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Business Insider is hiring an e-commerce reporter

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amazon bezos

Business Insider is looking for a reporter to cover Amazon, e-commerce, and payments companies and technology.

As part of Business Insider's tech team you will:

  • Rapidly evaluate and succinctly explain the importance of fast-breaking news about companies on your beat, including product news, earnings, and leaks.
  • Develop strong sources within Amazon and other companies on your beat to break news and drive major stories forward.
  • Pitch and develop engaging stories that take the reader inside Amazon and other companies on your beat.
  • Work with other reporters on the team to cover fast-breaking news and write occasional features in other areas — beats are neither strict nor exclusive.

We will consider candidates at various experience levels. The best candidates will show the following:

  • Demonstrated understanding of the e-commerce and payments landscape, particularly Amazon and its competitors. Previous coverage in this area desired, not required.
  • Great clips as a tech or business reporter, including a mix of breaking news and analysis.
  • Exceptional reporting and writing skills.
  • An appreciation for Business Insider and what we do well.
  • A desire to work as part of a team in a fast-paced startup environment.

Apply HERE if interested. Please include your resume and a cover letter telling us what excites you about this job and coverage area.

The position is full-time in our New York City or San Francisco office. Business Insider offers competitive compensation packages complete with benefits.

Join the conversation about this story »

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The 50 best tacos in America, ranked

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El Pelon Taqueria

Between perfectly seasoned meat, fresh salsa, and flavorful cheese, a great taco can be hard to find.

So we asked our friends at Foursquare to dig through their troves of user data and compile a list of the best taco joints in the US.

Because the site allows users to save and favorite venues they love, Foursquare was able to track down which tacos diners are raving about most across America. 

To create this list, Foursquare included the top-rated location of various chain restaurants in the US; subsequent locations were removed.

From a Pittsburgh food truck to Austin's famous Torchy's Tacos, here's where to find the best tacos this side of Mexico. 

SEE ALSO: The 50 best burger joints in America, ranked

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Facebook!

50. Fuel City — Dallas, Texas

801 South Riverfront Boulevard

Fear not: Just because Fuel City is a gas station doesn't mean you can't trust the tacos. This pit stop at the intersection of I-30 and I-35 is open 24 hours and home to some of the best tacos in Dallas, serving up authentic Mexican flavors including barbacoa, chicken fajita, and picadillo. It's cheap too — only $1.40 a pop.



49. Juan in a Million — Austin, Texas

2300 East Cesar Chavez Street

Start your morning off on the right foot with a breakfast taco from Juan in a Million. Foursquare users exalt the Don Juan: Brimming with potato, eggs, cheese, and bacon, it's the perfect mix of protein and flavor to keep you full — and happy — all day.



48. Taco Bamba — Falls Church, Virginia

2190 Pimmit Drive

Tucked into a strip mall behind another strip mall, Taco Bamba is truly a hidden gem. The spot's namesake taco is a must-try: steak and chorizo loaded with grilled guacamole and crispy chicharrones. But don't be afraid to try the lengua or tripa (beef tongue and small intestine, respectively), either though; Foursquare users praise them as some of the best choices on the menu.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider








The 15 worst mistakes people make in their 20s

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woman and papers stressed

The best part about your 20s is that you can recover quickly from the inevitable mistakes you'll make as you figure out how to make it in the real world.

That said, there are some poor choices that have lasting effects, like not starting to save money, that are easily avoidable.

We've sorted through a variety of advice from entrepreneurs and writers on Quora and found recurring themes.

Here are the worst mistakes 20-somethings would be wise to avoid as they establish their professional and personal lives.

They think education and talent are enough to become successful.

High intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to have, but they do not guarantee that you will land a great job — and they mean nothing when not paired with hard work.

"I spent my 20s in corporate environments, and I remember them for working nights and weekends," says Sylvie di Giusto, the founder of Executive Image Consulting. "Sweat, hassle, pain, as well as diligence, perseverance, and an enormous amount of effort and energy characterize my career at this point. I've learned that there are very little short cuts when it comes to career success. Success doesn't 'just happen.' Never."

They neglect their health.

As you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did in college. "Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night will be hilarious to you," Meggie Sutherland Cutter writes on Quora. And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.

Communications professor Michael Weston says 20-somethings also need to pay attention to their mental health, since any potential issues usually arise in your 20s.

They don't start saving money.

BI_Graphics_Building a million dollar retirement accountA recent survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18-29 had no retirement savings at all. Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a major disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.

Entrepreneur Aditya Rathnam says there's no need to start investing too much, since you're just starting out, but it's essential to take advantage of your company's 401k matching program, if one is available, and/or open a Roth IRA account.

They equate happiness with money.

Prestige and a fat paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success than that, says Joe Choi on Quora.

You're setting yourself up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.

They give up when things get tough.

Ending a serious relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn can all seem devastating when they happen to you for the first time. But rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.

"Getting fired and waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of the world," says Quora user Carolyn Cho. "Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the bad relationship was over."

They let others define them.

When you're starting out in your career and unsure of which direction you want to head in, you can be susceptible to letting others choose your path for you. It's why "Shark Tank" investor Lori Greiner tells every entrepreneur she works with to never let others' opinions influence them on a personal level.

"Your success will have everything to do with how you perceive yourself, because how you perceive yourself is how others will perceive you, too," Greiner says.

They are impatient.

You don't need to be a married homeowner with a 10-year career plan by the time you're 30. Be patient, and stay focused on the present.

Matisia Consultants founder and CEO Kristina Roth says when she was younger she felt like she had to achieve all of her goals as soon as possible, an anxiety-inducing mindset that was counterproductive.

