Waitlist Information COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Waitlist Information COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The Admissions Committee spent several hours in meetings on Wednesday making decisions but very few decisions were sent out yesterday.   Once a decision is made, a series of steps must be completed to finalize things in our system.   We are in the rolling process where as we make decisions we will publish them.   As a reminder, we send an email notifying an applicant that the decision has been posted so there is no reason to log in to the system prior to receiving an email. Those that have been admitted should still follow this blog for information, but you also have the Welcome Page and Admitted Student Message board as well.   For this entry I thought I would tackle the difficult situation some applicants find themselves in: on the waitlist.   I will do my best to shed some light upon how the waitlist process is handled by the Admissions Committee at SIPA.   I will start off by saying that the process of considering applicants placed on the waitlist can possibly best be described as “organic.” What I mean by this is that the process of making waitlist offers does not follow a strict format or specific timeline.   Rather, it is a process that has a life of its own due to the fact that the availability of seats in the fall class once initial admission offers are sent out is dependent upon factors over which the Committee largely has no control. To shed some light on the timeline, this year we have given admitted applicants until May 2nd to respond to their offer of admission.   Some admitted applicants will pay enrollment deposits right away, however past history shows that the vast majority wait until the very last minute.   Thus we will not have a clear picture of responses for quite a while.   Once the enrollment deposit deadline passes the picture becomes clearer, but the picture is subject to constant change over the summer. In past years we have made offers of admission to select candidates on the waitlist as early as April and as late as August.   The reason I describe the process as organic is that we never know when a candidate who has paid a deposit will contact us and let us know that circumstances have changed in a way that will not allow them to enroll. For example, international students sometimes face the unique challenge of trying to complete government paperwork for a visa.   This process does not always go smoothly and late in the summer we may be notified by a candidate that the paperwork will not be completed on time, thus opening a seat in the fall class.   We have no way to predict this, but with such a large number of international applicants it is not uncommon for this to happen. For other applicants, something unexpected happens and they contact us to let us know they will not be able to enroll and will thus forfeit their seat.   The Admissions Committee obviously has no way of predicting such circumstances. So part one of the waitlist story deals with uncertain circumstances and part two of the story is process.   When we are able to make an offer to candidates on the waitlist, how does the process work? If you are on the waitlist you know that we ask you to fill out a form indicating your interest in remaining on the waitlist.   The link to the waitlist form that needs to be filled out can be found in the waitlist letter.   The vast majority return this form indicating that they do wish to remain on the waitlist, but just like circumstances with admitted applicants change, so do circumstances with waitlist candidates change. After all admission decisions have been published, every few weeks the Admissions Committee will meet to evaluate fall enrollment.   After these meetings I will send out emails to those who have chosen to remain on the waitlist providing them with an update.   My first update email is likely to go out in early April.   I cannot promise a decision can be made by early April, however I will have an update (sent to those on the waitlist for email) as I know many schools require decisions by April 15th. If spaces are available how are waitlist candidates chosen?   Again it is an organic process.   We do not have number rankings for the waitlist and the size of the waitlist changes over time as candidates notify us that they no longer wish to be considered. When it comes time to consider candidates from the waitlist, files are read once again.   Although a “full read” might not be necessary, Committee members will review reader comment sheets.   As the reading is done, we get a feel for the overall landscape of those on the waitlist and make decisions.   We only review information submitted by the application deadline, we do not accept additional documents for waitlist consideration. Candidates offered admission from the waitlist receive an email from our office indicating that the decision is available on the application Web site.   Those not offered admission remain on the waitlist and continue to get email updates. I realize the process of waiting is not easy.   We will do our best to keep those on the waitlist updated, but as you can see, the process does not give us the ability to provide specific answers at specific times.   In summary, if you have chosen to remain on the waitlist we will contact you intermittently with updates, along with asking if you wish to remain on the waitlist.   The Committee will read files of those on the waitlist “as is” â€" meaning we will not accept additional documents or information for consideration.   Our first update will likely go out in early April. Please also note that SIPA is unable to award fellowship funding to those admitted from the waitlist.   U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents can qualify for federal and possibly state based aid, but all SIPA funding is allocated in the first round of admission decisions.   I would advise both domestic and international students to review the financial aid information on our Web site so that if we are able to make an offer, you are prepared to complete the appropriate paperwork.

