Harvard and other schools
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:25 pm
Hello all. I didn't apply early unfortunately, and I'm afraid this may have hurt my chances. All applications were in around mid-January. I'll also paste my PS that was submitted to Harvard Law. Please let me know what you think my chances are for each school if you have the time. My dad attended Harvard Law School some 3o years ago.
Schools applied to:
Harvard
Yale
Columbia
NYU
UC Berkeley
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Georgetown
Boston University
LSAT (only took once, Dec. 2009) - 170
LSDAS GPA - 3.77
Undergraduate School - The Boston Conservatory of Music
Degree - B.M. (vocal performance - classical music)
Ethnicity - Half Japanese, half Caucasian
I remember lying in my bed early one morning shortly before I left for college to study
classical voice. My dad came in and sat next to me as he sometimes did, but the conversation that
ensued was different than usual. We often spoke about politics or current events, but I was about
to go to college 3,000 miles away, and that day we talked about me. Though for the most part I
can only recall the essence of what was spoken more than four years ago, I can clearly remember
one thing he said to me, “Daniel, you have always been the most mysterious of all my kids.”
I was strangely independent as a child, and I explored the world in my own way,
sometimes to my detriment. Whereas Benjamin Franklin experimented with electricity by
attaching a key to a kite, I did so by sticking a key in a light socket. I observed firsthand that
metal does indeed conduct electricity. Though my parents did not always understand me, they
always encouraged my insatiable curiosity, and I discovered many things in unorthodox ways.
Music and politics have always been strong passions of mine, and I have long struggled
with the choice of which to pursue as a career. At age nine I heard Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto #3 performed in the movie Shine, and at that moment I knew I had to learn the piano. I
studied for eleven years, and later picked up the cello and then voice as well. Though I had
trained vocally for only a short time, I was accepted into The Boston Conservatory’s classical
voice program. I chose to go because I wanted a first class education in music, and because I
desired to sing.
While most of my peers at the conservatory were politically apathetic, I stayed politically
active. I raised funds and canvassed for congressional candidates in the midterm elections, and
later volunteered for Obama’s presidential campaign. Also, I wanted more responsibilities, so I
applied to be a Resident Assistant. I was hired, and was responsible for 24 residents my
sophomore year and 44 my junior year. I played an active, positive role in creating a healthy
environment for the residents. Early in my first year as an RA I met with the Director of Housing
to explain I thought our policy requiring us to document those students who returned to campus
intoxicated would in many cases be unwise. Since no resident owned or drove a car, I was not
comfortable implementing a policy that could discourage residents from seeking help and safety
in the dorms when needed. She understood my concerns and allowed me to use my discretion in
implementing the policy.
After completing my undergraduate studies, I went to Italy to study the language and
experience the culture. I lived in Florence, but when I was not there studying Italian I did such
things as go to the opera or ballet at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, visit museums in Naples to enjoy
the fine art, and explore the history and vibrant night life of Rome. Ironically, it was while
surrounded by the great art of Italy I realized I wanted to change course from a career in music to
one in law. My desire to advocate for causes I believe in had grown too strong to ignore.
One of those causes is equal rights. The recent string of losses in the gay rights
movement was a major reason for my change of heart. In 2008 I watched in devastation as voters
in California, my home state, took away my right as a gay man to marry the one I love. A year
later, while I was still in Italy, voters in Maine overturned legislation that would have given same-sex
couples the right to marry. I have been taught, and inherently understand, sexuality is in no
way a measure of character. I firmly believe same-sex couples should have the same rights as
others. While music will always be an important part of my life, I am ready to focus my work on
the fight for those rights.
I aspire to be an effective equal rights advocate and perhaps one day seek public office. I
want to attend Harvard because I want, above all else, a First Class Legal education. In addition, I
would like to take advantage of Harvard’s Law and Social Change program of study, its support
of summer public service employment, and the opportunity to stay close to my partner, who lives
in Boston. I am disciplined, well rounded, self-aware, passionate when appropriate, and
sympathetic towards those who, like me, are treated differently under the law. Based on these
attributes, my strong political interests and my experience in the performing arts, I believe I can
contribute significantly to the level of discourse at Harvard.