"In my 20s, I learned the concept of delayed gratification and that you need to pay attention to important decision points in the tree of life, which will change your life one way or the other," she says.

They try to please everyone.

buzz words tech startupWhen you're starting out in your career, it can seem natural to want to be on friendly terms with your boss, clients, and all of your coworkers. Rather than feeling crushed when you realize some of them simply don't like you, accept it and move on.

"Inevitably, someone will always dislike you," says Cho. "I wish I had figured this out a lot earlier and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it."

They think all friendships can last forever.

"Your college pals that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will still be there at 40; most will be living their lives doing their thing," says Sutherland Cutter.

When your friends aren't all living in the same town, you'll realize which ones mean the most to you and are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.

They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.

Traveling and living somewhere new can be culturally enriching, and your 20s are a perfect time to do both. But, says Choi, do not think that moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.

They create bubbles around themselves.

It's important to build relationships with colleagues and others in your industry, but if you stay within the confines of a particular world, you can start to get a myopic perspective. Make an effort to branch out.

"The people you surround yourself with have a direct impact on your success and failure," says Jon Levy, founder of the Influencers. "They will affect everything from how much you exercise and what clothing you wear to how much you earn and what values you deem important. So if you want to live a life full of joy and accomplishment, you need to become masterful at building relationships with good people you respect, and letting go of relationships that have a negative impact."

They see things in black and white.

Author and investor James Altucher thinks that many people in their 20s get caught up in absolutes. For example, some feel like they have to choose between a career path that benefits them or one that benefits others, without realizing that self-interest does not have to mean the opposite of doing good for the world.

They look for their "soul mate."couple

Some people decide to spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone. Others search for the right person to marry. The latter group can get caught up in the fantasy of finding someone where everything just clicks and the relationship is effortless. But in real life, the most meaningful long-term relationships require work and dedication.

"You have to continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings, explain yourself. But you know what — that's what makes it fun!" says Mitesh Jain on Quora.

They try planning years in advance.

"It's hard to predict where you'll end up and what you'll be doing," says Choi. So avoid driving yourself crazy with five-year plans, and focus on immediate goals.

They think they're the only one of their friends struggling.

As you're finding your way in the world, determining who you are as an adult and building a career, it can seem like your friends or colleagues are more successful and confident, says Sarthak Pranit on Quora. But regardless of income, job, or living situation, every 20-something is still figuring things out as they go along — and they'll continue that process the rest of their lives.

SEE ALSO: 9 habits everyone should master before turning 30

Join the conversation about this story »










Something incredibly rare happened at the biggest chess tournament in US history

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Nakamura So 2015

The 2015 Sinquefield Cup is about to wrap up in St. Louis. It now looks like Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian, who lost the trophy to current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen at the Sinquefield Cup in 2013, will take home home the crown.

(Aronian was unable to defeat Carlsen in their final 2013 game, ending any chances of a playoff.)

Aronian has a full point lead going into the round 9, the final round of classical chess. If he draws or wins his game, he wins the tournament, and the second leg of the new Chess Grand Tour, which started with Norway Chess in June and will conclude with the London Chess Classic in December.

Aronian is trailed by the unlikely duo of France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Russia's Alexander Grischuk, a pair of players who did not enter the event with high expectations. Meanwhile, last year's runway winner, Fabiano Caruana, is at the bottom of the standings.

This is the strongest field ever assembled for a chess tournament, by ranking. So it's no surprise that play has been wild and woolly, with pretty much everyone having a shot at beating everyone else. 

In round 6, something astonishing happened, however.

America's Hikaru Nakamura, a potentially challenger for Carlsen's WCC title, was facing off against fellow American Wesley So, a young player who has come on strong over the past year.

Nakamura had the black pieces, So the white. Playing white gives an immediate edge in chess — white gets to move first, so black is always playing catch-up, a "tempo" or move behind. But Nakamura has the talent to win and win dramatically with both colors.

That said, no one expected the beat-down he put on So.

The game started out in elegant, historical fashion. It opened with a "hypermodern" series of moves, something called the King's Indian Defense, in which black allows white to build up a "big" center with a bunch of pawns and pieces, planning to undermine this position later. The idea is that instead of fighting for the center at the beginning of the game, black will start the battle in the middle game, aiming to turn the tables on white and go on the offensive.

Nakamura-So 2015

As Nakamura noted after the game, the KID can be quite deceptive for the computer-prepared white player, because the position for white looks better — until suddenly, disastrously, it isn't. As you can see from the screenshot above, the computer thinks So is almost a whole pawn (1 point) better at move 11.

So selected an well-known KID continuation, putting his bishop on the e3 square. The general evolution here is that white will attack on the queen's side of the board, while black goes for an attack on the king's side, as GM Daniel King outlined in his recap of the game.

But this is a bit weird, as both white and black have castled kingside. So black has a direct attack down the g- and h-files, while white must pivot his attack along the diagonals or black's back ranks, via the c-file. If white can make it work, the attack will be beautiful and otherworldly, with a checkmate threat emerging seemingly out of nowhere. But black has the far more direct line of assault. It's a war of maneuver, in white's case, versus a simple siege for black.

The critical moment in the game occurred when So played his rook to d1, allowing Nakamura to unleash hell, starting with the move Rxf3.

Nakamura-So 2015 

From here it's just bonkers chess and Nakamura launches piece after piece into the attack, overrunning and overwhelming the white position. Look at the position after So's rook d1 move, above. And now look at the final position. The white king has been driven all the way to g6!!! And it's checkmate on the board!

