What To Know About The PSAT

What To Know About The PSAT The PSAT, or the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a standardized exam that provides students with a practice version of the SAT. Most students take the test in their junior year of high school. Exam results are used to determine qualification and eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC). So exactly why is the PSAT so important? Besides giving students firsthand exposure to a college entry exam, the PSAT determines entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC), an academic competition for college scholarships and recognition. Each year, of the 1.5 million students who take the PSAT, 50,000 qualify for recognition, two-thirds of whom receive Letters of Commendation, and the other third go on to become Semifinalists. Of these, about 94% become Finalists, over half of who win scholarships. The PSAT measures critical reading skills, writing skills, and the ability of students to solve math problems. You have acquired knowledge in these areas over the years, both in and outside of the classroom. The exam does not require you to remember specific facts, but measures your comprehension and understanding of each area. What does the PSAT look like? The PSAT is composed of five sections: two 25-minute math sections, two 25-minute critical reading sections, and a half-hour writing section. The exam takes two hours and 10 minutes to complete. The critical reading portion consists of 48 questions, the first section (13) which focuses on sentence completions, while the second (35) focuses on critical reading questions. The math portion is made up of 38 questions. The first part has multiple-choice answers, and the second is student-produced responses. Students should be comfortable using operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis, statistics, and probability. A calculator is recommended. The writing skills section includes 39 questions, which focus on identifying sentence errors, and improving sentences and paragraphs. This category measures a students ability to communicate ideas successfully, utilize language with sensitivity to meaning, and to identify errors in structure and usage. What are the reasons to take the PSAT? Besides competing for entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program, and taking a practice version of the SAT, the PSAT provides students with feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in skills that are crucial for college. This allows students to more adequately prepare with extra studying. The PSAT helps students evaluate how their final score on an admissions exam compares with that of other students applying to college. The PSAT assists students who plan to take the SAT by familiarizing them with the types of questions and problems seen on the SAT. Finally, the PSAT allows students to receive information from colleges and universities if they say yes to the Student Search Service.

