Kristen Senior
College admissions consultant for students and parents in Winnetka, Illinois
| Hourly rate range | $130 to $300 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Works with | Students and Parents |
| Based in | Winnetka, Illinois, United States |
| Credentials | IECA professional member; UCLA Certificate in College Counseling, with Honors; PhD, Marquette University; M.A., Illinois State University; A.B., Kenyon College |
| Practice | The Brass Ring College Consultants |
Kristen Senior is a college admissions consultant who helps students and their parents find a college that fits. She founded The Brass Ring in 2012 after teaching high school and college. She holds a PhD and finished UCLA's college counseling certificate program with Honors. She worked as an editor and writer at McGraw-Hill and Shakespeare Squared. She works with the whole family and keeps parents updated by email and phone.
What Kristen helps with
Kristen helps students learn about themselves and find a college where they will do well. She also supports parents through the process.
- Finding a best fit college
- Identifying interests and possible future careers
- Running a college search
- Keeping parents informed during the process
- Students who are unsure about applying to college
- Understanding how college size, location and type affect fit
Who Kristen works with
Kristen works with high school students and their parents. Her approach often includes the whole family. She meets with students directly. Some students meet with her once or twice, and others sign up for a multi-year package.
How Kristen works
Kristen meets with students regularly and keeps parents in the loop with emails and phone calls. She helps students explore their interests and possible careers, then builds a college list around best fit. For a full college search, she also consults with financial aid and test preparation experts. Payment is either hourly or comprehensive, so families can choose a few meetings or a multi-year package.
Background and qualifications
Kristen earned her A.B. at Kenyon College, her M.A. at Illinois State University and her PhD at Marquette University. She spent her junior year abroad at Oxford University. She taught high school and college writing and literature, and she worked as an editor and writer at McGraw-Hill and Shakespeare Squared. After seeing how hard the college search was for her students, she finished UCLA's Certificate in College Counseling program with Honors. She started her consulting business in 2012 and is a professional member of IECA.
Kristen Senior pricing
Programs and services
- Hourly consulting
- Comprehensive multi-year package
- College search guidance
- Financial aid and test prep expert consultations
Kristen Senior reviews
The CoachVouch take
A former teacher and educational publishing editor with a PhD who now guides the whole family through the college search.
Best for families who want personal attention and regular updates during the college search.
Common questions
How much does Kristen Senior charge?
Coaching with Kristen runs $130 to $300 an hour. Message Kristen from this page for an exact quote.
What does Kristen Senior help with?
Kristen Senior helps with finding a best fit college, identifying interests and possible future careers, running a college search and keeping parents informed during the process.
Is Kristen Senior certified?
Kristen Senior lists: IECA professional member; UCLA Certificate in College Counseling, with Honors; PhD, Marquette University; M.A., Illinois State University; A.B., Kenyon College.
Does Kristen Senior work with parents as well as students?
Yes. Her approach often focuses on the whole family, and she keeps parents updated with regular emails and phone calls.
Can Kristen help with financial aid and test prep?
She consults with financial aid and test preparation experts to offer a full college search experience.
How do I contact Kristen Senior?
Send Kristen a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.