Nakamura-So 2015

Checkmates almost never happen in elite chess. Top GMs can see it coming and will almost always resign. But the brilliance of Nakamura's attack likely convinced So that his fellow American deserved the mate. So he allowed it to happen. To make matters worse for So, there was a game-for-the-ages variation that Nakamura didn't select, a line that delivered checkmate with a stunning queen sacrifice. 

As it turns out, as brilliant as Nakamura's win was, it was only one of several gorgeous games at the Sinquefield Cup. Aronian also won a brilliant game, also against So, also with the black pieces, in round 4.

The main takeaway from the 2015 Sinquefield Cup is that when you put this many top GMs head-to-head with $1 million on the line — the total purse for the Grand Chess Tour — you're going to get some fireworks. And how!

SEE ALSO: The most important chess tournament in US history is underway in St. Louis

Join the conversation about this story »

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This is the biggest mistake tourists make when visiting Rome

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vatican city

I just got back from a week-long trip to Italy.

Our first stop was in the historical city of Rome. 

I'm not much into touristy things, but I knew I had to see the Colosseum and the Vatican. Luckily, a friend who spent a summer in Rome gave me a crucial piece of advice about visiting these two hot spots: Buy tickets in advance online.

The lines to get into the Colosseum and especially the Vatican and Sistine Chapel can be hours long. On the day we visited the Vatican, the line wrapped around two long blocks, and it was more then 90 degrees outside. Luckily, we were able to bypass everyone waiting on line, and walk in right away.

It will cost you a few extra euros in processing fees (€4 each for the Vatican), but buying a ticket online and printing it out before your trip can save you hours of your precious vacation time. And when you book a ticket, you pick a specific time slot, so it makes it easy to plan the rest of your day.

Vatican lines

Buying tickets online is simple, and you can choose between guided tours or just admission. You can purchase Vatican tickets here, and Colosseum tickets here. I didn't make it to the Borghese Gallery, but you should make a reservation there too.

Here's how to book your ticket at the Vatican.

First you select which type of tour you'd like to take. We just bought tickets and walked through the museum on our own:

Vatican

Then select what month you're going, and how many tickets you need:

Vatican 2

Select a specific day:

Vatican 3

And a time slot:

Vatican 4

You pay in advance, and are sent a voucher to print and take on your trip. That simple purchase will save you hours of time that might otherwise be spent waiting in line. 

SEE ALSO: 17 pictures that will make you want to visit Pompeii, Italy

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The 15 worst mistakes people make in their 20s

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woman and papers stressed

The best part about your 20s is that you can recover quickly from the inevitable mistakes you'll make as you figure out how to make it in the real world.

That said, there are some poor choices that have lasting effects, like not starting to save money, that are easily avoidable.

We've sorted through a variety of advice from entrepreneurs and writers on Quora and found recurring themes.

Here are the worst mistakes 20-somethings would be wise to avoid as they establish their professional and personal lives.

They think education and talent are enough to become successful.

High intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to have, but they do not guarantee that you will land a great job — and they mean nothing when not paired with hard work.

"I spent my 20s in corporate environments, and I remember them for working nights and weekends," says Sylvie di Giusto, the founder of Executive Image Consulting. "Sweat, hassle, pain, as well as diligence, perseverance, and an enormous amount of effort and energy characterize my career at this point. I've learned that there are very little short cuts when it comes to career success. Success doesn't 'just happen.' Never."

They neglect their health.

As you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did in college. "Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night will be hilarious to you," Meggie Sutherland Cutter writes on Quora. And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.

Communications professor Michael Weston says 20-somethings also need to pay attention to their mental health, since any potential issues usually arise in your 20s.

They don't start saving money.

BI_Graphics_Building a million dollar retirement accountA recent survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18-29 had no retirement savings at all. Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a major disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.

Entrepreneur Aditya Rathnam says there's no need to start investing too much, since you're just starting out, but it's essential to take advantage of your company's 401k matching program, if one is available, and/or open a Roth IRA account.

They equate happiness with money.

Prestige and a fat paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success than that, says Joe Choi on Quora.

You're setting yourself up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.

They give up when things get tough.

Ending a serious relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn can all seem devastating when they happen to you for the first time. But rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.

"Getting fired and waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of the world," says Quora user Carolyn Cho. "Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the bad relationship was over."

They let others define them.

When you're starting out in your career and unsure of which direction you want to head in, you can be susceptible to letting others choose your path for you. It's why "Shark Tank" investor Lori Greiner tells every entrepreneur she works with to never let others' opinions influence them on a personal level.

"Your success will have everything to do with how you perceive yourself, because how you perceive yourself is how others will perceive you, too," Greiner says.

They are impatient.

You don't need to be a married homeowner with a 10-year career plan by the time you're 30. Be patient, and stay focused on the present.

Matisia Consultants founder and CEO Kristina Roth says when she was younger she felt like she had to achieve all of her goals as soon as possible, an anxiety-inducing mindset that was counterproductive.

"In my 20s, I learned the concept of delayed gratification and that you need to pay attention to important decision points in the tree of life, which will change your life one way or the other," she says.

They try to please everyone.

buzz words tech startupWhen you're starting out in your career, it can seem natural to want to be on friendly terms with your boss, clients, and all of your coworkers. Rather than feeling crushed when you realize some of them simply don't like you, accept it and move on.

"Inevitably, someone will always dislike you," says Cho. "I wish I had figured this out a lot earlier and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it."

They think all friendships can last forever.

"Your college pals that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will still be there at 40; most will be living their lives doing their thing," says Sutherland Cutter.

When your friends aren't all living in the same town, you'll realize which ones mean the most to you and are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.

They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.

Traveling and living somewhere new can be culturally enriching, and your 20s are a perfect time to do both. But, says Choi, do not think that moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.

They create bubbles around themselves.

