
Gloria A.
5.0
(6)
MIT & Harvard Insider | Your Master's Strategy, Pivots, & Wellness Guide
Studied at University of Southern California
Admissions Committee at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Successful clients at
Available Saturday at 12:00 AM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Gloria's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $222/hr
Get help with Letters of Recommendation, Essays, and .
Gloria also coaches for PhD Programs, Mental Health & Wellness, and Life Coaching. View all.
Gloria’s Master’s Programs Qualifications
Coaches professionally
100+ people coached for Master’s Programs
I help Master’s applicants clarify their direction, craft a compelling narrative, and secure funding—aiming for successful admissions and funding outcomes, backed by my experience as a former MIT Assistant Dean and Harvard Admissions Officer. With 20+ years of experience in graduate education leadership, I’ve supported thousands of applicants through distinct pathways for research-based and professional degrees. I understand what committees look for—and more importantly, what students actually need once they’re in. What I help with: • Career Pivot Strategy: Translating your work history into a focused academic narrative that shows readiness and purpose • Program Fit & Degree Type: Choosing between M.S., M.Ed., M.Eng., M.P.P., or other paths based on your goals and values • Funding Guidance: Identifying and negotiating merit aid, fellowships, and fee waivers to reduce financial stress • Application Materials: Writing statements, short answers, and resumes that show both alignment and impact • Decision-Making Support: Interpreting offers, evaluating ROI, and planning for sustainable success in fast-paced programs As a PhD student researching equity and student well-being, and a Board Exam Candidate in Health & Wellness Coaching, I offer evidence-informed coaching that supports both outcomes and your whole self, fostering a sense of being truly supported and understood. Whether you're seeking advancement, transition, or healing through education, I help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and care.
Gloria can help with:
Letters of Recommendation
Essays
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Resume
General Exploration
Interviews
Editing
Waitlist Strategy
School Selection
Gloria also coaches for PhD Programs, Mental Health & Wellness, and Life Coaching. View all.
About Gloria
From Gatekeeper to Guide, with Strategy, Soul, and Solidarity I’m Gloria—an Afro-Latina, first-gen scholar, trauma-informed coach, and former gatekeeper at some of the world’s most competitive institutions. Over the past 20 years, I’ve served as an Assistant Dean at MIT, an Assistant Director of Admissions at Harvard, and a graduate program leader at the University of Maryland. I’ve reviewed thousands of applications, managed multi-million-dollar fellowship portfolios, and helped shape policies that determine who gets in and who gets funded, which has inspired confidence in my expertise. But my work has always been about more than just the acceptance letter. As a residential proctor and equity-minded educator, I witnessed how high achievers often sacrifice their well-being for success. That’s why I pivoted. Today, I’m a PhD candidate at USC researching equity and student well-being, and a National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching Exam Candidate (March 2026). I combine the tactical skills of an admissions dean—crafting standout essays and negotiating funding—with the compassionate tools of a trauma-sensitive coach, offering a healing-centered, equity-driven approach tailored for high-achievers and professionals seeking meaningful change. Whether you’re a first-gen student navigating the hidden curriculum, a high-achieving applicant aiming for top-tier programs, or a seasoned professional seeking a meaningful pivot, I’m here to help you move forward feeling grounded, seen, and fully yourself.
Why do I coach?
I coach because even the most capable humans can burn out in systems that were never designed for their thriving. Again and again, I witnessed brilliant applicants get in—only to struggle with the hidden curriculum: funding complexity, isolation, power dynamics, and high-functioning anxiety. I often became the person they turned to when they were thinking about quitting. This work is deeply personal. I’ve been cited in over 20 doctoral dissertations—not for signing forms, but for offering the kind of grounded, healing-centered coaching that helped people finish with their purpose and power intact. I coach to democratize that kind of insider support. Whether we’re securing your funding or helping you feel steady again, I walk with you toward outcomes that are both liberating and aligned. Let me know if you’d like a shorter, mobile-friendly version or an alternative tailored to the mental health & wellness or life coaching category.
Work Experience

Assistant Dean
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
January 2018 - August 2020
Admissions Committee

Assistant Director
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
August 2015 - January 2017
Admissions Committee

Assistant Director
Harvard University
August 2011 - July 2015
Admissions Committee

Program Coordinator
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
August 2010 - July 2011
Assistant Director
University of Maryland
January 2003 - June 2010
Hiring Manager
Gloria was also given offers to work at
University of Michigan

The Ohio State University
Barnard College
Boston University
University of Virginia
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Education

University of Southern California
PhD, Education
2020 - 2027
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Master, Applied Sociology
2010 - 2011
Providence College
Bachelors of Science, Political Science, Sociology, and Business
1995 - 1999
6 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Gloria has helped Leland clients get into Massachusetts Institute of Technology