I'm assuming you're queueing as a DPS, based off your class on your profile. DPS queues have always been very long Do you have a friend who's a tank/healer? Queueing with one of those classes usually helped my queues. Right now, I would suggest tank because they seem to be in short supply (at least on my server). Have you asked your FC mates to help you out?

This game is very heavy on main story, to do most of anything, you need to do it/keep up with it. My FC runs new players through the old content all the time. We don't carry, we tell them what's going to happen and we play and have some laughs. A good FC will make this game run so much better. You will always be forced into group content here, great comrades make it better