It's important to build relationships with colleagues and others in your industry, but if you stay within the confines of a particular world, you can start to get a myopic perspective. Make an effort to branch out.

"The people you surround yourself with have a direct impact on your success and failure," says Jon Levy, founder of the Influencers. "They will affect everything from how much you exercise and what clothing you wear to how much you earn and what values you deem important. So if you want to live a life full of joy and accomplishment, you need to become masterful at building relationships with good people you respect, and letting go of relationships that have a negative impact."

They see things in black and white.

Author and investor James Altucher thinks that many people in their 20s get caught up in absolutes. For example, some feel like they have to choose between a career path that benefits them or one that benefits others, without realizing that self-interest does not have to mean the opposite of doing good for the world.

They look for their "soul mate."couple

Some people decide to spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone. Others search for the right person to marry. The latter group can get caught up in the fantasy of finding someone where everything just clicks and the relationship is effortless. But in real life, the most meaningful long-term relationships require work and dedication.

"You have to continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings, explain yourself. But you know what — that's what makes it fun!" says Mitesh Jain on Quora.

They try planning years in advance.

"It's hard to predict where you'll end up and what you'll be doing," says Choi. So avoid driving yourself crazy with five-year plans, and focus on immediate goals.

They think they're the only one of their friends struggling.

As you're finding your way in the world, determining who you are as an adult and building a career, it can seem like your friends or colleagues are more successful and confident, says Sarthak Pranit on Quora. But regardless of income, job, or living situation, every 20-something is still figuring things out as they go along — and they'll continue that process the rest of their lives.

SEE ALSO: 9 habits everyone should master before turning 30

Join the conversation about this story »










Anyone who loves coffee and bourbon should put the two together immediately — here's how

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mixologist.JPG

If you like coffee and bourbon separately, you owe it to yourself to try coffee-infused bourbon. 

And guess what? Making it is as easy as mixing bourbon and whole espresso beans and waiting patiently for six hours. 

I first tried coffee-infused bourbon in the aptly named Cold-Fashioned at The New York Edition hotel's Clocktower restaurant. It uses the infused bourbon to mimic the taste of cold-brew coffee without weakening the drink, which is a play on an Old-Fashioned. 

Here's an unbelievably simple guide to making coffee-infused bourbon to drink straight up or in a Cold-Fashioned.  

You only need two things to make coffee-infused bourbon: half a cup of espresso beans and a 750 ml bottle of bourbon.



Combine the beans and bourbon in a plastic container to infuse for six hours at room temperature. You definitely want to use espresso beans for this — they have a darker roast and are less bitter. The Clocktower head bartender Luis Hernandez uses beans from Ecuador.



Once the bourbon has been strained, it's ready to serve. If you don't feel like fussing with a cocktail, it's absolutely fantastic on its own. The earthy coffee flavor is so perfectly balanced by the spicy bourbon, and the infusing process gives it a creamier mouthfeel.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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I unexpectedly lost 10 pounds after trying one of the oldest diets in the book

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diet weight watchers

I've struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. While I've never been considered overweight, I tend to gain and lose (and gain) the same 5 pounds over and over again thanks to stretches of eating "good" food punctuated by massive binges. The back-and-forth is accompanied by stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt.

As a consequence, I've tried every diet in the book. I was eating organic and cutting out wheat, sugar, and dairy — "eating clean" — before it was cool. When Atkins diet-related advice told me to avoid "high sugar fruits" I listened, refusing to eat apples or bananas. But still, no dice on the scale.

In early June, I was sick of feeling like my weight fluctuations controlled me. That's when one of my coworkers suggested I try something that I hadn't thought of in years: Weight Watchers. Specifically, the app that you get to use when you become an online member of its program.

That's right, Weight Watchers — the diet your mom was on in the 90s. And thanks to the app, you don't have to go to weekly meetings to step on the scale anymore if you don't want to.

I tried it, and I lost 10 pounds — something I hadn't even thought was possible before. And I didn't have to cut out wheat, dairy, meat, or sugar to be successful. Plus, I didn't feel guilty about food for the first time in years.

Here's how the Weight Watchers point system works

Weight Watchers has been around since the early 1960s. It began as an offshoot of what was believed at the time to be a healthy heart diet. The plan itself has gone through a lot of permutations over the years. At first, alcohol was strictly forbidden, but now it's okay as long as you track the points. And points weren't even part of the plan at the beginning, but they've now become the crux of the whole thing. The company's Wikipedia page has an exhaustive history as well as detailed equations explaining the points system over the years.

At this phase of its existence, Weight Watchers points are based on a food's fat, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein level, and a point value per serving is assigned to whatever food you're eating.

You get to eat a certain amount of points per day with a bank of 49 extra points each week for days when you want to eat or drink more.

For example, a 27-year-old woman who is 5'5" and weights 166 pounds (the average weight of a woman in America) would get 27 points per day, according to this unofficial Weight Watchers points calculator. For the average man, who's 5'9" and weights 195.5 pounds according to NPR, the daily value is set at about 43 points if he's 27 years old. Of course, if you have any health issues, you should talk to your doctor first.

As you lose weight, you are given fewer daily points, which aids the weight loss. Once you get to your goal weight, your daily points allotment goes up.

You also get activity points, which you can dip into if you're out of weekly points and daily points. The idea is for this to happen very rarely, but one thing Weight Watchers prides itself in is its flexibility. There are going to be days or weeks where you just consume more than allotted. The idea is to just keep track of it all.

weight watchers app

Members who dutifully track their points can lose quite a few pounds the first week. I lost about 3. Generally, people lose about 1-2 pounds a week after that. 