Women s Movement Of The United States - 1438 Words

Women’s Movement Have you ever asked yourself why people are different from each other? There is a lot of differences such as intelligence, opinions, appearances, personalities, and genders which, in my opinion, are the most important one. Genders usually represent the differences and also similarities between female and male, or women and men. In general, men usually have different responsibilities and duties as women. From history to modern time, the differences between women and men has changed a lot. It’s nearly 70 years ago, that fight for women’s suffrage began in the United States. The Women’s Movement is a movement to combat sexual discrimination and to gain full legal, economic, vocational, educational and social rights and†¦show more content†¦Just imagine reversing gender roles and you are men in the 19th century, there is practically nothing you can do about anything, but to stay home and cook. The first gathering devoted to women’s rights in the United States was held July 19-20, 1848, in Seneca Falls, New York. The principal organizers of the Seneca Falls Convention were Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a mother of four from upstate New York and the Quaker Abolitionist Lucretta Mott. About 100 people attended the convention; two-thirds were women. Stanton drafted a â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances and Resolutions,† that echoed the preamble of the Declaration of Independence: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.† Among the 13 resolutions set forth in Stanton’s â€Å"Declaration† was the goal of achieving the â€Å"sacred† right of franchise.†3 The sometimes-fractions suffrage movement that grew out of the Seneca Falls meeting proceeded in successive waves. Initially, women reformers addressed social and institutional barriers that limited women’s rights; including family responsibilities, a lack of educational and economic opportunities and the absence of a voice in political debates. Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, a Massachusetts teacher, met in 1850 and forged a lifetime alliance as women’s right’s activists. For much of the 1850’s,

Holden Caulfield Is On His Own Psychological Journey

Throughout the novel of Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is on his own psychological journey. This journey tells a lot about who Holden is as a person and the problems he is dealing with. It all starts when Holden has flunked out of Pencey Prep. His psychological struggles are triggered by the traumatic event of his brother, Allie, dying 4 years prior. The death of Allie has affected Holden in all aspects of his life, including friends, school, actions, and thoughts. This causes concern in Holden’s parents. They are concerned with his health and well-being, therefore send Holden to a rehab center. His parents fear that Holden may have Post - Traumatic Stress Disorder, and have him psychoanalyzed. So, Holden struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder because he shows the causes, symptoms, and effects of the chronic disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event- either experiencing it or witne ssing it (Post-traumatic stress disorder). In Holden Caulfield, the terrifying event was Allie’s death. Holden had to watch Allie suffer through his leukemia, and then deal with the emotional pain after Allie was gone. â€Å"PTSD occurs in all age groups, Although, the lifetime risk for developing PTSD in U.S. adults is 3.5 percent. Increased rates of PTSD are notable in those who have jobs that place them at risk for being part of a traumatic event, such as police officers, nurses, and firefighters.Show MoreRelatedThe Catcher In The Rye Analysis1657 Words   |  7 Pagesdisheartening journey from adolescence to adulthood that Holden Caulfield endures. Although holden seeks the freedoms that mark adulthood, he has yet to take up the role of a truly mature citizen as the society conforming nature of those adults disgust him, leading him to his gradual mental decline. J. D. Salinger uses the immature character of Holden Caulfield as a means of revealing the difficult transi tion from adolescence to adulthood and its psychological effects. Salinger portrays Holden CaulfieldRead MoreA Coming Of Age Story Essay1124 Words   |  5 Pagescharacter, Holden Caulfield, has a bit of an episode, and feels near hopeless at times as he struggles with his own adolescence. In order to tie Holden’s