Many of you have asked us whether it’s wise to get an internship your first semester at Barnumbia. Between classes, popping in and out of interest meetings to find which clubs suit you, and making friends with new people, adding a job or internship to your load if you do not absolutely have to may not always be advisable. Here are some key questions to ask yourself before you make the commitment.

You’re probably looking forward to joining a club or two this semester. Whether you’re choosing all your extracurriculars based on high school interests or you’re going for completely new experiences, decide which clubs will be a good fit for you by reading a bit about specific groups before the activities fair.

Anxious to know who your future roommate(s) will be? For all you Columbia first-years, the wait won’t be much longer: Columbia ResLife confirmed to Spectrum that roommate assignments will be released next Friday, June 30. (Barnardigans, you’ll have to wait until Aug. 5, but at least you have plenty of time to catch up on your Required Reading and become an ace roomie.)

The storm that is finals is right around the corner, and Butler is preparing itself for the stampede of stressed students. Before all the seats are taken and the line for Blue Java is out the door, get to know all the study rooms in Butler.

As I sit here in the But under the beautiful chandeliers, surrounded by hundreds of overcaffeinated students, I can’t help but dream of my dorm room, that cozy space devoid of radiating stress, smelly students, and leftover ButCaf muffins. Dorm conditions aren’t necessarily conducive to productivity in most cases, but there are still ways to make your room a great study space.