Help With Career Planning In College

[BeemerBoy]

I'd transfer here, if possible:

http://www.hospitality.ucf.edu/

 

 

Hope that helps.

[Wes]

What aspect of working at a theme park would you be interested in? Management, finance, public relations, etc. Would you want to work in the park itself or in an office?

It's realistic to be able to get a job at a park, depending on the position. Far more realistic than being a "coaster designer" or whatever most kids on here think they're going to be.

 

My biggest piece of advice is find something that you would enjoy working on, whether it be for a theme park or not. You're going to be spending minimum 40 hours a week, five days a week doing this, so you better enjoy it!!

[Scaparri]

^Don't let anybody tell you that you can't transfer if you want it that badly. You're parents may not be able to afford it, but that doesn't mean YOU can't. If you want it that badly, just get student loans and have your parents cosign them. This of course means that you will be considerably more in debt, but you have to judge if you want it that badly.

 

However, and that's a big however, I would take Wes' advice. Find something that you'll be happy doing if you don't end up in the amusement park industry. It's a small window, so you have work hard and aim high, but understand your chances are slim. I don't know a great deal about that program at UCF, but I doubt that many people with amusement park management positions have that degree. Most probably just have a business degree in management or finance or something of that nature. If you really want to make it, I'd suggest studying a field in business. Not only will that be of greater value if you don't make it, but you'll also likely have an easier time getting internships/experience which will look good later on if you try and make it into the industry. That's my two cents.

[BeemerBoy]

Wes is right, and you seem to have the right idea. The last time we all tried to give career advice, it turned into a laughable series of misadventures, but you seem to be on a better track. Unfortunately it's not one of those fields that has one defined course of study. It's pretty broad, but the opportunities are there to break in at many different levels.

 

Recreation and Tourism Management

Operations Management

 

These both sound like the right way to go. It's sucks that you can't transfer to Orlando, but if Bama offers those courses, take 'em! Excel in them, and graduate with a degree. With that, I'm sure there'll be opportunities in some capacity to break in at a place like Orlando. Good luck to ya.

[thefitness]

You're a lot closer to having a career than me, but here is my two cents.

 

In any way possible within reason, get your foot in the door! Before you can do that you need to decide exactly what it is you want to do.

 

My "Dream Job" is to be on the Universal Orlando Creative Design Team. The more information I get, and the more I talk with the current members on the Team, the more it feels less like my "Dream Job" and more like reality.

 

Did you post a similar thread on the Vault?

[ParkTrips]

Go to Rosen.

 

Great college atmosphere, they offer what you are looking for, and its in Orlando! Win, win win!

[Wes]

I'm not sure if a theme park like Universal would take those degrees or not. There seems to be very little info about theme park careers online.

 

Contact Universal directly and ask them. People are really willing to help and give proper info. Back when I was in high school exploring the theme park design career, I got plenty of good information and contacts by contacting people directly.

[Coaster Palooza]

I know that you feel changing your major is a "major" change, but it really isn't all that bad. My brother changed his major 16 times! He survived it.

 

In the end, he had a degree in sports medicine, a minor in biology and another one in physiology. He became a teacher and now works in the tech field as a network manager. Go figure.

 

Your life is beginning. You can't make a mistake that isn't undoable at this point. Try things. If you don't like it, change it.

 

Enjoy!

[larrygator]

You can always get your AA locally in Alabama, then transfer to save a little on the college costs.

 

Yes, college costs are huge (it is an investment) but the program at UCF is well respected, unique and puts in close to many employers.

[Jew]

Go with business management and get yourself a summer job (WDW college program?) at a park. Operations management usually focuses more on logistics stuff and your schools recreation and tourism management probably focuses more on summer camp/national park/etc. type things.

 

My number piece of advice: work at a park before deciding it is what you want to spend the rest of your life doing. It isn't always easy or fun.

[Not For Sale]

I can't help you at the moment, but my application for Rosen is being considered right now!

[SharkTums]

Let's also not forget that most theme parks are very much still the 'boys club'. Most of the managers are a group of friends that started at the bottom of the barrel 25 years ago.

 

No matter what your degree is in, expect to spend some time working your way up. Your degree will allow you to move up faster, but don't expect to go right into a management position in a park without having worked in the park and get some experience first.

[Sunfire]

^That's good advice. I myself am not sure what I want to do when I get out of high school. But for now it would be nice to get a job in a theme park. I'm not expecting to become the CEO of Cedar Fair or something huge like that, just a smaller job such as ride op or landscaper.

[QuakerOaties]

^

It seems you've already taken the advice I was going to give, which is just choose a major you love. You'll be able to fit it into the Theme Park industry somehow.

[Bush985]

I have a degree in Recreation and Leisure, Commercial recreation and currently work in a management role for a large theme park company.

 

Most of the advice that has been given is very sound. I would say you really need to get into something early and just work your way up. Like others have said, it will take time, as a lot of the theme park people have spent some time.

 

A recreation degree with a busines minor is a perferct degree to obtain. One of the best things about school was being able to write and do projects on theme parks, or even hold discussion in class about theme parks and their marketing techniques. Depending on what sector you get into, there is a lot to learn about the busines, and the travel industry which could carry your elsewhere.

 

Really though, there are many options to get you where you want. Just remember your going to have to spend some time working your way up.

 

Hope that helped a little.