Expert Guidance
No matter how academically ready they are, without practice,
your child won’t be able to show their best.
​That’s why you need expert guidance. Your child deserves to be
confident throughout the admissions process.
​We know New York City private schools inside and out.
Lara, PLEASED's founder, is a Horace Mann graduate who went on to become a
celebrated teacher and literacy coach in New York City. She has successfully helped
many children navigate the private school admissions process and receive
acceptances at NYC’s most elite schools.
Admissions Prep
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Interactive Learning Assessment:
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Establishes a personalized learning path for your child
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Focuses on academic, verbal, and social-emotional skills
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Skill Development:
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Strengthens overall academic skills
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Prepares students for the First Looks Insight (FLI), ISEE, and TACHS exams
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Group Playdates:
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Group playdates offered monthly to assess academic and soft skills in a real-world setting
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Sign up below
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Tailored Support:
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We prepare your child for various scenarios, boosting confidence in their abilities
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Individualized approach ensures your child shines in every situation
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Flexible Learning Environment:
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Sessions offered in our Upper East Side learning space or virtually
Application Writing
Our resident writer, advisor and editor, Helena Dea Bala, will support your family through the application process by providing a range of support. Whether you need a completely new essay crafted from scratch or expert editing and polishing of your existing work, our personalized support will guide you through the essay writing journey. ​Reach out today for more detailed information.
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Meet Helena Dea Bala
Helena Dea Bala is an author, reformed lawyer, and former lobbyist living in the Upper East Side. In another life, Helena worked on and off Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and eventually quit her job (read: came to her senses) to write her debut nonfiction book, published in 2020 by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster). She is currently working on her second nonfiction - a collection of stories about people who've led extraordinary lives.
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Helena's writing has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Quartz, and myriad other outlets. Her day job is as Vice President in public relations, and she also runs a small business through which she helps promising bright minds brainstorm and write their Ivy League application essays.
She spends her free time going on city adventures with her family. Her son attends Collegiate School.
PreK - College Admission
Our students have been accepted to the following schools