individual strife with the mayhem of every adolescent mind to form one central message, Salinger relies on a number of novel-based elements. Specifically, he illustrates the complexity and uncertainty associated with the transformation into an adult through the details and symbols of Holden’s journey. One way that the author conveys his message aboutRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Catcher Of The Rye 1549 Words   |  7 Pagesstory of a youth named Holden Caulfield, The events of the story take place when Holden is sixteen and is at the end of his fall school term. The novel is a loosely strung set of events that play out over the course of four days in the life of Holden. The psychological aspects of these events and how they affect the hero s mind are the focus of the story which is often supplemented in the form of flashbacks which reveal even more about various characters, especially Holden himself. He faces schoolRead MoreAnalysis Of Catcher In The Rye And The Secret Garden726 Words   |  3 Pagesvastly differ. Holden Caulfield himself narrates his experiences leading up to the mental institution in a colloquial first person. As a first person narrator, Holden’s reliability has to be called into question. Given that Holden is a narrator who addresses the postulated reader as a confidant as he narrates his tale speaks to the high level of personal engagement that Holden has with the topic at hand — which is natural given that the story is centred around his life — and his inability to takeRead MoreThe Catcher in the Rye: Holden Caulfields Coming of Age Story2349 Words   |  10 Pagesmain character Holden Caulfield matures throughout the course of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Holden is a juvenile young man. However, through his experiences, Holden is able to learn, and is finally able to become somewhat mature by the end of the novel. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s story represents a coming of age for all young adults. In the beginning of The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is an immature teenager. Holden gets kicked out of his school, PenceyRead MoreCatcher In The Rye Analysis1042 Words   |  5 Pagesof universal truth or the purposefulness of human life.†. Holden is a boy with psychological issues, that is true, but its cause is something different. Holden has been influenced by his upbringings and how he was raised is what makes him today. Nurture not nature. He may stay static and continue his antics such as flirting with women, but he has an internal turmoil that changes his views. Being a boy ostracized by friends and family, his only resort is alienation, but that takes a big toll on anyone’sRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Orientation1957 Words   |  8 Pageshelp create their own values and give meaning to their own lives. The absurdity of the natural world, authenticity of the individual, and the angst that comes with life, which define existentialism, would manifest them selves with the end of World War II and the onset of the Cold War. These same beliefs can be seen in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, a novel which follows the cynical and apathetic teenager Holden Caulfield, on his journey of self-introspection and a search for his true self. ExistentialRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Orientation1958 Words   |  8 Pageshelp create their own values and give meaning to their own lives. The absurdity of the natural world, authenticity of the individual, and the angst that comes with life, which define existentialism, would manifest themselves with the end of World War II and the onset of the Cold War. These same beliefs can be seen in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, a novel which follows the cynical and apathetic teenager Holden Caulfield, on his journey of self-introspection and a search for his true self. ExistentialRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesUp to the Candidate 169 Selection for Self-Managed Team s Reliability 171 Validity 171 Content Validity 171 Construct Validity 172 Criterion-Related Validity 172 Recruiting: A Global Perspective 146 DID YOU KNOW?: Posting Online Rà ©sumà ©s 147 Your Own Job Search 147 Preparing Your Rà ©sumà © 148 Some Final Remarks 149 Summary 149 Demonstrating Comprehension: Questions for Review 150 Key Terms 150 151 HRM Workshop 170 Key Elements for Successful Predictors 170 Linking Concepts to Practice: Discussion

