Kelly Kistner
PhD admissions consultant and former UCLA faculty member
| Hourly rate range | $70 to $150 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Credentials | PhD; U.S. Department of Education FLAS Fellowship; DAAD Doctoral Grant; UCLA Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award |
| Practice | AnotherDegree.com |
Kelly Kistner is a PhD admissions consultant who helps people apply to doctoral programs. She spent over nine years at UCLA as a faculty member and academic administrator. There she led programs that prepared students for graduate study and served on selection committees. Her own research covers sociology, history, and science and technology studies.
What Kelly helps with
Kelly works on PhD applications and the research behind them. She also coaches on dissertations and on academic and alt-ac career paths.
- Writing a research proposal for a PhD application
- Building a full PhD application package
- Improving PhD application materials
- Planning what to do when waitlisted
- Writing a PhD resume
- Preparing for PhD interviews
- Application strategy
- Dissertation and research coaching
How Kelly works
Kelly sells coaching in hourly packages built around a step of the PhD process. She also offers custom hourly help with application strategy and data analysis.
Background and qualifications
Kelly holds a PhD and did interdisciplinary research in sociology, history, science and technology studies, and education. She won the U.S. Department of Education FLAS Fellowship and a DAAD Doctoral Grant for work through Humboldt University in Berlin. She spent over nine years at UCLA as a faculty member and academic administrator. She led programs, taught thousands of students and served on selection committees. UCLA gave her its Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award. She has also worked in federal agencies, nonprofits, policy, technology and talent acquisition.
Kelly Kistner pricing
Programs and services
- Research proposal coaching
- Comprehensive PhD application package
- Getting started package
- PhD application boost session
- Waitlist strategy package
- PhD resume coaching
Kelly Kistner reviews
The CoachVouch take
Kelly sat on graduate selection committees and spent over nine years in UCLA faculty and administrative roles.
Best for PhD applicants who want help from someone who has served on selection committees.
Common questions
How much does Kelly Kistner charge?
Coaching with Kelly runs $70 to $150 an hour. Request an intro for an exact quote.
What does Kelly Kistner help with?
Kelly Kistner helps with writing a research proposal for a PhD application, building a full PhD application package, improving PhD application materials and planning what to do when waitlisted.
Is Kelly Kistner certified?
Kelly Kistner lists: PhD; U.S. Department of Education FLAS Fellowship; DAAD Doctoral Grant; UCLA Undergraduate Research Week Faculty Mentor Award.
Does Kelly Kistner help with more than applications?
Yes. She also mentors clients on research and dissertation work and on academic and alt-ac career tracks.
How do I contact Kelly Kistner?
Request an intro on this page. It's free, and we'll connect you with Kelly and, if you want, 2 or 3 similar coaches to compare.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.