Brought to New York City by European Jewish immigrants at the end of the 19th century, bagels have become the Big Apple’s quintessential breakfast food and snack. Columbia is located between five major bagel hubs, all of which have their own spin on this breakfast staple. In a quest to find the best bagel, we tried a bagel at Columbia cult favorites Absolute Bagels and Wu and Nussbaum, as well as some less popular, underappreciated locations.

Last year, based on student ratings, Barnard was named a top college for career services by the Princeton Review. Amid the economic recession during the pandemic, Beyond Barnard helped students through this rough job hunting period. Taking a look at statistics from 2020, it’s clear that Beyond Barnard’s efforts have paid off. In a survey of members of the Barnard class of 2020, 90 percent of these alumni either had full-time jobs or were attending graduate school six months after graduation. Following this trajectory, it appears that the class of 2021 will likely match or outperform the class of 2020.

If you’re finding the adjustment to in-person classes and real-life socializing to be a challenge, you’re not alone. Between the contact-tracing email from your 300-person lecture and Columbia’s restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings, we can confidently say that the pandemic has not made the college experience easy. Still, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this semester while navigating these rules and regulations with your friends. Here are some of our favorites.

“It has caught a lot of people by surprise.”

Graduation is a time for students to celebrate their accomplishments while surrounded by the friends, family, and teachers who have impacted them throughout their four years in college. But since Columbia released its plans to move the 2021 Commencement ceremony online, many seniors might feel that they are missing out on this milestone. If you are feeling down during these last few weeks of your senior year and need a pick-me-up before finals, Spectrum is here to show you that with the right mindset going into your virtual graduation, you can have an experience that is just as good or even better than an in-person ceremony.

A few weeks ago, the Residence Hall Leadership Organization sent out an email reminder to all  Columbia College and SEAS students to register for 2021-22 room selection, which included a few key dates and YouTube videos on new residence halls. However, there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding how COVID-19 will affect registration and residence hall policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a worthy test of our bonds with loved ones. Even though some of us have been split up and pulled to opposite ends of the earth, Columbia and Barnard students have proven that our relationships can withstand the toughest trials.

If you’ve just completed your undergraduate degree or are currently pursuing it, it’s never too late (or early!) to consider graduate school. In the face of Columbia’s whopping 17 graduate schools, each with its own set of unique requirements and degrees, choosing the right program might feel like an overwhelming decision. To help you through your selection process, Spectrum has answered your most pressing questions and compiled a guide to every Columbia graduate school.

Eating responsibly is a challenge when you’re a busy college student. As we trudge through this semester, breakfast might be taking second priority to your psychology group project or economics problem sets. With COVID-19 restrictions limiting dining hall access, food deliveries make for a convenient alternative, but the cost can add up. If you’re finding yourself skimping on meals or looking for ways to feed yourself on a budget, check out these tips to better plan for your week ahead.

Dating was hard even before a worldwide pandemic hit. With regulations on group gatherings and social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, finding love now might feel impossible. If you’ve been feeling extra lonely this year, Spectrum created a guide to dating during the coronavirus.