Government Spending and Revenues in America and China Free Essays

Government spending and revenues in China and America International accounting four 0092962 Chen Yuting Public finance is a subject about the taxing and spending activities of government. Considering the function of government, two opposite views stand out. One is organic view of government. We will write a custom essay sample on Government Spending and Revenues in America and China or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main idear is that the government can be though of as the society’s heart. Another is mechanisitic view of government. It insists that government is not an organic part of society while it is a contrivance created by individuals to better achieve their individual goals. Government Regulation on Media in America iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src="https://phdessay.com/government-regulation-on-media-in-america/embed/#?secret=w4t2FU0Dbc" data-secret="w4t2FU0Dbc" width="500" height="282" title="#8220;Government Regulation on Media in America#8221; #8212; Free Essays - PhDessay.com" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"/iframe Neverthless, nobody can deny that the spending and revenues have a significant influence on our society. Our living standard is associated with government actions. As a result, it is meaningful to compare the government spending and revenues in China and America. Without doubt, the revenues of government is the root of spending of government. In addition, it gives the government the power and the ability to put policy into effect. At the beginning of 2011, a piece of news comes that it is the first time for China that its annual revenues are more than 8,000 billion yuan. Details are from: http:// paper. people. com. cn/rmrbhwb/html/2011-01/22/content_730659. htm? div=-1) Just in terms of the number of total revenues, American holds the number of 4214 billion dollars. (Details are from: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/ ) If we conver the dollars to RMB, it is far more than China. However, in my opinions, the number of total revenues is not the unique factor affecting the size of government revenues. In my opinion, it is more rational to consider the rate of revenues in GDP. The rate of China is 20. 88%. The number of GDP is from the website: http://baike. baidu. com /view/368359. htm) Compared to America, its rate is 29. 05%. ( The number of GDP is from the website: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/classic. html? year=2010) As a result, the shortfall between China and America shrinks. In spite of the analysis of government revenues’s size, maybe the structure of the revenues is more attractive and more significant. In China, value-added tax play an important role in the revenues, accounting for almost 25%. (The tax is from: http://gks. mof. ov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) The following tax is business income tax and business tax. However, the major portion in America is income tax and ad-valorem taxes, accouting for 32. 99% and 26. 29%. ( The tax is from: http://www. usgovernmentrevenue. com/classic. html? year=2010 ) Actually,the considerable part of taxation in China almostly belong to commodity tax while that of America is income tax. As far as the function of regulating social incomes, America’s revenue is more beneficial to accomplish the mission. Because the commodity tax is nonexcludable. Everyone who buys the product will undertake the tax. On the contraty, the policy of America is progressive. The richer you are, the more you pay. So, I think it’s more appropriate. In this day and age, a commonly held belief is that the size of revenue have a positive effect on the balance of social economy. Concretly, its object is that maximuming the social investment, maximuming the efficience of social resources and maximuming the social welfare. Another opinon is balancing revenues with spendings. To some extend, it is reasonable. When the revenues is far more than spendings, it is a waste of resources. When the spendings is far more than revenues, it will add burden to government. So it is also important to compare the spending in China and Ameirica. The total spending of America is 5797 billion (The number is from the website: http://www. usgovernmentspending. com/)while the revenue of Ameirica is 4214. Compared to China, its spending is 8957. 5 billion (http://gks. mof. gov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) while the revenue is 8308. Just compare the revenue to spending, both America and China spend more than it received. To some extent, America is spending the money they haven’t received yet. Personally, it is a bit dangerous and risky to do this. Because excessive deficits will have a negtive effect on dollars and interst rate when investors look down on the ability of government to control the deficits. Eventually, it will present a serious drag on the economy. There is a world of difference between the structure in America and in China. The first three portion of American spending is pensions, health care and education. The counterpart in China is economic construction spending and administrative spending. From what is said above, it is easy to see the primary function of each government. America is a developed country so that it do well in the social securiry. The percent are almost 60%. (http://www. usgovernmentspending. com/classic. html? year=2010)As a result, people in America don’t worry about the life when they are old. Then let us take a look on China. Because China is a developing country, its main aim is to develop economy. The economic construction spending is always taking an important part. However, in recent years, the spending on economic construction is decreasing while the spending on education, health care and other things related to the people’s livehood is increasing. The impressive increasing items are spending on demnificatory housing and on environmental protection, accouting for 30. 7% and 25. 4%. (http://gks. mof. gov. cn/zhengfuxinxi/tongjishuju/201101/t20110120_421479. html) It is a neccesary and significant step to act on international convention and turn to developed country. As a rising power, it is time to shoulder the responsibility of the world and pay more attention to Gross National Happiness. On the other hand, there are still some problems to deal with. The most urgent problem is the increasing administrative spending. Though administrative department is a huge institution, the percent in Ameirica is about 10%. So the efficiency and effect of Chinese department are supposed to be improved. The act of government should be more apparent and public. On March 14th, Premier Wen said corruption is the most dangerous thing in China. The best method to solve the problem is promoting the system of reform, both in politics and economy. Comparing the revenues and spending in China and America, there is something we can learn from America. Firstly, increasing the percent of things related to people’s livehood, especially education. Secondly, improving the legislation of public finance. Thirdly, enhancing check and balance between people and government. It is a long and endless way for government to improve itself. But the same purpose is to make people live a better life. For public finance, it is important for government to ensure what is taken from people is used in the How to cite Government Spending and Revenues in America and China, Papers

