she wants to stay on she has a better chance of dong that as she is closer to finishing school. (some of my past cp's are still there!)
Tell her not to give up. They do want students that SOUND happy and it sounds like she has that. Tell her she did everything right but right now wasn't her time. Her time will come!

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Originally Posted by joonyer

Some of the most "successful" people in history failed or were rejected over and over again, before reaching "success". What made them successful was their refusal to give up trying.
It's little solace to your daughter right now, but in a few days, encourage her to keep on trying.
:thumbsup:

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Totally agree with this. Walt Disney himself did not find success on his first try at many things.

Maybe as a "feel better" gift you can buy her a copy of the book "Walt Disney The Trimph of The American Imagination". I read this book and I was amazed at how many times things did not go Walt's way, but he never gave up. He definitely did not gain success easily or quickly. No matter what problem arose he tried and tried again. Tell her this book is to show her that even the place she loves so dearly was started by a man who never let first time failure stop him. I think it would help her get through the initial feelings of failure and give her some motivation to try again.

I am so sorry she has to go through this. I hope she tries again and is accepted next time.

My heart goes out to your daughter. My DD got accepted last week , but the waiting was almost unbearable. It's all she's wanted. I can only imagine how you both are feeling. My daughter is a freshman in a 2 year college (in her first semester), and was accepted into Recreation. She is skilled in this respect though! She is a competitive gymnast, and also teaches classes at The Little Gym. I think that's why she got in. She is doing the 7 month Spring advantage program and hopes to extend after completion. She is linked with many many people on facebook who are hoping to do this program, and while many were accepted, just as many were pended, or rejected. Please know your DD can apply in the spring again, this has no impact on her getting in in the future. Hugs to you both.

It does stink to be rejected. But she should definitely try again

From Walt Disney:

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You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

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I'd recommend she contact someone she's talked to during the process in a few weeks and find out what she can do over the next year to make herself a stronger candidate. And apply again next year if she can. I'd look at it as less of a rejection and more of a delayed yes.

Even though rejection is a part of life and we all have to go through it, it doesn't take the sting out of getting that letter/e-mail/phone call! As a career counselor, I help students deal with rejections all the time, and it never gets easier, you just develop a strategy to cope with the next time a rejection comes around (love pity parties but make sure they are short!).

Like you, I wish that recruiters didn't use a formulated message for rejections, it does come across as cold and they are very uninformative when trying to improve yourself as a candidate. But, since DCP has thousands of applications for each program session there's no way they could personalize a message for each applicant they don't accept. At least she got some notification- there are recruiters out there that will never contact an applicant they choose not to hire.

Best advice I could give is acknowledge what she's feeling now but don't let her wallow too long, and encourage her to try again!

It is probably a plethora of reasonings for Disney to reject someone. My DD was accepted into the program her freshman year and was fortunate enough to also have an audition that led to her working in entertainment. She is VERY athletic, very structured, and I'm sure her subsequent interviews after her phone interview was spot on.

I would suggest to keep trying, and hope for the best !!

She has been back to work seasonal several times since the program and seems to truly love working there, so it's definately worth it to keep trying !!!:cool: