About Ellen
Ellen Tener is a Smart College Selection Consultant.
Ellen’s connection to the college admissions process spans more than a decade. Ellen's journey into college consulting began when she worked alongside a consultant who helped her two sons through their college applications. Watching that process firsthand, she saw how valuable steady, informed guidance could be — and knew she wanted to provide that same support to other families. Her background in education made the transition a natural one.
Now, Ellen works with teenagers and their parents to navigate the complex, and often overwhelming, college decision-making process. Families appreciate her structured approach, her clear communication, and the genuine care she brings to every student she serves.
Ellen earned a B.A. in Economics and English and an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University, and she completed the Certificate in College Admissions Consulting from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked as a classroom educator and contributed to language arts curriculum development. As a trained Vanderbilt University alumni interviewer, she has evaluated applicants from the admissions side, giving her a nuanced understanding of how applications are read and what helps a student stand out.
Ellen is an active member of the Independent Educational Consulting Association and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling, both of which require adherence to strict principles of integrity, transparency, and student-centered guidance.
Having lived in several regions of the United States and abroad, Ellen brings a broad and balanced perspective to the students she serves. Most of all, she loves the energy of students ready to set out in pursuit of their dreams and the trusting relationships she builds with them along the way.
Ellen lives in Frederick, Maryland, with her husband. In her free time, she swims, cheers on her favorite college football and basketball teams, gathers with her book club of more than 25 years, and hosts dinner parties for friends.
“Ellen is a superstar who helped our daughter navigate the application process. Ellen began by spending time with our daughter to understand her ideal college experience and then organized a systematic plan of attack. Ellen suggested schools that fit our daughter’s personality and needs. These included schools our daughter had never considered — and Ellen didn't just know about them; she had visited them and knew them from inside the data.”
— Parent