College Education Consultants

Customized, Expert Guidance for Your Journey Ahead

For over 30 years, Vern Church and College Education Consultants have helped students navigate an increasingly competitive and complex college admissions process. Through a personalized, relationship-driven approach, we guide each student toward a thoughtful path forward—bringing clarity, confidence, and experience to one of life’s most important decisions.

Our Philosophy: The Best-Fit College

The right college isn’t about prestige alone.

It’s about fit — academic, social, financial, and personal.

CEC believes that there are “best fit” schools for every student. By implementing a strategy specific to the students’ strengths and environment, we clear a path for our clients to confidently evaluate and select their personal college choice.

Our process of identifying and understanding the student’s personality and profile, their ethics and values, enables us to provide college recommendations that are truly ‘best fit” options.

Attention to Detail

Vern’s work goes far beyond applications. He helps students understand themselves, identify environments where they will thrive, and pursue opportunities that align with their long-term goals.

This takes time.
It takes careful listening.
And it takes decades of experience guiding families through the emotional, often overwhelming admissions journey.

How We Work Together

From initial exploration to final acceptance, we provide the guidance and support your family needs at every stage of the college journey.

01.

Consultation & Relationship Building

We begin with an in-depth conversation that includes the student and parents – this helps Vern learn who your student is, what your family values are, and whether our approach is the right fit.

02.

Customized Route Finding and Planning

Built with significant student input, every client receives a roadmap tailored to strengths, interests, goals, and circumstances – with specific timing playing a central role.

03.

Building Out the Supporting Players

There are several other important factors in the process – Expert SAT & ACT test prep and academic tutoring, effective essay writing, high school course planning, extra-curricular activities, college visits, summer programs, scholarships & financial aid – the list goes on. We identify all of it and work with our clients to frame it into their custom plan – timing truly is everything with this process.

04.

Expert Application Guidance

From strategy to applications to final decisions, Vern provides hands-on, one-on-one support at every stage. Our hallmark: early applications that lead to stronger outcomes.

05.

Ongoing Support & Mentorship

Families often describe Vern as part consultant, part mentor, and part counselor — someone who offers steady guidance through a challenging and emotional process. And our service extends through the student's undergraduate degree, so we ensure they’ll have support to assist with course and major decisions, financial aid, future planning, and other considerations that may come up.

Find the Right College With Confidence

Every student has a “Best Fit” college. Let us help you find yours.

Meet Vern

As owner and President, Vern founded College Education Consultants in 1993 when he recognized a need. So, he launched CEC as a full-service consultation company to assist parents and students through the college selection and application process, with himself as the sole consultant.

Building on more than three decades of experience, he brings insight that cannot be replicated by templates, algorithms, or mass-market college consulting. And his true interest and focus is on the success and happiness of his students, regardless of the schools they choose.

Vern has spent his career helping students launch successfully into the next chapter of their lives. Known for his calm presence and genuine care, he partners closely with families to ensure students feel supported, understood, and empowered. And they trust his steady guidance through an increasingly complex and competitive admissions landscape.

Vern is a member of NACAC, a Founding Member of the High Point Admissions Advisory Board and a former member of the Lehigh University Admissions Advisory Board.

Why Families Choose Us

Careful strategic planning is the key to successfully navigating the emotional and financial decisions regarding the college selection process. And thoughtful preparation, timing and attention to detail make the entire process go as smoothly as possible. This is where we can help you optimize your process to produce more options for your student.

01.

An Experienced, Knowledgeable Approach

Our process is based on deep knowledge of the colleges and a clear understanding of the requirements of the constantly changing application environment — balanced with the needs and profile of each student and family. We bring warmth, intention and rigor to every step.

02.

Customized College Consulting

We work with a limited number of students each year to maintain the depth of attention our clients value. Our services are intentionally tailored for families seeking a premium, specialized experience.

03.

No Geographic Limitations

While we are based in Colorado, about half of our clients are located in other states and countries. We work seamlessly with local, national and international clients who come to us almost exclusively through referrals — families and students who have experienced the difference that personal, thoughtful, and expert guidance makes.

Hear From Our Students and Families

“Vern was an incredible college counselor for our daughter and played a pivotal role in her admissions success. His experience and deep knowledge of the college application process were evident from day one. He has a clear, proven process that kept our daughter organized and confident. We are truly grateful for Vern's guidance and highly recommend him to any family navigating the college admissions journey.”

Amy KParent

“Thank you so much for all of your help in the college application process. I was super happy with my college choice and felt infinitely more prepared for the medical school application process because I had a really solid foundation of how I should go about picking schools and writing personal statements.”

Maya LStudent

“I would like to express our deepest appreciation for your incredibly helpful insight and guidance as we journey through this process. You made our lives so much easier with your amazing reservoir of knowledge. We are grateful to be the recipients of your years of experience.”

Tu CParent

“I really appreciated everything that you did to help me and my family understand the college system. It’s definitely complex, especially this year. I wanted to tell you that I will officially be attending Bowdoin College next year and I will also be swimming on their team. I am so excited for this opportunity!”

Ella RStudent

“I'm so happy with the work you've done with our daughter. I’m so excited that she got into this competitive and amazing program and it was all because of you. Your suggestion was brilliant and she is so happy, which makes me so happy! We would never have known about it without you! I just wanted to let you know that you’re definitely changing lives, we appreciate you and look where we are, it’s fantastic!!”for this opportunity!”

Lisa TParent

Get Started Today

Ready to Explore and See If We’re the Right Fit?

We would love to learn about your student and discuss how we can help guide you through the college process.

Phone

(303) 347-2745

vern@edcounselor.com

Location

Serving families nationwide and internationally.

Schedule Your Consultation