Our Mission

When you work with JCE, you are not getting a one-size-fits-all method. You are getting the long-term commitment of two very experienced college professors—Joy Kim and Chad Diehl—who founded their consultancy based on a shared desire to demystify and de-stress the college admissions process. Students who work with us will feel and be successful as they move on to the next exciting chapter in their lives.

We are committed to ensuring a positive experience for each student we work with by providing the guidance necessary to identify individual strengths, limitations, and interests; to effectively communicate these strengths in their college applications; and to help that individual grow on their journey to college. Our holistic approach inspires students to rise to the many challenges of the college preparation and application processes. We center the student at every stage, and, most importantly, we want their time working with us to be enjoyable, exciting, and empowering, so that they head to college with the confidence and enthusiasm to succeed. There is no standard template that works for everyone, because each student is unique.

JCE supports busy parents in communicating with their children about goals, requirements, deadlines, and expectations. We bring a neutral, yet caring and empathetic perspective to help with a process that can be emotionally fraught and difficult. Having a highly experienced consulting team on your side will help you maintain your peace of mind.

JCE’s founders, Joy Kim and Chad Diehl, met in New York City at Columbia University while studying in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. After receiving doctorates in History, both Joy and Chad have taught and advised students at elite U.S. colleges and universities.

We draw on decades of experience both as professors—teaching and advising undergraduate and graduate students—and as advisors who have guided hundreds of students along their educational journeys.

Joy and Chad know how to teach students to be successful in their college applications and to start strong once there. We welcome the opportunity to meet you, and to discuss how we can help you on your path to success.

Who does JCE work with?

JCE works with college-bound students of all types, including traditional US high school-to-college students, international students, transfer students, students who wish to return to college after a hiatus, and more. We have Korean and Japanese linguistic and cultural fluency and especially welcome international students from East Asia.

How JCE works

Joy and Chad work as a team with each student. We require an initial consultation with a student and the student’s family as a team, and we develop a personalized custom plan together. At times, either Joy or Chad will take the primary consulting role with a student after the initial plan development phase, but our clients always have access to our combined skills when they engage us. Frequent communication is critical for every student’s success, and we will meet regularly with you through video (e.g., Zoom, Teams, FaceTime) and phone to ensure that we stay on track with your plan and adjust it as circumstances evolve. Where possible, we also may meet in-person.