“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
SUPPORT EDUCATION
Meet Dan Reust
Many students call me Opa.
I bring the analytical skills from a successful healthcare IT management career to my educational consulting practice, Aim High Educational Consulting, LLC. I empower students to discover their "why" for college and shape authentic application narratives. Combining data-driven insights with a storytelling approach shaped by years of writing, I help students find best-fit colleges and confidently navigate the application process. My curriculum also incorporates various life skills and integrates responsible AI use, preparing students for the future.
Our practice is committed to serving families with financial needs. We reserve 1/3 of our client slots for students whose families are low income whose parents did not have the opportunity to attend college. We do this on a pro-bono (free) basis.
This video explains the philosophy of our practice.
Professional Highlights:
Manager in healthcare IT for over 40 years
Heavily involved with career guidance with young IT analysts
Volunteered at a community college for resume development and interviewing skills
Published author, including over a dozen stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books (most using a pseudonym). Some of these stories have been reprinted in various magazines and multiple newspapers.
Experience in public speaking
Published photographer
Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and College Consultants of Colorado (CCC).
Education:
University of California, Irvine, Independent Educational Consultant Certificate
Colorado State University, M.B.A.
University of Colorado, B.A. Economics and Computer Science
Testimonials
“Working with Mr. Reust at AHEC was a game changer for me. He helped me figure out what careers actually matched my interests and skills and then showed me how to take real steps toward those goals. We worked on setting my academic priorities, building a strong resume, and practicing interview skill. All in a comfortable and encouraging way. What I appreciated most was how he listened and made the process feel personal. I left each session feeling more confident and clear about my future.”
S.M. (student) - 2025
“If you’re looking for a college consultant, I would highly recommend Dan Reust with Aim High Educational Consulting. The information Dan gave me helped me refocus to better universities while steering me away from making financially irresponsible decisions. The AI Work Unit Dan shared with me helped save hours in writing research papers and some essays. Working with Dan proved to be highly beneficial for achieving my college goals.”
H.L. (student) - 2024
“I am incredibly pleased with the personalized support my daughter received from Dan Reust at Aim High Educational Consulting, LLC. From the very first meeting, Dan took the time to understand her goals, strengths, and uncertainties. He guided her through a career assessment that opened her eyes to new possibilities and followed up with thoughtful coaching sessions that built her confidence. He also helped her set clear educational goals, polish her resume, and practice real interview scenarios. The entire process was not only professional but empowering. I highly recommend Dan to any parent looking for structured, caring, and results-driven guidance for their child’s academic and career path.”
J.F. (parent) - 2025
“It is my pleasure to recommend Dan Reust and his Aim High Educational Consulting for anyone needing assistance with the process of preparing for college entrance. His efforts with my step daughter to understand and pursue the best course of action for college have been most welcome and very comprehensive. My step daughter has been and continues to be most appreciative of his involvement and guidance. I am confident without reservation that Dan and Aim High Educational Consulting would be an excellent choice for anyone seeking a high level of guidance in the college entrance arena.”
R.V. (parent) - 2023
"Dan was very helpful in the process of choosing and applying to college. He helped me stay on track by reminding me all the deadlines and reviewing my applications. Dan also provided an overview of each college and their pros and cons. Over very informative and helpful, made the process a lot less stressful."
Y.T. (student) - 2024