Fresno City College has been around for 101 years and until fairly recently was the only major community college for Fresno residents. Willow International Center, soon to become Clovis Community College, is offering alternatives to area residents.

Granted, the distance between the two sites is about 20 minutes, but it is still worth the journey. FCC has history, variety of programs and size on its side, but Willow International Center carries the freshness of new classrooms and smaller classes and less stressful parking. Each center has enough benefits to keep you engaged, but there are some distinct differences that you should be aware of.

Enrollment process at FCC

Let’s be honest, it is hard to get into a class now than ever before. With the budget cuts and the class caps reduction, getting every class you want is nearly impossible. Even being first on the waitlist does not guarantee you a spot in a class. There may be more courses to choose from, but you have about four times as many students to fight them for.

Enrollment process at Willow International Center

If you enroll for classes within the first couple of days of your enrollment priority date, it is almost positive that you will be able to get a seat in the class. There are not as many varieties of courses, but there are plenty of classes to choose from.

The lines for books and registering for classes are shorter, enabling you to ask more questions of the staff. If you want a more hassle free environment Willow is the way to go, especially if you are a first time student and need a lot of hand holding.

General Environment at FCC

You can’t beat being in the center of the Tower District; you can walk or ride your bike to Teazers on your break and be back in time for your next class. FCC prides itself for the artwork and trees that provide shade throughout campus.

“The FCC campus is a great place because there are areas to hang-out with friends in and outside of school, plus a lot of areas to be alone and chill out,” says FCC student, Leng Mathew Her. There is more diversity here as well; it is almost impossible not to run into someone you know. The FCC campus also offers plenty of spots for students to sit while completing their homework.

Environment at Willow International

Willow is lacking in the comfort level department; there are very young trees with no shade, and two big buildings to look at. One wonders if it wasn’t designed by the same architect that designed the Fresno County jail.

It has a more government feel to it that makes you want to get your classes done and go home. Trees and seating areas make a big difference, so hopefully they will start focusing more on the outside than just the basics.

Counseling at FCC

It is surprising that a place where students are supposed to plan their future makes one feel like you’re standing in line at the DMV. There is a long wait to get a number for a counselor, and if you are not a new student or on probation, the likelihood of getting an appointment is slim to none.

You are greeted with a counselor at the front of the building to see if you are even allowed to see one. If you are allowed to pass, then you wait in a long line for a number to get on the list. After that, you are instructed to sit for one and a half to two hours until your name is called. The counselors will give you the basics that you need to know, but if you’re looking to get into any college other than Fresno State, most counselors have little to offer you.

Either you will be told to talk to the preferred campus counselors or the counselor will just go on the college website with you and print out the courses they provide. Basically, good luck getting help.

Counseling at Willow International

The counseling office may be half the size of FCC, but it seems like the people there have a better sense of what to do with the time that is given. The staff at the front desk is very friendly and will answer any of your questions right there and then if you need help with something basic.

If you even just need help choosing classes, you are allowed to see a counselor to help with what you need. Usually the longest you will have to wait is maybe an hour or so, but usually you will be seen in about twenty minutes. “There are fewer students so I can get the information I need,” says Willow International Center student, Heather Savage.

The counselors seem very informed and will help you look up any colleges you are interested in and will help you choose the classes you need quickly. This is how a counseling center should be for students who need help with anything, not just the bare minimum.

Events at FCC

Since there are a lot more students and clubs at FCC, there are more events. Hardly a week goes by without an activity around the fountain or in the free speech area.  There are club rushes, at least every other month. Often, there’s live music and dancing that provide a unique FCC rhythm. All these events make the campus more alive and fun to be in with friends. FCC also has more sporting events for students to attend; there’s the stadium for college spirit. You can’t just compare the sites when it comes to events.

Events at Willow International

There is rarely anything going on at Willow International Center. This is because the campus does not have as many clubs or sporting activities. Most club revolve around a certain class. There is no stadium or pool. Just the classrooms, small cafeteria, and library are to offer.

Library and computers    at FCC

The library at FCC is efficient and looks beautiful with its old architecture. There are a lot of books to check out and plenty of computers to choose from in the media center. “The library is a great place to go when you really need to get your homework done. It makes you concentrate on the task at hand,” says FCC student, Christopher Amellano. The only bad thing about the Library is that it is very hard to concentrate in the huge room. The brick walls and tiled floor make every page turned seem 10 times louder than normal. What is even worse is that students use the library as a social hall.

Library and computers    at Willow International

The library may not be as big or as ornate as the FCC library, but it is a lot newer. There are more places to lounge around and read in private. There are rooms for students to study in groups, which is easier than meeting up outside of school. The computer lab is huge and on the opposite side of campus. There is always an open computer and you don’t have to check in to use them.