DJ DeLong
Creative writing and history major
College of Arts and Sciences, Marketing and Communication student employee
Western Michigan University has many outstanding and successful alumni, but very few earn a degree at 18-years-old and graduate from law school at 21. It is an amazing accomplishment, but political science alumna, Brooke Rowland ‘11 did just that.
Rowland was a transfer student from Kalamazoo Valley Community College who had been homeschooled prior to attending KVCC. At 16, a time when most teenagers are looking forward to getting their drivers license, Rowland transferred to WMU and was already focused on her dream to go to law school. She graduated from WMU after studying public law and attended Georgetown Law School.
According to Rowland, WMU prepared her very well for success at law school. She said, "Forming strong relationships with professors and trying to get as much out of every class as possible greatly enhanced my educational experience and prepared me for the academic challenges at Georgetown." Rowland worked closely with the College of Arts and Sciences to take as many law-specific courses as possible. In addition to her academic preparation, Rowland was an intern for U.S. Representative Fred Upton during her junior year at WMU.
When discussing the law school application process Rowland said, "I spent a great deal of time researching the options and preparing a perfect application." Her advice for any student looking to pursue law school is to focus on grades, the LSAT score, letters of recommendation and a strong resumé and personal statement. "Shoot to as close to perfect as possible," she adds. Rowland hired private tutor, Rich Klarman, whom she highly recommends, to study for the LSAT and the MI Bar Exam. Rowland recognizes that law school is not for everyone and encourages students considering that path to "seriously evaluate whether the time and money is worth it."
While attending Georgetown, Rowland was deeply involved in moot court, an activity in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, which includes drafting briefs or memorials and participating on oral arguments. She won the Best Brief Award at the Beaudry Moot Court Competition and was the Assistant Director for the Leahy Moot Court Competition. Rowland passed her exams and in December 2014 was officially sworn into the bar by Justice Markman.
Rowland’s success does not stop at her academic and professional careers. She is an award-winning harpist and has received first prize at the Young Artist’s Harp Seminary International Harp Competition. In addition to her musical talent, Rowland was Miss Michigan’s Outstanding Teen, is the current Miss Greater Kalamazoo and will be running for Miss Michigan in June 2015, making her the only pageant titleholder in the Miss America system to simultaneously be an attorney.
Evident with her academic record, professional aspirations, musical talent and pageant history, Rowland learned the importance of effective time-management, a trait she says more students should try to perfect. "The main person affected by your choices in undergrad is you, not a client, not a boss," she added. Her advice to students at WMU is to study as hard as possible, get as much out of the classes as possible, form relationships with professors and get involved in useful activities outside of the classroom. "TV will be around when you’re done with this phase of life. Do something more productive in this unique and narrow window," she said. Rowland is a perfect example to students of the possibilities that exist if they are determined and motivated to achieve their goals.