The DCP Facebook Groups Summed Up

Okay people. If you're researching the Disney College Program, or are in the midst of applying, or have already been accepted, odds are you join the DCP Facebook groups. These are generally titled "Disney College Program Spring/Spring Advantage 2017" or something similar. Let me just lay out exactly what these pages look like because they are incredibly predictable. Also keep in mind that these pages are both a great resource and a buzzkill, there's always some drama but it's a good way to find friends and roommates. So here goes:

• We're going to use the page I'm currently in: DCP Spring 2017, but I have been in two other DCP Facebook groups from previous years (fall and spring).
• First off, people will start joining the page pretty early, but really pick up steam in members about two months before applications come out
• There's always THOSE people (we used to call them DCP Celebs because they were all over the Facebook page and we all knew their names and pictures) who comment and post on every possible thing. This can be either irritating and/or entertaining.
• Get used to reading this: "when will applications drop?" "has anyone got accepted yet?" "when will they start accepting people?" and basically every other question you can think of that everybody wants to know but nobody has the answer to
• A few alumni throw in their two cents for every post (generally also those DCP celebs I talked about) because they're obviously the experienced experts here. Note that many alumni can be very helpful but there's always the few that comment on everyone's posts correcting other people who had different experiences or that they don't agree with. It can be pretty overwhelming.
• Starting BEFORE applications come out, there will already be people posting roommate surveys and finding their roommates (they will be sorely disappointed when a few chosen roommates don't get in and they have to find new ones)
• Don't even get me started on the social media trains that someone posts once a week. Example: "Let's get an instagram train going! My username is @marin_jacobson, let's all follow each other, comment your username down below!". Translation: I want more followers so you should follow me and I'll maybe follow you back but then unfollow 30 seconds later.
• This question: "I want to be a character performer but I only want to be friends with Cinderella, no fur characters. Is that possible?" Answer - no.
• "Let's start a selfie train"
• "Who wants to find their prince/princess in their program?? I'm single and ready to mingle ;)". This is quite possibly the most irritating part. The DCP is not a dating site, it's a professional program and opportunity. Please save your thirst for Tinder. Sincerely, everybody.
• These two posts: "how old will everyone be on the program?" and "who here's from Ohio/New York/Texas/etc.?"
• "Can anyone read my applications before I turn it in?"
• "Who will go to Universal Studios with me if we both get in?"
• First wave of acceptances hit and those who don't get in quite yet are all convinced they're going to be rejected
• Acceptances go out and this happens: "Has anyone with an E last name got accepted yet? I think it's alphabetical!" "Now they're at the Z's! They skipped the whole middle part of he alphabet!" "Guys it's not alphabetical chill out". This literally happens every season whether or not it's true, I guess we may never know!
• 10+ side groups will emerge including "Disneyland DCP", "Christian DCP", "Non-traditional Age DCP", "Single DCP", etc.
• The blasted anonymous sites will show up where people can share who they think is hot in the group and everyone acts like they're 15. 
• My personal (least) favorite: "hey I can't afford the $300 fee, will you consider donating to the GoFundMe I made?" - okay people. We're all poor college students, if you work hard and put in an extra hour here and there at your job you can easily save up $300 (plus you have quite some time to prepare for this...). 
• Everyone posts about how they're sick of seeing the Cast Member photo on the applications page (so true though)
• "Okay who else is in Greek Life?? I'm a ____!"
• Hundreds of question threads including "favorite princess", "if you could pick your role/location...", "favorite attraction", etc.
• Once everyone is accepted/rejected and in the program the page turns into this: "anyone want to go to Hollywood Studios?", "what time is grocery bingo?" and "how do I use my guest passes for my family?"
• This will also happen a lot: "does anyone have an extra guest pass they're not going to use? My entire extended Greek family is coming and I need 30" (okay maybe not that extreme but you get the point)
• Also LOTS and LOTS of bus complaints
• Insert posts cursing Florida wildlife. This includes but is not limited to: turkeys, alligators, and armadillos.

I feel like this sums up the most common posts pretty well. Contrary to how I kind of made it sound, I don't hate the DCP Facebook pages. I think a lot of people go overboard and are ridiculous but I found my five FANTASTIC roommates using it last program and know there are tons of great people on it. I will add, however, that it can be a very stressful group to be a part of. There is some bullying that happens, and if you're waiting on your acceptance while a ton of others are posting about theirs it's easy to lose hope. Bottom line here, you want my advice? Join the page but hold back from posting a lot with the exception of a post/comment/question here and there until you're ready to find your roommates. Disney recruiters are always part of the pages, these people CAN and WILL see your posts and comments. Keep it professional and clean or you risk hurting your chances of either getting into the program, or your chances of keeping your role once down there. I had a coworker who was a very involved admin for the Facebook page and Disney actually found him and told him he had to leave the group or try get it under control (it was getting nasty) or risk termination. 

So with all that being said, please just be nice and think about what you're posting before you do so :) Enjoy being a part of the group, for it's highly entertaining and a great resource, but don't lost your head!