By Julianne Bohley
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Before every semester at Camden County College, thousands of students enter the school looking to schedule their classes for the upcoming weeks. However, some students find this task to be more than just a little bit difficult.
With around 25,000 students coming in to the advisement office to choose classes each year, the office stays extremely busy. Especially in the few weeks before classes begin. Regina Peters, an advisor at CCC since September 2004, says advisors have a goal when a student comes into their office.
“It is not to help them just pick their classes,” Peters said. “It’s to talk to them about what their true goal is and make sure that they’re in their correct major. It’s also to make sure that they’re doing well in the courses that they’ve done so far.”
However, Shelby Ehret, a first year liberal arts major in her second semester, says she did not feel she got the attention she deserved from advisors when choosing her classes.
“I had a lot of issues with choosing classes,” Ehret said. “I felt like the counselors were just selecting classes to get me in and out, without really helping me decide what was best for me.”
Ehret says she believes that problem is not the advisors themselves, but the ratio of students to advisors.
“Whenever I need an advisor, the waiting line is out the door. I just feel like their main objective is to get students in and out,” Ehret said.
But Peters says she believes since the population of students cannot be lowered, a student should take measures to make the choosing classes process a little more satisfying. She says she believes preparing questions for the advisor would be hugely beneficial to the student.
But more importantly, Peters says she believes the most essential thing a student can do is to avoid procrastination and get there early. Summer registration starts on March 21, so it is important a student not wait until the very last minute.
“Timing is critical, it really is. As we get closer to the beginning of the semester, that’s when it gets more difficult,” Peters said.
Although, when it comes to how the system should be changed, Ehret and Peters see eye to eye. Both say they believe educating students beforehand about classes would be highly beneficial.
“I’d like to educate the students as a whole a little bit more,” Peters said. “What that’s going to do for the student is empower them to make the right choices.”
The waiting room for the advisement office is vacant, which is a far cry from what it will soon be as this semester comes to a close. By Julianne Bohley, CCC Journalism Program