For students looking for a paid internship, the Disney Company offers an opportunity to participate in what the site calls an “internship of a lifetime.”

Disney representatives visited Oakland University last Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. to promote the internship to students. Applications for the program are available on the Disney College Program site.

The Disney College Program invites interested students to travel to the Disneyland Resort in California or Walt Disney World in Florida for a paid internship and to take classes between work hours. Students will work within the resort and use skills that can be transferred to many career choices.

One-to-four bedroom apartments are available, and student payment is automatically deducted from the cast member’s weekly paycheck.

Alyssa Mayer, a sophomore majoring in dance, was accepted into the Disney program but decided it was in better interest to pass on the opportunity.

According to Mayer, the application process was simple, but found that weighing the pros and cons of going to be a more difficult task.

Mayer said even though she planned on trying out in a dance audition, she was set on going regardless of what job she was given in the park. However, financial issues influenced her decision to turn down the internship.

“I found out from a financial aid advisor that I would lose all my scholarship money from OU, which was going to be something like 2,500 plus dollars; it was a lot,” Mayer said. “After talking to my parents, we figured that it was too much to lose.”

Students must be available to work a full-time schedule in the park. The application estimates students participating in the program will be compensated between $7.25 and $8.52 per hour.

The program is currently accepting applications for several different sessions, including Spring, which runs from January to mid-May, and Spring Advantage, ranging from January to mid-August.

The program also offers special sessions for trimester schools and culinary schools.

According to the e-presentation, applicants may be able to work at the Magic Kingdom, Downtown Disney area, Disney studios, the Animal Kingdom theme park or Epcot.

Applicants are required to watch a presentation, which is approximately 40 minutes long, either online or during a campus presentation. Following submission of basic information, applicants set up an online interview and a phone interview.

Interviewers ask the student why they want to participate, how they would handle certain situations and what job they are interested in at the park.

The student will know whether or not they have been accepted within four weeks.

Mayer said she is still interested in the internship and plans to reapply for her senior year. Mayer said it was a difficult decision.

“I’m still really bummed though that I can’t go because it would be a great experience,” Mayer said. “I love Disney and it’s always been my dream to work there.”

For more information, watch the e-presentation, or apply for the internship, visit disney.go.com/disneycareers/disneycollegeprogram/