What is it Like to Attend American University

What is it Like to Attend American University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences, as well. Kelsey is a Philadelphia tutor and 2013 graduate of American University. She holds a Bachelors degree in International Studies and specializes inseveral subjects such as ACT prep tutoring, History tutoring, and Reading tutoring. See what Kelsey had to say about her time at American University: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kelsey: American University is in a great area of Washington, D.C. It is within the city limits, but it still has that small campus feel. The university provides a shuttle that runs continuously throughout the day directly to the nearest Metro stop, Tenleytown-AU. Many students ride bikes, but most walk or take the shuttle on a daily basis. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kelsey: Professors at American University are required to hold office hours regularly, and most are happy to meet by appointment. However, as many professors teaching at American University are also working throughout Washington, D.C. in their respective fields, they are not as accessible as professors from more rural colleges. Their expertise is a bonus, but you have to work hard to form close relationships with the faculty. Every student at American University is assigned an academic adviser based on the school of their admission (mine, for example, was the School of International Service) who will be their guide throughout college. I personally had a wonderful experience with my adviser, and I can truly say she was my biggest supporter during my years at American University. However, other students I have talked with have said their advisers were not as involved or supportive. It may depend on your assigned adviser, and you can ask to switch if you feel someone else would be more helpful. You can receive additional advisers for special programs, such as a dual major or, in my case, the honors program. American University does not utilize teaching assistants except in very large courses (usually introductory level). As I was in the honors program, my classes were always under 30 students, and I never worked with teaching assistants. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kelsey: All students are required to live on campus and to have a meal plan during their freshman year. The dorms are clean and have many new facilities (and, I presume, even more additions since I left a year ago). The dorms are broken up into general assignment, honors program, and special programs (such as major-specific housing). There are many dining options on campus, and the food in the main dining hall (the Tavern) is usually very good. The campus makes a concerted effort to accommodate all dietary needs. The one drawback of housing at American University is overcrowding. When I was attending, even students in honors dorms were put in mandatory three-bunk rooms (with three students living in a space originally intended for two students). That being said, the resident assistants are friendly, and the university staff was always accessible. Most students decided to live off-campus by their junior year. Local housing is fairly accessible but, given the schools location in Washington, D.C., can be expensive. Most students share an apartment with several roommates or rent houses with a large group of other American University students. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kelsey: American University is almost completely geared toward the Political Science and International Studies majors. The School of Public Affairs, School of Communication, and School of International Service are the biggest draws for the university, and the most attention is paid to them on campus. These programs are well funded by the university, and speakers, symposiums, and other events are held for students majoring in these subjects every day. However, if you are interested in other fields, or if you are not sure what subject you are interested in, American University may be a challenging place. The school is full of very driven students who have clear career objectives, and it can be difficult to be an undecided major in that environment. I majored in International Studies with concentrations in Peace and Conflict Resolution and Europe. I knew before applying to schools that I wanted to focus on international relations, and I was very satisfied with my choice of major in college. American University is one of the best international studies schools, and I feel that I got a very thorough education that has helped me be successful post-graduation. I am currently a law student focusing on international law, and I have always found myself to be one of the most prepared students in my current classes. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kelsey: While it has many strong points, American University is not a very sociable campus, at least in my experience. As I mentioned above, the students drawn to American University (and Washington, D.C. in general) tend to be very motivated, ambitious people. This can make for great professional connections after graduation, but it creates a competitive atmosphere on campus. I am sure that many people had better experiences, but having moved to Washington, D.C. from a small town, I personally had trouble finding a group of friends my freshman year. I did, however, make friends later in college through groups like the American University Chamber Singers. American University has a very large, active Greek life community. While I did not personally participate, I have many friends who rushed and had very positive experiences. It is not, however, a requirement to being social at American University by any means! VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kelsey: One of the many advantages of American University is the massive amount of internship opportunities available in the city. The Career Center is a big part of the campus support system for these internships. They offer services like resume reviews and mock interviews throughout the year, as well as private appointments. For undergraduates, there is generally one large career fair per year, where tons of organizations come to campus looking for future interns. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kelsey: There is generally plenty of room on campus for studying. The library has tons of study cubbies, as well as a spacious lounge area with a caf. There are also other great student spaces, such as the Davenport Caf (located in the School of International Service) or the Mary Graydon Center. I never had a problem finding places to hang out with friends. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kelsey: There are lots of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the school, most located in Tenleytown. Some students prefer to stay close to campus, while others (like myself) really embrace living in Washington, D.C. I usually went downtown or into different neighborhoods every Friday and Saturday. These excursions were some of my best times at American University. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kelsey: As I mentioned above, I was in the honors program, so even in my general education classes, there were never more than 30 people. I have heard from friends not in honors that some first-year classes can be quite large, some going over 60 students. All of my upper-level courses were very small (10-15 students). As my major became more and more specific, I knew the people in my classes quite well. I was very happy with the class size and individual attention I was given by professors in class. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kelsey: While this may be a humiliating story, I hope it helps incoming freshmen! When I was in my last year at American University (my third year, as I graduated early), I was taking an overbooked courseload and simultaneously trying to finish my senior honors thesis. I thought I was handling the stress fine, until one day in my favorite class (an International Peace and Conflict Resolution intensive course), I answered a question and got it completely wrong. My professor did not make a big deal out of it, and just moved on to another student to answer. Ordinarily, this would not have bothered me, but stressed out as I was, I had a complete panic attack in the middle of class. I had to rush out of the room to the bathroom, telling everyone I was having an allergic reaction. I was so embarrassed! When I emailed my professor later to explain what had happened, she was very understanding and everything went back to normal. However, I regret putting so much pressure on myself and not asking for help sooner. It is great to be a self-motivated, ambitious student, but sometimes we can confuse independence with stubbornness. If I had been more willing to talk about the pressure I was feeling, maybe my professor could have helped me before I had a mini-meltdown! I urge any student, whether you decide to go to American University or another school, to find a good support network at college and reach out when you need help. I think it would have made my college experience much more positive. Check out Kelseys tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