If you plateau, the app gives you tips or changes your daily point count in order to help you keep losing. The company also has blog posts and message boards where you can seek out tips.

I'd tried the MyFitnessPal app before — counting calories — and found it incredibly discouraging, limiting, and depressing. But counting points instead of calories somehow feels less frustrating. Vegetables and fruits are "free" at zero points and you're encouraged to quit depriving yourself of the foods you may be craving (a cookie, a bagel, a piece of pizza), and make considerate choices that allow you to indulge while staying within your allotted points.

When I first tried Weight Watchers in high school, I found it tedious and embarrassing to have to whip out a pamphlet to track my points every time I ate — not to mention the frustration of thumbing through the paperback manual to figure out points values to begin with.

Now, like everything else, the program has an app, and those problems are solved.

The app is a lifesaver — and the program's biggest selling point

One of the best perks of the Weight Watchers app is its inclusion of most chain and franchise restaurants. I order salad from Chop't a few times a week and all I have to do is type in "chop't hard boiled egg" or "chop't bacon" and the point value pops up on my phone. No guess work needed.

If a food isn't included, you can figure out the point value by using the calculator. You can also scan the barcodes on most packages of food you'd find at the grocery store.

weight watchers

It cost me $14 a month to access the app with a Weight Watchers online membership (no meetings included), but the price varies according to whether there's a promotion. A membership that includes weekly meetings can cost up to $40 a month.

The simplest way to see success? Log everything — even if you've eaten 90 points worth of French fries (hey, happens to the best of us). Be honest with yourself.

I've gone to weddings, parties, and barbecues this summer and indulged more than maybe my points allowed. But I've found that as long as I track every single thing I eat, I can balance those indulgences with better meals later on in the day or week, instead of eating a burrito and pretending it never happened.

I learned "health foods" aren't necessarily lower in calories

My cherished organic "health foods," it turns out, are ridiculously high in calories.

weight watchersMy beloved Schmear sandwich from Juice Press is a super health-conscious bagel with marinated kale, cucumber, rosemary cashew cream cheese and sesame dressing.

Or so I thought — it's 13 points. I might as well have been eating a McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese (14 points). 

Before Weight Watchers, it would have been nothing for me to eat a 10-point smoothie in the morning, the schmear for lunch, a massive eight-point serving of trail mix in the afternoon, and a big omelet with tons of oil at night for another 11 points.

Add in a glass of wine at 7 points and that's a total of 49 points — and that was on what I'd thought was a good day.

Add in mindless snacking like half a doughnut at an office meeting or a mid-day Starbucks drink, and you can easily creep towards sixty points. 

When I was "eating clean" with no regard for calories, I had no idea what I was doing. But thanks to my newly increased intake of fruits and vegetables and my attention to the caloric content of what I'm actually eating, I feel so much healthier.

Of course, it isn't perfect

The Weight Watchers app falters when it comes to plugging in meals that aren't part of the average American diet, like Indian or Thai food.

Plus, it's possible to lose weight on Weight Watchers without any regard for healthy eating. If you wanted to eat 15 points of pizza each day for lunch and have a zero-point apple for dinner, you could probably still shed pounds — but you wouldn't be healthy. 

I also would love to go to meetings every once in awhile without having to commit to going every week to make the membership worth paying for.

Still, the benefits greatly outweigh any technical hiccups and I find the price to be fair now that I know what I'm getting.

Weight Watchers is not a cure-all and it takes a ton of work, but it's by far the most effective plan I've ever tried. 

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You've been drinking red wine too warm for your entire life

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Red wine

People don't know how to drink red wine.

I'm sorry, but it's true. They always make one huge mistake.

They go to the wine store, buy a bottle, take it home, pop the cork, pour a glass, and sit back to enjoy themselves in near total ignorance of how little pleasure they're actually extracting from that lusty Syrah or luscious Cabernet.

The problem is a basic one: the wine is too warm.

Don't feel bad if you've been doing this for your entire wine-drinking existence. Almost everyone drinks red wine too warm. 

So what temperature should your red wine be? 

It should be between 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature, the flavors of the wine will be sharp and fresh, and the wine's textures will find full expression.

It's no accident that 60-65 degrees is the ideal temperature. That's what you'll find in most European wine cellars. "Cellar temperature" — it's not too hot, not too cold. Just right.

So how do you take a wine from a 70-75 degree room temperature (or higher) and bring it down the ideal "cellar temperature?"

Here are some quick hacks:

Refrigerate the wine

Juts pop the bottle into the fridge for about 15 minutes. If you're in a hurry, the freezer is an option, but I don't recommend it. It exposes the wine to too much cold, too fast. And the enemy of wine is abrupt temperature change.

Plunge it into an ice bath

Fill an ice bucket with ice and water. Then add some salt. This will chill down the wine in about 10 minutes or less. Just touch-test the bottle to make sure it isn't getting too cold.

Plop an ice cube in the wine

Heresy! This is a last resort, but if you drop an ice cube in the wine and pluck it out a minute or two later, you'll drop the temperature and not add much in the way of melted water to dilute the wine.

ice cubes

Use a chiller

A lot of wine shops have wine chillers that can quickly cool down a bottle of white wine. But they can chill a red, too. I'm not a huge fan because the temperature change is extreme and therefore potentially damaging to the wine, but it's an option.

A cold mountain stream

There it is, running past your campsite. Nature has provided a wonderful cooling system for that bottle of Pinot Noir you packed in for five miles.

hermit rapid grand canyon

The great outdoors

If temperature outside is around 60 degrees, it will gradually cool a too-warm red wine in a fairly gentle manner. And of course if it's cold and snowing, your have a vast exterior freezer.

