SETI essays

SETI essays Bertrand Russell wrote, There are two possibilities. Maybe we are alone. Maybe we are not. Both are equally frightening (Jakosky 1). The question of life in the universe is one that leaves many in a state of bewilderment. It becomes even more interesting when it leads to another question that of intelligent life in the universe. Finding other intelligent civilizations among the interstellar space would greatly affect every aspect of our existence. Conversely, not finding such a civilization would force us to examine the purpose of our own existence. To help answer the question, astronomers and scientists set up a program in search for extraterrestrial intelligence. This program, or SETI, was set up to verify, by observation that extraterrestrial life does exist. SETI tries to prove this by picking up and analyzing radio signals by means of satellites and advanced computers (Heidmann 116). The history of the SETI program is quite interesting. It started back in 1959 with the help of two famous Cornell University physicists, Guiseppi Cocconi and Phil Morrison. Both claimed that it would be possible to communicate with other potential extraterrestrial life in space by the use of techniques used in radio astronomy (Heidmann 112). Together, they voiced their belief that if other alien astronomers elsewhere in the universe possessed radio telescopes, that it would be possible to converse between the two (Heidmann 112-113). A young astronomer by the name of Francis Drake agreed with the theories of Cocconi and Morrison. He proposed building a radio receiver in order to listen for waves of sound being transmitted through space. It wasnt until the spring of 1960 that Drake began his first project of SETI, Ozma. In this project, he was the first to conduct a search for signals transmitted from other solar systems. For two tedious months, Drake pointed an eighty-five foot antenna...

SAT Score Comparison for SUNY Campuses

SAT Score Comparison for SUNY Campuses When applying to colleges within the State Universities of New York (SUNY) system, good SAT or ACT scores  are crucial. However, it may not be clear what scores count as good, especially when it comes to applying to state schools like those in the SUNY system as opposed to colleges in  the Ivy League  or  top liberal arts colleges. Fast Facts: SUNY SAT Scores Binghamton University has the highest average SAT scores in the SUNY system; Buffalo State University has the lowest.Fashion Institute of Technology, Purchase College, and SUNY Potsdam have test-optional admissions.The majority of SUNY students earned SAT scores that are above the national average. Comparison of SAT Scores for SUNY Students If youre wondering if you have the SAT scores youll need to get into one of the four-year SUNY colleges and universities, heres a side-by-side comparison of scores for the middle 50% of enrolled students. If your scores fall within or above these ranges, youre on target for admission to one of these public universities in New York State. SUNY SAT Score Comparison (mid 50%) School ERW 25% ERW 75% Math 25% Math 75% Albany 550 630 550 630 Alfred State 470 580 480 590 Binghamton 650 710 660 730 Brockport 510 590 510 590 Buffalo 570 650 590 680 Buffalo State 400 510 460 530 Cobleskill 430 550 430 540 Cortland 530 600 530 600 Env. Science/Forestry 560 660 560 650 Farmingdale 500 580 510 580 Fashion Institute - - - - Fredonia 490 590 480 580 Geneseo 560 650 560 650 Maritime College 535 620 540 640 Morrisville 430 520 420 520 New Paltz 550 640 540 630 Old Westbury 480 553 470 500 Oneonta 460 590 450 590 Oswego 540 620 530 620 Plattsburgh 540 620 510 610 Polytechnic 490 660 510 690 Potsdam - - - - Purchase 550 650 510 620 Stony Brook 600 680 630 740 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing As an example of what these numbers mean, the middle 50% of students who entered SUNY Albany had an SAT evidence-based reading score between 550 and 630. This tells us that 25% scored a 550 or lower, and the top 25% scored a 630 or higher. Similarly, the middle 50% of students scored between a 550 and 630 on the math section. This means that 25% scored a 550 or lower, and at the upper end, 25% scored a 630 or higher. SUNY and Holistic Admissions Although SAT and ACT are important, they are not the only factors the admissions folks will use when determining whether or not a student will be accepted to a SUNY campus. In fact, some of the SUNY schools like Potsdam do not even require applicants to submit their scores at all. These test-optional universities recognize the limits and biases linked to standardized tests, and they instead evaluate students based their academic records and holistic measures. For nearly all SUNY programs, a strong academic record will be the most important part of your application. The admissions folks will want to see that you have earned high grades in challenging college preparatory classes. IB, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment classes can all play an important role on this front, for success in challenging courses is the best predictor of an applicants potential for college success. Numerical data, however, is just one part of the SUNY application. The admissions officers will also want to see a winning essay, meaningful extracurricular activities and good letters of recommendation. Fine art and performing art applicants are likely going to need to submit a portfolio or audition, and other specialized programs may have additional application requirements. In general the SUNY schools do not require SAT Subject Tests or the optional writing sections of the SAT or ACT, but be sure to check the specific requirements for the school and program to which you are applying. Also, requirements can be different for international and home-schooled students. Data Source: National Center for Education Statistics