30 MORE Awesome Graduation Songs to Sing Along With

30 MORE Awesome Graduation Songs to Sing Along With Sign up successful If youre a singer, you may even be  asked to perform at a graduation ceremony or party. And the toughest part isnt  getting up there on stage â€" its  choosing what  to perform for the audience! So, how do you choose the best graduation song to sing? Here are my tips: Consider your audience.  Is it at a more formal institution? You want to select something more traditional, or even classic pop.   Are you performing at a friend’s party after  the big ceremony? Well, maybe current pop may do the trick! Consider the message.  Whether it’s formal or informal, youll want a song that inspires both grads and family! Some of the themes that work include lasting friendships, new beginnings, hope, and confidence. To get you started, here is my list of 30 fantastic graduation songs that you may want to consider for 2016 Traditional Songs 1. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel” 2. Homeward Bound  by Marta Keen 3. “An Old Irish Blessing” 4. “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban 5. “The Prayer” by Josh Groban 6. “The Impossible Dream”  from “Man of La Mancha” 7. “Amigos Para Siempre”  by Andrew Lloyd Webber 8. “Time to Say Goodbye”  by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman Newer Pop Songs (90s to current ) 1. “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars 2. “Brave” by Sara Bareilles 3. “Now and Forever” by Carole King 4. “You Were There” by Michael Jackson 5. “Firework”  by Katy Perry 6. “Dare You to Move”  by  Switchfoot 7. “Best Day of My Life” by  American Authors 8. “When You Believe”  by  Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey 9. “Hero”  by  Mariah Carey Classic Pop Songs (80s and older) 1. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong 2. “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass Elliot 3. “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston 4. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles 5. “That’s What Friends Are For”  by Burt Bacharach 6.  â€œIn My Life” by The Beatles Broadway and Movies 1. “No Matter What” from “Whistle Down the Wind” 2. “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked” 3. “Any Dream Will Do” from “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” 4. “Dream For Your Inspiration”  by The Muppets 5. “Go the Distance” from Disneys “Hercules” 6. “Our Time” from “Merrily We Roll Along” 7.  â€œYou’ll Be In My Heart” from Disneys “Tarzan” Final Tips for Singing at Graduation Events Not only do you want to choose the right song, but you want to be sure you’re super prepared for your big performance. Your voice teacher can help you make sure that the song is suitable for your level and voice type, as well as help you polish it. No voice teacher? No problem! TakeLessons  can help connect you for in-person or online voice lessons. Break a leg! Readers: Know any other good graduation songs to sing? Leave a comment with your suggestion! Post Author:  Molly R. Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.  Learn more about Molly  here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office

