Ah to join or not to join a Facebook group now that is the real question.
Facebook groups can be an amazing resource when used correctly, but they can also be maddeningly unhelpful. So how should Facebook groups be utilized through the various stages of the DCP from the application drop through your program? While ultimately how you use the Facebook groups is your own choice, I'm here to help you navigate through some of the madness so you can reap the full benefits these Facebook groups have to offer.
During the Application Process
So I actually don't have any direct experience of being in a Facebook group during the application process, but I can share what I know from friends about this stage of the game. Facebook groups can be an amazing resource during the application process. It can keep you informed about waves, be a way to meet other people equally as excited about Disney, and can connect you with others equally as strung out waiting for their acceptance. However, I had a friend who did the program before me and she said this group can be super cut-throat. Because of that I chose to stay away from these groups because I bring enough stress to the table myself and I didn't think it would be healthy to expose myself to a constant reminder of people moving through the process quicker than me.
That's all I can really say about joining a Facebook group during the Disney College Program application process, since I don't have any direct experience. I would just warn that if you're prone to psyching yourself out or tend to worry or over-analyze things it may be wise to stay away from Facebook groups at this phase.
After You've Been Accepted
I didn't join any Facebook groups until after I was accepted into the program and man are there options! There's so many different Facebook groups to be a part of. Just to give you a snapshot of just how many Facebook groups there are I am in 10 Facebook groups related to the DCP! And all of the groups focus on different things! Now take it some of the groups are more active than others and some have more members, but there's so many different resources available once you're accepted.
I would recommend joining two Facebook groups after you have been accepted. One for people who were accepted into the program and one for your selected move-in date. The first group will have the most activity as people will post various questions they need answered, introductions, and fun facts. This is a very informative page that is constantly being updated. The second group is where you will find your roommates if you don't want to go random. This page will be filled with roommate surveys with everyone trying to figure out who they think they would vibe best with. These are key groups to be a part of. Any other group you join is bound to be less active and have a more niche focus.
These groups can be overwhelming though because there's so much data constantly being added to them. In order to prevent being overwhelmed I recommend scheduling a certain time of day to look through new posts in the group. Normally when I first wake up in the morning I'll check the Facebook groups to see if anything relevant is happening or if anything has been posted that would be useful information to me. Once I update myself on the general happenings of the group I ignore them pretty much for the rest of the day. This prevents me from becoming overwhelmed from constant information overload.
To Infinity and Beyond
These have been my experiences so far with the Facebook groups. While they can be a good source of information they can also be overwhelming at times. If you intend to join Facebook groups before and during your program I recommend having an action plan to get the most out of what the groups have to offer. Some additional things to note: normally these Facebook groups do not allow parents, but parents do not fear there are separate Facebook groups designed just for you! Good luck and join away.
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