Your home cellar

No, you don't need a cave that looks like something from a wine collector's dream. All you need is a cool, dark place where the temperature is a relatively constant 60-65 degrees. Keep your reds here and they'll always be the right temperature. 

berns wine cellar

A specialized wine cooler

They're sold commercially with multiple temperature zones, for reds and whites. They function like a cellar, except that they aren't dank and underground and full of spiders. They can hold anywhere from a dozen or so bottles to hundreds, and are priced accordingly.

So there you have it. Stop drinking your red wine too warm! 

And FYI, you've probably been drinking your whites too cold! You should allow them to warm up before serving — and avoid chilling them until they're icy. That kills flavor and can damage the wine. In fact, if you can, you should never buy wines that have been stored in a wine shop cooler. Chill 'em yourself at home.

SEE ALSO: 9 deliciously simple cocktails you can actually make

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The world's first rooftop vineyard is about to open in Brooklyn

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Rooftop Reds 4217

Devin Shomaker came up with the idea of a rooftop vineyard when he was still studying viticulture at Finger Lakes Community College in upstate New York.

That was back in the beginning of 2013, and Shomaker has been working on the idea ever since.

Over two years later, it's become a reality: Rooftop Reds, the world's first commercially viable rooftop vineyard.

Located in Brooklyn's Navy Yard, Rooftop Reds is set to open to the public in mid- to late-September.

We took a trip to the rooftop to get the full preview.

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Shomaker founded Rooftop Reds with Chris Papalia (pictured here), and his brother Thomas Shomaker who serves as the team's videographer. Papalia graduated with Shomaker from FLCC's two year viticulture and wine technology program at only 20 years old, making him the youngest winemaker in the Finger Lakes region.



Having lived in Brooklyn for years before attending wine school, Shomaker knew he wanted to live in the city. This desire coupled with the skills he had learned in wine school spurred Shomaker's idea of a rooftop vineyard.



In order to test his idea, Shomaker used the roof of his brother's apartment in Windsor Terrace as the location for a pilot project. The test vines survived two incredibly harsh winters, giving Shomaker the confidence that his idea could work.



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Neil Young is selling his 'magical' Hawaiian estate for $24.5 million

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neil young hawaii house

Neil Young is selling his slice of Hawaiian paradise.

He just listed his lush Hawaiian estate on the Big Island for $24.5 million.

Located on the western side of the island known as the Kohala Coast, the property sits on a three-acre peninsula surrounded by the Waialea Bay.

A five-bedroom main house promises plentiful verandas and outdoor space to gaze and gape at the 830 feet of pristine tropical coastline and turquoise waters.

In addition to dual guest houses — each with two bedrooms — the grounds also feature two greenhouses and a pool house.

The land is a veritable farm, complete with a vegetable garden and fruit trees growing every kind of tropical fruit you can imagine (think: lemons, papaya, pomelo, mango). The estate is even recognized by the Honolulu Garden Club for its variety of coconut trees.

Young hasn't stated why he's selling the property, but in his 2012 book, "Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream," he described it as "soothing" and claimed it had "magical healing powers."

neil young hawaii houseneil young hawaii houseneil young hawaii house

SEE ALSO: Comedian Tracy Morgan just bought this $14 million New Jersey mansion to share with his new wife

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The city of Kyoto created a guide that tells tourists what not to do when visiting

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Kyoto was recently named the best city in the world by Travel + Leisure's annual World's Best Awards for the second year in the row.

With this honor comes a surge of tourism, and with that a slew of misbehaving tourists.

As a result, the city has put together a set of guidelines they'd like visitors to adhere to. Compiled by the Kyoto Convention and Visitor's Bureau as well as TripAdvisor, the "The Insider's guide to Kyoto Part 2: AKIMAHEN (Don'ts) of Kyoto" infographic features some angry looking locals explaining what not to do when visiting their city.

Each "don't" gets an Akimahen rating that ranges from one to three angry faces demonstrating just how much each offense annoys Kyotoites. The worst offenses seem to include littering, smoking outdoors in non-designated areas, biking under the influence, and parking bikes in non-designated areas.

The infographic is below.

Kyoto Infographic

SEE ALSO: 23 pictures that show why travelers voted Kyoto the best city in the world

SEE ALSO: 11 Japanese customs that are shocking to foreigners

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The most popular way to prevent a hangover could be complete baloney

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hangover

After a night of heavy drinking, your best bet for warding off a hangover is downing a bunch of water and eating something, right?

Wrong.

A recent study of Dutch college students found that drinking water or eating after drinking alcohol had practically no effect on how severe their hangovers were the next morning, BBC News reported.

"Currently, the only effective method to prevent a hangover is to consume alcohol in moderation," the researchers wrote in the study, presented last week at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology conference.

In other words, the only way to stop a hangover is to not drink so much in the first place.

Claims of supposed hangover "cures" abound, but there's little evidence to back them up. A 2005 review study in the British Medical Journal found that none of the treatments they tried — from blood pressure medication to a prickly pear supplement — were effective at preventing or treating the headaches, nausea, thirst, and fatigue that typically characterize a hangover.

In the new study, Joris Verster of Utrecht University in the Netherlands and his colleagues asked 826 Dutch students about their most recent heavy drinking experience that resulted in a hangover the following day.

The students reported how much they drank and whether they consumed any water or food immediately afterward. The students also ranked their hangover severity on a scale of 0 (none) to 111 (extreme).

Just over half of the students said they'd eaten after drinking and before going to bed. But the severity of their hangovers (average rating of 24 out of 111) wasn't noticeably different from those who ate nothing at all (26 out of 111), even when the researchers took into account the fact that the students who went to bed without eating also tended to have had a lot more to drink.