Learn to Develop Your Interpersonal Skills

Learn to Develop Your Interpersonal Skills Here’s How â€" and Why â€" You Should Develop Your Interpersonal Skills ChaptersWhat are Interpersonal Skills?Why is it Important to Develop Your Soft Skills?How Can You Develop Your Communication Skills?Online Resources to Help You Develop Your Interpersonal Skills!The world these days â€" particular the business world and the world of employment - is loud with the language of interpersonal skills. Whatever you want to call them â€" social skills, personal skills, verbal communication skills, or soft skills â€" employers love them.In fact, beyond all academic achievement or knowledge of relevant hard skills, employers want to know that you can effectively communicate and interact with colleagues, clients, bosses, and customers.This is the reality of the workplace of today, in which teamwork and collaboration, agility and autonomy are the keywords. The days of quietly sitting down to trudge through your work are over. Sociability, cooperation, and networking are the names of the game.Of course, this is precisely the reason why interpersonal skills are ha ving their moment in the sun â€" with listening skills, body language, conflict resolution, and adaptability being now taught all over the world.Here, we going to show you the things you need to survive in this business environment â€" and we’ll show you just what your strong interpersonal skills can do for your life, job prospects, and personal development.Let us show you around the new world of interpersonal skills. TraceyPersonal development Teacher 4.93 (9) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AntonellaPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (1) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors IsamPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (3) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CarriePersonal development Teacher £24/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndriyPersonal development Teacher £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MichelePersonal development Teacher 4.73 (7) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlloydPersonal development Teacher 5.00 (11) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat are Interpersonal Skills?Interpersonal skills are the competencies, qualities, and personality traits that allow people to interact with others and communicate effectively. Really, they are the social skills that you learn as you grow up and which allow humans to build relationships, to get along, and to work collaboratively.Yet, with the business world’s ability to turn natural character traits into virtues, and its tendency to theorise and quantify the most basic social interaction and ways of being, interpersonal skills have become identified as a particular skill set that you really can’t do without.And, honestly, they are important. When big teams of people come together to work, good communication is crucial for conflict management and a generally harmonious atmosphere.Here, we’ve supplied some examples of the life skills that you can’t take for granted in business â€" and in the wider world. Because good interpersonal skills are not just useful to advance your career, but they are good to know for better relationships in general. Become a leader with your new interpersonal skills!Emotional IntelligenceThe major interpersonal skill that people refer to â€" and that you will need to ensure that you have â€" is emotional intelligence. This generally refers to your ability to be aware of and manage your emotional responses to things.You can see how in a work environment this might be important. When you are giving and receiving feedback or when you are managing people more generally, keeping your emotions in check is crucial â€" for the benefit of the team.Effective CommunicationAnd emotional intelligence is at the heart of effective communication in general.Communication is often misconstrued as the ability to speak, and write, clearly. Yet, that’s only half the story. Effective communication is the result of that â€" which is indeed a skill â€" and the abilities to listen and understand.Effective communication is usually broken into three parts: verbal communication, non-verbal communication, and listening. B ecause even when you are speaking, you are communicating a huge amount through your eye contact, facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice too.Leadership SkillsYou don’t need to be a leader to need leadership skills, which are usually described as the abilities to inspire and motivate, make decisions, and support and instruct.Actual business leaders need these for sure. However, in all interactions with colleagues they are helpful too.Teamwork.And alongside leading, working alongside others is crucial. Taking other people’s ideas on board, finding compromise, giving and receiving constructive criticism â€" all of these are elements of effective teamwork.If you want to find out more about the different types of interpersonal skills, check out our article, What are Interpersonal Skills? Communication is essential in the business world - as well as outside it.Why is it Important to Develop Your Soft Skills?There are plenty of reasons to develop your interpersonal skills â€" not least because they help you in all aspects of your everyday life.Whilst we don’t have the space to consider all of the different benefits of enhancing your communication skills right here, you can check out our article on the reasons to develop your soft skills to find out more.Employers Value Good People Skills â€" and You’ll Boost Your EmployabilityThe most obvious benefit in this context is that, as we’ve already mentioned, employers love people with great communication skills.This won’t only make you more attractive in a job interview. Alongside this specific context â€" in which you can demonstrate your self-awareness, your strong work ethic, and everything else â€" interpersonal skills are the fuel that help you to network, meet others, and sell yourself as an expert.In terms of your career, good interpersonal skills are crucial.You’ll Gain Trust and Respect in Your Working Environment and ElsewhereIf you are already in work, the benefits of your interpersonal skills don’t just disappear. Rather, an essential part of success at work is your ability to gain and give trust and respect.To be trusted with greater responsibility, and to treat others with respect, will change your experience of work â€" as others will treat you as you have treated them.They’ll Help You to Learn and Grow YourselfAs we can say a hundred times, interpersonal skills are not only useful in the workplace. And the ability to regulate your own emotions â€" or to really take on criticism â€" are such powerful skills to have in your armoury outside of work.This is because they help you become a better person in general â€" and will help you develop too.How Can You Develop Your Communication Skills?Whilst we now know why interpersonal skills are crucial, what many people want to know is how to improve their own aptitude in this skill set.Obviously, this is a legitimate concern and the rest of this article is dedicated to answering that question.Firstly, there are some simple tips for you to start improving your interpersonal skills straight off the bat. For more, check out our piece on developing your interpersonal skills.Practise Active ListeningActive listening is one of the most concrete part of the interpersonal skill set. It refers to a particular repertoire of actions and responses that demonstrates that you really are listening when people are talking to you.Keeping eye contact, nodding, and repeating back the words of the person speaking show that you are engaged.Keep a Positive AttitudeAt the heart of effective interpersonal skills is a positive attitude â€" a refusal to get down in the dumps, complain, and moan.People love a self-starter, someone who contributes their all and is happy to do it.If you are going to make one change to your attitude to int erpersonal skills, it should be this one. And it will make you feel better about life too. You can't get by in business without some interpersonal skills.Remember the Value of Being EmpatheticEmpathy is crucial in interacting with others â€" as it allows you to see to why others might be struggling, not performing at their best, or feeling the way they do. This basic understanding will inform all of your other interactions with them.So, just practise it. Try a simple thought experiment. Imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes â€" and you’ll be much better at understanding their perspective in the long run.Stick to Your ValuesWhat people value as much as understanding is integrity. And if you are hoping to be noticed for your own interpersonal skills, standing by your values is the number one rule.Stand up for what you believe in â€" and this will inform all of your other interactions.Online Resources to Help You Develop Your Interpersonal Skills!Believe it or not, there are many different resources online through which you can find guidance on your interpersonal skill s.From online tutorials to blog articles and exercises, the internet holds an awful lot of potential for you to learn about effective communication.Here are some of our favourite resources â€" and you can find more in our article on developing your interpersonal skills online.Try Udemy for Online Courses in Communication SkillsUdemy is a massive provider of online courses. For people looking to build their communication skills, there are all sorts of resources available for you.Take video courses in leadership skills, negotiation skills, or public speaking â€" and then get out into the world to put your new skills to use.Check Out the Range of Blogs that Help with Your Interpersonal Communication Skills.The internet is also simmering with blogs, articles, and feeds sharing information about effective communication.Try Mark Sanborn’s blog on leadership and public speaking â€" or follow Jolynn Chow for guidance on all things nonverbal communication.