Staying In School Essays - Education, Academia, Knowledge

Staying In School Dear Ben, Hey Ben! I was talking with Sean yesterday when he told me the news, you're planning to delay college. This came as a shock to me when I heard it. By not attending college, you may get a year's rest and a chance to think your decisions through, but if you ever do decide to attend college, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities as well. I think you should consider going to college rather than driving the open road after High School. The information you've learned in High School will be more fresh in your mind now than 1 year from now. You have passed 12 years of schooling, yet now you believe it is time to rest and see other places and people for a year or more before attempting college. College adds 4 more years of intense work, yet knowledge learned within High School can make learning new material easier for you. Other people often find themselves getting sidetracked once they put off the option to attend college, that can only hinder your ability to eventually become a college graduate. College can be a fun experience if shared with friends and people of similar age. By waiting an extra year or two, you will find it more uncomfortable within your classes. The entire college experience involves parties, football games, and drinking beer with your buddies as well as an education. As you get into the entire experience and enjoy college, you will understand and appreciate what a college offers. The ideal time for college is now more than ever as you also have scholarships and your parents to help with the expensive money arrangement which is needed. Parents can be a great help in paying for your college, and may be willing to pay much more immediately after graduation from High School, than paying 2 years afterwards. Scholarships are always helpful to students, paying for a little bit of an expensive college. Although, to use the scholarship, you must go immediately to college. A College education right now is a lot more beneficial to you and your future than you may realize. It can lead to earlier jobs with increased salaries, better college experience, and scholarships to help pay for it all. I hope the arguments I mentioned above help you to see the other side of this situation and choose appropriately.

Free Essays on Song Of A Humming Bird

Having read the book â€Å"Song of a Hummingbird†, I have had the privilege to read such a book with lots of ethnic, ethic, and religious issues at hand, and the struggle for a womans identity. There are a couple of issues that I found myself in tune with and in agreement. One of the topics was that of the religious inquisition. My religious preference is not that of the Indigenous people or Catholic but I am and feel more compelled by the experience of the Indigenous people and their beliefs. In this story, Huitzitzilin deals with wanting to share the story of her life and to reveal the truth of the Spaniards conquest and having to stick to the confession standards and practices. I do not agree with the indigenous beliefs of Gods but I really appreciated the statement made by Huitzitzilin when she expressed how the Catholics wanted her Gods to vanish yet Catholics continue to idol worship. I also think the way Huitzitzilin expressed how the Catholic religion would force them to chant and recite prayers that they did not understand; the repetition of prayers went in vain when the Mexicas would recite them as Huitzitzilin explained. This in my belief is something that conti nues to this day, I know Catholics who have no idea what they are praying to or why but they just know that it has to be done in order to live up to the Catholic religion. This book explains just how Spaniards invaded the Mexicas and imposed their religion without real explanation and with high expectations especially from women. I noticed that in regards to Father Benito he would not like to hear Huitzitzilin mention her fornications and sexual encounters and when he would, he would seem to condemn her only for the sin and make no regards to the men in the act. I also remember that when Huitzitzilin confessed to having killed Captain Ovando the priest was confused about whether Huitzitzilin had to be punished; however when Huitzitzilin mentions about how Spaniards ki... Free Essays on Song Of A Humming Bird Free Essays on Song Of A Humming Bird Having read the book â€Å"Song of a Hummingbird†, I have had the privilege to read such a book with lots of ethnic, ethic, and religious issues at hand, and the struggle for a womans identity. There are a couple of issues that I found myself in tune with and in agreement. One of the topics was that of the religious inquisition. My religious preference is not that of the Indigenous people or Catholic but I am and feel more compelled by the experience of the Indigenous people and their beliefs. In this story, Huitzitzilin deals with wanting to share the story of her life and to reveal the truth of the Spaniards conquest and having to stick to the confession standards and practices. I do not agree with the indigenous beliefs of Gods but I really appreciated the statement made by Huitzitzilin when she expressed how the Catholics wanted her Gods to vanish yet Catholics continue to idol worship. I also think the way Huitzitzilin expressed how the Catholic religion would force them to chant and recite prayers that they did not understand; the repetition of prayers went in vain when the Mexicas would recite them as Huitzitzilin explained. This in my belief is something that conti nues to this day, I know Catholics who have no idea what they are praying to or why but they just know that it has to be done in order to live up to the Catholic religion. This book explains just how Spaniards invaded the Mexicas and imposed their religion without real explanation and with high expectations especially from women. I noticed that in regards to Father Benito he would not like to hear Huitzitzilin mention her fornications and sexual encounters and when he would, he would seem to condemn her only for the sin and make no regards to the men in the act. I also remember that when Huitzitzilin confessed to having killed Captain Ovando the priest was confused about whether Huitzitzilin had to be punished; however when Huitzitzilin mentions about how Spaniards ki...

