College Consultants of Colorado

Valeria A. Skarbek

Valeria (Val) Skarbek

College Drive LLC Durango

Phone: 720-437-0854

Valeria Skarbek, the founder of College Drive LLC, has over 20 years of experience working with students and adults in K-12 and higher education settings, including a college and graduate admissions office. In her role as a College and Career Prep teacher, she has collaborated with hundreds of students, assisting them in creating their college lists, conducting research on potential majors and careers, and providing guidance as they craft their resumes and college essays.

Val completed the Independent Educational Consultant certificate program through the University of California, Irvine, in December of 2023. She holds a B.S.B.A. in Marketing and Advertising, a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in English, and a Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT. Additionally, she earned a graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning from Boise State University.

As a lifelong learner, Val firmly believes in helping students discover how their passions connect to their future careers and college majors. She is dedicated to assisting students and their families in finding the best college fit academically, socially, and financially. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys traveling with her family in their RV and touring colleges whenever possible.

Professional Memberships:

• Associate Member of Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA)

• Rocky Mountain Association for College Admissions Counseling (RMACAC)

Information and Disclaimer About Professionals on this Site

The listing of any independent educational consultant on this website is not to be taken in any way as an endorsement or recommendation of any kind by the College Consultants of Colorado, or a warranty of any sort that the services provided will meet any standard of excellence.

A listing on this website means that the professional has expressed an interest in joining with colleagues to discuss professional issues. No screening or verification of credentials or memberships in professional organizations has been undertaken by the College Consultants.

Note that links on this website allow you to connect to other web sites maintained by third-parties over whom the Colorado Consultants has no control. The Colorado Consultants is not responsible for the content of any linked site.

An independent educational consultant is a valuable resource for students and families as they plan for college and those seeking to hire an independent educational consultant should interview and find the person who will best meet individual needs.

In finding a consultant, parents are encouraged to ask about methods of keeping up with the higher education landscape (particularly personal visits to college campuses), membership in professional organizations, attendance at professional meetings and training programs, years of experience, academic degrees and training, and specialized training in areas such as learning disabled students.

Any implied or suggested "guarantee" of admission to any college is not sanctioned by relevant professional associations. Further, all fees should be stated clearly and at the onset of the consulting relationship.