Eating at McDonald's

A little less than half of the surveyed students said they'd eaten a heavy, breakfast after drinking, while just over a third said they'd eaten fatty food to try to prevent a hangover. When asked to rate how effective they thought their snacking habits had been in preventing a hangover on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most effective, the students gave themselves a 5.5 and 5.4, respectively.

In addition, they ranked the effectiveness of drinking water while consuming alcohol or before going to bed as 5.2 and 5.6 out of 10, respectively.

"Those who took food or water showed a slight statistical improvement in how they felt over those who didn't, but this didn't really translate into a meaningful difference," Verster said in a statement.

But he added that "These are early questionnaire-based studies, and are amongst the first of their kind. This means they have limitations, but they do give us an indication of what happens."

One obvious limitation is that it wasn't a controlled experiment (in which every variable is kept constant except the one you want to study), but instead relied on the subjective experiences and recollections of college students. The researchers also didn't measure the students' blood alcohol concentrations to confirm how much they had drunk.

In addition, heavy drinking is known to cause dehydration, but that isn't necessarily what causes a hangover, says Verster. "Drinking water may help against thirst and dry mouth, but hangover symptoms such as nausea persist," Verster told Business Insider in an email.

The findings have not yet been published in a scientific journal.

RELATED: The World's Favorite Hangover 'Cure' Is Finally Coming To America

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Meet the former Nigerian refugee who became Floyd Mayweather's favorite supercar dealer

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Obi Okeke first came to the United States as a 5-year-old refugee during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. His mother, from Ohio, was able to leave the country with him, but his father, who was born in Nigeria, stayed to fight. 

Over four decades later, Okeke, now 53, is a fixture in the luxury automobile industry, dealing in cars that cost millions and selling to clients like Floyd Mayweather.

After that first move to the US, Okeke returned with his family to Nigeria, where he stayed until attending a private high school in Switzerland.

And that's when he discovered great cars.

While in Switzerland, Okeke developed a love for European wheels. By the time he was 15, his teachers had already known that he would end up in the car business, he said. Following high school, Okeke came back to the US and started college at Northeastern University in Boston, although he did not graduate from the school.

When he was 21 years old, Okeke conducted the first of many car deals he'd close in his career. He purchased a BMW 323i Alpina online and was able to sell it for a profit of nearly four times what he paid. The transaction was encouraging. 

As you would expect for a car salesman, it took some time for him to work his way up to the status of being a salesman of supercars and the co-owner of a dealership. And he bounced around a lot: from Chevy to Dodge to Volkswagen to Lexus to BMW to Mercedes — and his last stop before opening his own place, to Ferrari-Maserati.

Following six years as the general manager of Ferrari-Maserati in Calabasas, California, Okeke in 2012 cofounded Fusion Luxury Motors in North Los Angeles with a man named Yoel Wazana. 

Why Fusion is different

Fusion Luxury Motors is a specialty dealership that sells cars that are geared for collectors, Okeke said. Currently in its inventory, car prices range from $49,000 to $3.8 million.

The inventory, however, hasn't been acquired by way of auction, which is a route many dealers take. In fact, Okeke says he's never bought from an auction. Rather, about 98% of the inventory comes from private parties, and the remaining 2% from dealers, he said.

"When you're in the business for as long as I've been, you meet a lot of people," Okeke said. "When I came here, people knew about me. I've been very fortunate to build a deep client database for finding cars."

When the dealership opened in 2012, it only could only display up to five cars. By April 2013, though, it had moved into a 12,000 square foot show room that can hold 45 cars.

DSC_6024

That means a lot of growth for Fusion and a lot of vehicle acquisitions for Okeke and Wazana, all of which come out-of-pocket. But still, Okeke doesn't see his car dealership as competing with the larger Los Angeles-based dealers because "the market is big enough for everyone."

"We're just a small dealership trying to be the best at what we're doing," Okeke said. "We're not just focusing only on selling a ton of cars."

What truly makes Fusion different than a regular car dealership is the turnaround time required, or lack thereof. Okeke says a normal car, like a Toyota Corolla, has to be sold in 45-90 days or it starts losing value. His strategy is different.

"My cars aren't dropping in value," he said. "They're going up. So I really don't worry about turnaround time."

Normally, however, a "low-end" car at Fusion, which is under $150,000, takes between two and four months to sell, Okeke said. Higher end cars that are often eclipsing $1 million generally take between six months and a year and a half. Of course there are exceptions, though, like the $1.9 million Koenigsegg he sold in less than 30 days.

Relationship with Floyd Mayweather

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Mayweather is easily Okeke's biggest-name client. He says Mayweather will stop in about once a month just to see what's available and if there is anything he wants to buy.

Okeke said he doesn't sell to a lot of celebrities, even though they stop in to look every now and then, just as Keith Urban did a few weeks ago. And the business plan behind Fusion explains why.

The strategy is to sell high-quality, rare luxury cars to car collectors, not just to deal expensive supercars to celebrities that have the money.

"Celebrities may buy a Range Rover or Aston Martin or something, but that doesn't mean they care about cars or want to collect," Okeke said. "My buyers are people who have a true passion."

Despite being one of the biggest names in sports, Mayweather falls into that category. His car collection features three Bugattis and many other of the premium car brands, like Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce.

In total, Mayweather has bought at least 40 cars from Okeke. Most recently, Mayweather purchased a Koenigsegg CCXR Triveta from Okeke for $4.8 million, according to the boxer's Instagram. Okeke confirmed the purchase but could not disclose the price.

Previously, the most expensive car he's ever sold, also to Mayweather, was a 2003 Ferrari Enzo. The car was advertised at the time for $3.2 million, although Okeke couldn't disclose the final selling price. Mayweather has since listed the car for sale with Fusion, which just sold at an advertised price of $3.8 million.

