Meet Marla Bark Dembitz,
Founder of MBD College Consulting.
Marla Bark Dembitz brings 18 years of experience as an English teacher and attorney to her college consulting practice. Marla received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois and her Masters in Teaching at Northwestern University. After teaching high school and middle school English for six years, she continued her education and received her Juris Doctorate from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. As an attorney for twelve years, Marla worked for a litigation law firm and then for a large corporation in the area of regulatory and legislative law.
When her daughter entered high school, Marla began volunteering at the school’s Academic Resource Center and College and Career Resource Center. She quickly discovered that she loved helping students develop concise and memorable college admission essays. After guiding her own daughter through the college application process, she began her own career transition by taking courses and workshops to further her education in this field and completed the intensive Independent Educational Consultants Association’s (IECA) Summer Training Institute. She launched her own college consulting practice in 2007.
There is nothing more rewarding to me than helping students find the right college where they will thrive academically and socially.
A skilled professional
Marla’s background as a former teacher and attorney brings expertise and unique skills to her college consulting practice.
Her experience as a high school and middle school English teacher taught Marla how to educate, inspire and motivate students to express their ideas and communicate with confidence. And because of her experience as an attorney, she understands the importance of research, diligence, attention to details and teaching students how to advocate for themselves.
Always staying current
To keep on top of the latest admission trends and new programs, Marla visits 25-30 colleges nationwide each year. There, she meets with admissions representatives, tours the schools and talks with students. Marla also takes advantage of college admission webinars and regularly attends conferences provided by her professional organizations.
She is a member of HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association), IACAC (Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling), and an Associate Member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association). Her participation in these organizations allows her to develop and maintain professional contacts with college consultants from across the country.
Always teaching
Marla’s passion for working with teens also extends to her volunteer work. She’s a trained docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Twice a month, Marla guides tours for middle school and high school students, teaching them about the dangers of discrimination and bigotry.