Meet the Tutorfair Foundations 1,000th volunteer!

Meet the Tutorfair Foundation’s 1,000th volunteer! Last week the Tutorfair Foundation placed its 1,000th volunteer. What a remarkable thing! These 1,000 people have been a vastly talented and experienced group, coming from all walks of life and from all over the globe. They’ve all taken time out of their schedules, shared whatever they could with less advantaged students across the country and asked for nothing in return. Not all heroes wear capes! With such a huge number, it’s so easy to forget that each one of them has had a unique experience â€" all coming to us from different places and hoping for different things. To remedy this, we want to take a moment to introduce the world to our most recent fantastic volunteer â€" our 1,000th recruit, Janet. Tell us a little bit about you… “Hi, I'm originally from Liverpool but have lived in London area since I was a student. I have a BSc in maths and astrophysics and a Ph.D in astronomy. My thesis was on the evolution of supermassive black holes in galactic centres.” When you’re not thinking about supermassive black holes, what do you get up to? “I worked in IT for 25 years, final role was as project director for a successful outsourcing bid to run the IT and telecoms for a UK bank. I then took early retirement and have been spending my time since then volunteering in science education for a number of charities, coaching and playing badminton and monitoring butterflies and moths for nature organisations.” What do you do when you’re volunteering with the Foundation? “I’m tutoring in Oaklands School in Bethnal Green. I go in on a Wednesday afternoon to work with two small groups of Year 13 Physics students.” What made you decide to get involved? “I came across the Foundation after a Google search for volunteering opportunities. This particular opportunity fitted in well with other tutoring I am doing in central London. I spend a lot of time down in Devon now but come up to London each week during the winter months so finding several tutoring roles within the same timeframe is very time efficient for me and rewarding as well.” So you’ve done lots of tutoring in the past? “I have tutored both secondary and primary school students in central London in maths and physics for the past five years. I’ve also been tutoring online for the past couple of years.” What are you hoping to get out of your experience with the Foundation? “I want to feel that I have helped them in achieving their academic goals and see some hard evidence for this.” Finally, what do people need to know about volunteering with young people? “It’s very rewarding but it can be daunting initially. You need to be patient, particularly with younger students, and be prepared to do some preparation in advance of the tutoring sessions. This is particularly important if you’re working with older students, in order for them to get the most out of the sessions.” Want to get involved? Sign up today with the  Tutorfair foundation.

