Each semester, hundreds of students pack the tiny offices located above the registration office. For many, the experience can be eye opening. Counselors are there to help students choose a major and help in the transferring process to universities.

For others, the experience is often dreaded. The groans from long waits and fear of signing up for wrong classes can be heard all over campus.

“The counselor was helping two other people besides me at the same time,” Jacob Hollister said. He was offended that some of his questions were being ignored while a counselor catered to a fellow student, “If I ignored people at my job I would be fired.”

According to the FCC website, there are 17 counselors on staff. Those 17 counselors serve a campus of 19,562 students.

Each is specialized in specific fields, depending on student needs additional counselors are not listed who may be on campus at any given time.

Many students wonder why there seems to be a shortage of counselors in the college. Many may be on campus but have other responsibilities and duties beyond advising students.

Dr. Fred Emerling, a counselor, said that when he is not seeing students, he is helping out with orientation and getting classes together. “Other counselors are also getting classes together,’ he said.

During the first weeks of the semester, the counseling department also offers special services to help students get through the crowds faster.

Counselors have been placed in front of the counseling office and in the cafeteria to answer questions and help clear holds. These services have been in effect for the past few years and have greatly reduced the long wait for seeing a counselor.

“We have a Q & A tent where students can get questions answered,” stated Emerling.

More than three-fourths of students waiting to see a counselor get questions answered there rather than waiting in line to see a counselor face-to-face. The out-of-office service also helps with holds and obtaining clearances.

Student reactions have varied when it comes to the extra services.

Hollister recently paid a visit to a counselor stationed in the cafeteria. Hollister said he was very surprised that the wait was only ten minutes, but was not very impressed once he met with an in-office counselor.

Even with such long waits, some students were able to give some positive feedback. Abe Pena paid a visit to the counseling offices and waited for over two and a half hours.

Although the wait was long, he said he really appreciated the service that was offered to him. “The counselor was really nice and took his time,” Pena said. The only complaint that Pena had was that his friend was rushed once he saw a different counselor.

While many students were able to give feedback from at least one counseling experience, many students have never seen a counselor. Some students even claimed they did not even know where the counseling offices are located. Raisha Pacella said, “They tend to give wrong information.”\