Talk to a team member
Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
Schedule a call
Explore Your Research Pathway: REUs, Summer Research & Grad Prep
Explore Your Research Pathway: REUs, Summer Research & Grad Prep
Offered by Gloria A.
5.0
MIT, Harvard & Maryland | Undergraduate Research & Grad Prep
Studied at University of Southern California
Admissions Committee at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Description
Research experience can help you explore what interests you, build skills and relationships, and learn whether graduate research feels like a path you want to pursue. But finding the right opportunity involves more than applying to the most recognizable summer programs. This package is for undergraduate students and early-stage researchers exploring REUs, SROPs, MSRP-style programs, summer research experiences, bridge programs, labs, and related opportunities. You do not need a finalized opportunity list or perfectly defined research agenda to begin. If you are still exploring, we can use our first session to clarify what matters to you, what you hope to learn, and what kinds of opportunities and environments may fit your next stage. Together, we may work on: • Your research interests, curiosity, and developmental goals • The strengths, experiences, relationships, and preparation you already bring • Overall fit across up to 6 opportunities you identify • Research focus, program structure, mentorship, community, and developmental fit • How your CV or résumé communicates your preparation • Your application positioning and next-stage research goals • Research is also about discovering the kinds of questions, communities, mentoring relationships, and environments that help you grow. Your package includes • 60-minute Research Pathway & Opportunity Strategy session • 50-minute Research Positioning & Application Strategy session Developmental review of one CV or résumé Strategic review of up to 6 client-selected research opportunities • Developmental review of one applicant-authored statement or essay up to 1,000 words • Personalized written Research Pathway Map • One consolidated follow-up The goal is not simply to strengthen an application. It is to help you identify research experiences where you can learn, contribute, build relationships, and continue developing as a researcher.
What you'll get from this package
Greater clarity about what you want your next research experience to help you learn and develop
Strategic insight into up to 6 research opportunities, including fit, mentorship, community, tradeoffs, and questions to investigate
Developmental feedback on one CV/résumé and one applicant-authored research statement or essay
A personalized Research Pathway Map summarizing your strengths, interests, developmental goals, fit criteria, key questions, supports, and next steps
A stronger ability to evaluate future research opportunities for yourself
Additional details
Coaching delivered via live sessions and .
My approach is collaborative, developmental, and strategy-focused. You bring your goals, experiences, questions, and the opportunities you are considering. I help you interpret what you find, recognize strengths and possibilities, compare options, identify unanswered questions, and connect opportunities to your development and longer-term goals. Session 1 | 60 minutes: Clarify what matters to you, what you already bring, what you hope to learn, and what kinds of research, mentoring, and community environments may fit. If needed, you can use those criteria between sessions to identify or refine the opportunities you want us to review. Session 2 | 50 minutes: Connect your research strategy to your CV/résumé, applicant-authored statement, opportunity priorities, and next steps. After the second session, you’ll receive your personalized Research Pathway Map. My role is not to choose a path for you. It is to help you understand your options more clearly and make informed choices about what will support your growth.
Complete this package within 45 days. The package includes one developmental review of one CV/résumé and one applicant-authored statement or essay up to 1,000 words. Review of revised drafts is additional advising. You are responsible for identifying the opportunities you would like to discuss and for verifying current deadlines, eligibility requirements, funding information, program policies, and application instructions directly with each program. You remain the author of all submitted materials. This package does not include application writing, exhaustive opportunity searches, contacting programs or faculty on your behalf, or guarantees of selection or placement. Additional substantive advising is available at $199/hour.
Services included:
Recommendations
School Selection
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
General Exploration
Supplementary Materials
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Talk to a team member
Schedule a call with a Leland team member who can help you explore your options.
Schedule a call
More packages from Gloria
Custom hourly · $199/hr
Get help with Recommendations, School Selection, and .
Gloria also coaches for PhD Programs, Master’s Programs, Mental Health & Wellness, and Life Coaching. View all.

Offered by Gloria A.
Joined January 2026
5.0
MIT, Harvard & Maryland | Undergraduate Research & Grad Prep
I help undergraduate students and early-stage researchers navigate research pathways, summer research opportunities, mentoring, and preparation for future graduate study. My approach is developmental rather than prestige-driven. Together, we’ll clarify what you already bring, what you hope to learn next, and the kinds of research environments, relationships, and opportunities that can support your growth. Across more than two decades in graduate education at MIT, Harvard, Maryland, and USC, I’ve supported students through research opportunities, admissions, mentoring, fellowships, and graduate-school preparation. As MIT Assistant Dean for Graduate Education, I directed the full lifecycle of the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP), including recruitment and holistic review, faculty and research placements, participant support, assessment, and alumni engagement. My goal isn’t simply to help you submit a stronger application. It’s to help you make thoughtful choices about where you can learn, contribute, build relationships, belong, and continue developing as a researcher.
$444
3h 30m of coaching