Adversity Score

Adversity Score In May 2019, the College Board announced a plan to provide college admissions officers a dashboard that gives context to an applicants neighborhood and high school with that students SAT score reports. Dubbed the adversity score by news outlets, the metricactually called the Environmental Context Dashboard (ECD)was intended to allow colleges to incorporate a students school and environmental context into their admissions process in a data-driven way. The ECD was designed to allow admissions officers the opportunity to view a students academic accomplishment in the context of where they live and learn. Introducing Landscape In August 2019, the College Board shared its plans to improve upon the idea of the Environmental Context Dashboard by revising and renaming the tool Landscape. Landscape will provide information about a students neighborhood and high school, helping colleges consider the context in the application review process. The revised resource is intended to help admissions officers fairly consider every applicant. It does not replace the individual information included in a students application (such as GPA, personal essay and high school transcript). It also shows how an applicants SAT or ACT score compares to the scores of other students at the same high school. Heres a quick summary of the information presented in Landscape: High school data, including city/suburban town types and rural town type Senior class size % of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch Average SAT scores at colleges attended by the three most recent cohorts of college-bound seniors at the applicants high school (who took College Board assessments) Advanced Placement exams (participation and performance) SAT and ACT test score comparison (of the student vs. average scores at their high school) Neighborhood and high school indicators, including: Predicted probability of students from the neighborhood/high school enrolling in a four-year college Household structure (married/coupled families, single-parent families and children living under the poverty line) Median family income Housing stability (vacancy rates, rental vs. homeownership, mobility/housing turnover) Education level Crime The College Board explains that colleges have long considered context about students high schools and neighborhoods when making admissions decisions. Landscape is intended to make this process easier and help admissions offers gather consistent information. Learn more about the new Landscape tool and how colleges will use it at www.collegeboard.org.

Morning Mix Florida professor fired over Harvey comments, Despacito and tailgating tips

Morning Mix Florida professor fired over Harvey comments, 'Despacito' and tailgating tips CAR-T therapy is providing hope to many people touched by Lukemia (Image: YouTube/Sloan Kettering) The Food and Drug Administration called the approval of a treatment that genetically alters the white blood cells of a cancer patient to battle a form of leukemia a historic action. Forbes reports that The decision is a milestone for new technologies aimed at fighting disease, but is also likely to deepen the controversy over the cost of new medicines. Novartis, a Swiss drug giant, said on a conference call that it would charge $475,000 per patient. “We’re entering a new frontier in medical innovation with the ability to reprogram a patient’s own cells to attack a deadly cancer,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a prepared statement, according to Forbes. “New technologies such as gene and cell therapies hold out the potential to transform medicine and create an inflection point in our ability to treat and even cure many intractable illnesses. At the FDA, we’re committed to helping expedite the development and review of groundbreaking treatments that have the potential to be life-saving.” UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA PROFESSOR FIRED OVER REMARKS ABOUT HURRICANE HARVEY Harveys floodwaters contain a toxic stew (Image: YouTube screenshot/BBC) Kenneth Storey, a visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Tampa, was dismissed after he sent a tweet that implied that Hurricane Harvey was karma for the state voting Republican, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The Tampa Bay Times reports that The University first distanced itself from sociology professor Kenneth L. Storey on Monday. But a tide of online outrage continued. A #FireKenStorey hashtag spread far beyond the university. Angry Facebook comments piled up. Storey was fired on Tuesday. Storey apologized for his actions: What they see in those tweets is not who I am, he told the Times. How I worded it was wrong. I care about people. I love this country. I would never want to wish harm upon anyone. A IS DESPACITO THE SONG OF THE SUMMER? Is Luis Fonsis hit the biggest song of the summer? (Image: YouTube screenshot) Welp, yeah, it might be. And maybe thats because of Justin Bieber. Business Insider comes in with the news that in July, the  combined plays of Despacito and its remix made the track  the  most-streamed song  of all time, across all streaming platforms. This week, the song also tied Mariah Carey and Boyz II Mens One Sweet Day for the  most weeks at No. 1  in the history of  the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Heres the original video, which has been streamed over 3 billion times.  Wow. What was your song of the summer? AND FINALLY FOR THURSDAY, 7 TAILGATING TIPS Going wild at Va. Tech (Image: Wworkman via Wikimedia Commons)Allie Caton from Boston University  checks in with seven tips for first-time tailgaters. As she says, Watching college football on television and attending a real college football game are two totally different experiences. Both have their pros, but one thing that you can’t do in front of your TV is tailgate. Get all the tips right here. Pay attention, Freshies! Now youre caught up on the news. Only thing left have a super Thursday. Easy enough.