bˈɔːɹn ɪn ɡwˌɑːɾɪmˈɑːlə sˈɪɾi, kˈɑːləm stˈʌdid æt ðɪ ˌɛl ɹoʊzˈɑːɹɹɪˌoʊ skˈuːl, ðə lˈaɪsɪˌoʊ ɪnfˈæntəl ænd ɛskwˈeɪlə nˈæʃənəl ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkə də kˈɔstɚ ɹˈiːkə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi sˈɪks, kəmplˈiːɾɪŋ hɪz sˈɛkəndɚɹi skˈuːlɪŋ æt ðɪ ˌɪnstɪtˈuːɾoʊ nˈæʃənəl sˈɛntɹəl pˈæɹə vˈæɹoʊnz ˈɪŋkv wˌɛɹ hiː bɪkˌeɪm stˈuːdənt ɐsˌoʊsɪˈeɪʃən pɹˈɛzɪdənt.
Born in Guatemala City, Colom studied at the El Rosario school, the Liceo Infantil and Escuela Nacional República de Costa Rica (1940–1946), completing his secondary schooling at the Instituto Nacional Central para Varones (INCV) where he became student association president.