Defining Rotation and Revolution in Astronomy

Defining Rotation and Revolution in Astronomy Astro-Language The language of astronomy has many interesting terms such as light-year, planet, galaxy, nebula, black hole, supernova, planetary nebula, and others. These all describe objects in the universe. However, those are just objects in space. If we want to understand them better, we have to know something about their motions. However, to understand them and their motions, astronomers use terminology from physics and mathematics to describe those motions and other characteristics. So, for example, we use velocity to talk about how fast an object moves. The term acceleration, which comes from physics (as does velocity), refers to the rate of an objects motion over time.  Think of it like starting up a car: the driver pushes on the accelerator, which causes the car to move slowly at first. The car eventually picks up speed (or accelerates) as long as the driver keeps pushing on the gas pedal.   In Back to the Future a specially outfitted DeLorean was the vehicle that took the movies characters back and forth in time. One of the requirements for the trip was that it had to accelerate at high speed.   Getty Images/Charles Eshelman.   Two other terms used in science are rotation and revolution. They do not mean the same thing, but they do describe motions that objects make. And, they are often used interchangeably. Rotation and revolution arent terms exclusive to astronomy. Both are important facets of mathematics, especially geometry, where geometrical objects can be rotated and their motion described using mathematics. The terms are also used in physics and chemistry.  So, knowing what they mean and the difference between the two is useful knowledge, particularly in astronomy. Rotation The strict definition of rotation is the circular movement of an object about a point in space. This is used in geometry as well as astronomy and physics. To help visualize it, imagine a point on a piece of paper. Rotate the piece of paper while its lying flat on the table. Whats happening is that essentially every point is rotating around the place on the paper where the point is drawn. Now, imagine a point in the middle of a spinning ball. All the other points in the ball rotate around the point. Draw a line through the center of the ball where the point lies, and thats its axis.   This graphic shows Earth spinning on its axis (rotation) as it orbits the Sun (revolution). Image by Tauolunga, via Wikimedia Commons.   For the kinds of objects  discussed in astronomy, rotation is used to describe an object rotating about an axis. Think of a merry-go-round. It rotates around the center pole, which is the axis. Earth rotates around on its axis in the same way. In fact, so do many astronomical objects: stars, moons, asteroids, and pulsars. When the axis of rotation passes through the object it is said to  spin,  like that top mentioned above, on the point of the axis.   Revolution It is not necessary for the axis of rotation to actually pass through the object in question. In some cases, the axis of rotation is outside of the object altogether. When that happens, the outer object is revolving around the axis of rotation. Examples of revolution would be a ball on the end of a string, or a planet going around a star. However,  in the case of planets revolving around stars, the motion is also commonly referred to as an  orbit. The planets and comets of the solar system follow slightly elliptical orbits around the Sun. Moons and other satellites do the same around their planets. This diagram shows the orbits shapes, although it is not to scale. NASA The Sun-Earth System Now, since astronomy often deals with multiple objects in motion, things can get complex. In some systems, there are multiple axes of rotation. One classic astronomy example is the Earth-Sun system. Both the Sun and the Earth rotate individually, but the Earth also revolves, or more specifically orbits, around the Sun. An object can have more than one axis of rotation, such as some asteroids. To make things easier, just think of spin as something that objects do on their axes (plural of axis).   Orbit is the motion of one object around another. Earth orbits the Sun. The Moon orbits Earth. The Sun orbits the center of the Milky Way.  Its likely that the Milky Way is orbiting something else within the Local Group, which is the grouping of galaxies where it exists. Galaxies can also orbit around a common point with other galaxies. In some cases, those orbits bring galaxies so close together that they collide.   Sometimes people will say that Earth revolves around the Sun.  Orbit  is more precise and is the motion that can be calculated using the masses, gravity, and the distance between the orbiting bodies. Sometimes we hear someone refer to the time it takes for a planet to make one orbit around the Sun as one revolution. Thats rather more old-fashioned, but its perfectly legitimate.  The word revolution comes from the word revolve and so it makes sense to use the term, although its not strictly a scientific definition. The important thing to remember is that objects are in motion throughout the universe, whether they are orbiting each other, a common point of gravity, or spinning on one or more axes as they move.   Fast Facts Rotation usually refers to something rotating on its axis.Revolution usually refers to something orbiting something else (like Earth around the Sun).Both terms have specific uses and meanings in science and mathematics. Updated and edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.