Schools applied to:
Harvard
Yale
Columbia
NYU
UC Berkeley
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Georgetown
Boston University
LSAT (only took once, Dec. 2009) - 170
LSDAS GPA - 3.77
Undergraduate School - The Boston Conservatory of Music
Degree - B.M. (vocal performance - classical music)
Ethnicity - Half Japanese, half Caucasian
I remember lying in my bed early one morning shortly before I left for college to study
classical voice. My dad came in and sat next to me as he sometimes did, but the conversation that
ensued was different than usual. We often spoke about politics or current events, but I was about
to go to college 3,000 miles away, and that day we talked about me. Though for the most part I
can only recall the essence of what was spoken more than four years ago, I can clearly remember
one thing he said to me, “Daniel, you have always been the most mysterious of all my kids.”
I was strangely independent as a child, and I explored the world in my own way,
sometimes to my detriment. Whereas Benjamin Franklin experimented with electricity by
attaching a key to a kite, I did so by sticking a key in a light socket. I observed firsthand that
metal does indeed conduct electricity. Though my parents did not always understand me, they
always encouraged my insatiable curiosity, and I discovered many things in unorthodox ways.
Music and politics have always been strong passions of mine, and I have long struggled
with the choice of which to pursue as a career. At age nine I heard Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto #3 performed in the movie Shine, and at that moment I knew I had to learn the piano. I
studied for eleven years, and later picked up the cello and then voice as well. Though I had
trained vocally for only a short time, I was accepted into The Boston Conservatory’s classical
voice program. I chose to go because I wanted a first class education in music, and because I
desired to sing.
While most of my peers at the conservatory were politically apathetic, I stayed politically
active. I raised funds and canvassed for congressional candidates in the midterm elections, and
later volunteered for Obama’s presidential campaign. Also, I wanted more responsibilities, so I
applied to be a Resident Assistant. I was hired, and was responsible for 24 residents my
sophomore year and 44 my junior year. I played an active, positive role in creating a healthy
environment for the residents. Early in my first year as an RA I met with the Director of Housing
to explain I thought our policy requiring us to document those students who returned to campus
intoxicated would in many cases be unwise. Since no resident owned or drove a car, I was not
comfortable implementing a policy that could discourage residents from seeking help and safety
in the dorms when needed. She understood my concerns and allowed me to use my discretion in
implementing the policy.
After completing my undergraduate studies, I went to Italy to study the language and
experience the culture. I lived in Florence, but when I was not there studying Italian I did such
things as go to the opera or ballet at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, visit museums in Naples to enjoy
the fine art, and explore the history and vibrant night life of Rome. Ironically, it was while
surrounded by the great art of Italy I realized I wanted to change course from a career in music to
one in law. My desire to advocate for causes I believe in had grown too strong to ignore.
One of those causes is equal rights. The recent string of losses in the gay rights
movement was a major reason for my change of heart. In 2008 I watched in devastation as voters
in California, my home state, took away my right as a gay man to marry the one I love. A year
later, while I was still in Italy, voters in Maine overturned legislation that would have given same-sex
couples the right to marry. I have been taught, and inherently understand, sexuality is in no
way a measure of character. I firmly believe same-sex couples should have the same rights as
others. While music will always be an important part of my life, I am ready to focus my work on
the fight for those rights.
I aspire to be an effective equal rights advocate and perhaps one day seek public office. I
want to attend Harvard because I want, above all else, a First Class Legal education. In addition, I
would like to take advantage of Harvard’s Law and Social Change program of study, its support
of summer public service employment, and the opportunity to stay close to my partner, who lives
in Boston. I am disciplined, well rounded, self-aware, passionate when appropriate, and
sympathetic towards those who, like me, are treated differently under the law. Based on these
attributes, my strong political interests and my experience in the performing arts, I believe I can
contribute significantly to the level of discourse at Harvard.