Lifelong enjoyment

Cars have been the one major passion of Okeke's since he was a young boy, and that has never changed. When he started in car sales, he said it wasn't for financial reasons, it was simply to be surrounded by cars.

"Once I found out I was good at what I was doing, I really just wanted to get to the top," Okeke said. "I didn't know how to, but I just kept trying and trying."

Personally, he doesn't collect cars. He's satisfied with being around them all day at work and helping others find the car of their dreams. 

SEE ALSO: The 15 most expensive cars for sale at Floyd Mayweather's favorite luxury dealership

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This manta ray looking thing might be the future of luxury cruise ships — or floating cities

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City of Meriens

In fiction, floating cities are often imagined much like a normal city, buoyed with some type of flotation life raft or supported by steel beams connecting to the seafloor.

A design for the cruise ship of the future, called "The City of Meriens," does not look like that at all. It's more like a gigantic steel manta ray, which might just be the shape of things to come with regards to floating cities and luxurious cruise ships.

Its measurements would be 2,950 feet long and 1,650 feet wide. For comparison, the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Carribean's Allure of the Seas, is 1,187 feet long and measures only 213 feet at its widest point.

Maximum capacity aboard the Allure is 6,410 guests, but there's room for 2,384 crew members, bringing the sum total capacity to 8,794. Meriens would only hold 7,000 people, but without any cramped staterooms.

City of Meriens

According to the designer behind Meriens, French architect Jacques Rougerie, its ideal use would be as a university research vessel, "a floating scientific city entirely dedicated to the observation and analysis of marine biodiversity," housing students and scientists with enough room to research, study, and recreate.

Meriens would be fully autonomous, using renewable marine energy producing zero trash. It would also have space on the outer edges of its wings for a hydroponic garden, and its centrally located lagoon would house aquaculture breeding farms.

City of Meriens 

SEE ALSO: This incredibly futuristic plane could be the future of airliners

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14 of the most famous kids in college this semester

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Patrick Schwarzenegger

Millions of students are heading back to college campuses around the country to begin the fall semester. 

Hidden among the masses are these 14 celebrities who prove that you're never too famous (or too old!) to be a college student. 

From Victoria's Secret Angel Karlie Kloss to Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin, here are some of the most famous students in college this semester.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best colleges in America

SEE ALSO: 8 college classes that probably never would have been offered a decade ago

Actor Alexander Ludwig is a member of one of USC's most sought-after fraternities.

Canadian actor Alexander Ludwig played the ruthless District 2 tribute Cato in the first "Hunger Games" movie — he's the one who fights Peeta and Katniss on top of the cornucopia in the final fight scene. Since then he's been balancing a flourishing film career with his studies.

A senior, the Phi Kappa Psi brother and theater major belongs to one of USC's most exclusive fraternities.



Angus T. Jones left "Two and a Half Men" to pursue religion and his education at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

After starring on hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men" for 10 seasons — as the highest-paid child actor at the time, no less, making $350,000 an episode — Angus T. Jones left the show in order to fully dedicate himself to Christianity. 

Now a junior at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he also tours the country speaking at churches.



Cordell Broadus is a freshman football player at UCLA.

Snoop Dogg's son signed to play football at UCLA earlier this year after he received more than a dozen offers from other colleges. Snoop has been a USC fan for years, but showed his support for his son and UCLA in an interview.

Broadus is also the CEO of Film School Productions, a company for product placement in film and photography.



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This map shows where and when to see the best fall foliage in the US

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The end of summer means cooler temperatures and changing colors.

Vibrant fall foliage can be found pretty much all over the US, but you'll want to plan your trip carefully.

Peak foliage varies by region and time of year.

Take a look at the interactive map below, created by Smokymountains.com, to figure out the best time for leaf viewing.

Move the bar at the bottom of the map to adjust the time of year, and the map will respond by showing which parts of the US are experiencing changing colors at that time.

 

SEE ALSO: The 5 best places to see fall foliage in the US

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The 24 best public colleges in America

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Cornell University fans

We recently released our seventh annual list of the best colleges in America, which included schools from every corner of the US.

Here, we've narrowed down our results to look at the best public schools in the country.

To determine the rankings, we asked over 1,000 Business Insider readers to choose the colleges that best prepare their students for success after graduation. We then combined those results with each school's average SAT score from the college-data website College Board and the median starting salary from the employer-information website PayScale to come up with the final ranking. You can read the full methodology here.

Please note that this list drew from our original survey on the best colleges in the US, where survey respondents chose from a limited pool of what we perceived to be the top 100 schools in the US.

Did your school make the cut this year? Read on to find out.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best colleges in America

SEE ALSO: The 48 best colleges in the Northeast

24. University of Connecticut

Average SAT score: 1885

Median starting salary: $51,700

UConn has a built-out career services office, with resources both on campus and online. The online portal features a number of internship, co-op, and full-time job opportunities with companies like Pepperidge Farm, JetBlue, Unilever, and UBS, as well as a number of resources to help students apply and place there.



23. University of California at Irvine

Average SAT score: 1740

Median starting salary: $49,300

Part of the prestigious University of California system, UCI is known for its top-rated research programs, which provide opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students alike to participate in research projects. And although it's a large school, the student to faculty ratio remains low — only 19:1 — and 50% of classes have 20 or fewer students



22. University of California at Davis

Average SAT score: 1815

Median starting salary: $50,800

UC Davis graduates enter a network of over 200,000 living alumni when they complete their degrees. While still in school, students have access to 104 major choices, preparing them for careers in everything from landscape architecture to microbiology to nutrition science.



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