Who we are

Smiling woman sitting in a gray chair, wearing a purple shirt and jeans.

​Joy Suzuki is an independent educational consultant and founder of Suzuki Educational Consulting. Joy earned her Bachelor's degree in French from Wheaton College (IL), a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of San Francisco, and her certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed the IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Summer Training Institute, and is a member of IECA and the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC). The field of college admissions is everchanging, and there is always more to learn. Joy attends numerous professional conferences and workshops and visits colleges across the country, meeting admissions officers and networking with other professionals in the field.

​Throughout her professional career, Joy has worked with students from around the world in leadership, administrative, advising, and teaching roles in the field of international education and cross-cultural exchange. She worked with many college-bound students in those roles, helping with test prep and essay writing, and guiding students in their college decisions. Joy has extensive personal experience in learning other languages (Japanese, French, and Spanish) as well as traveling, living, studying, and working abroad. She has taught and advised secondary school students in Japan and in the U.S., and is experienced in assessing needs and delivering tailored instruction to help students reach their full potential.

An IEC since 2020, Joy came into the profession with an already strong skill set in counseling, teaching, organization, project management, communication, and, most importantly, building relationships with teens and young adults. Using a student-centered approach, she empowers students to confidently take charge of their college journey and find the right college fit. Joy is strongly committed to inspiring students to achieve their academic and personal goals, by providing professional and personalized guidance through the transition to college and beyond.

Why Hire an Educational Consultant?

  • An educational consultant is able to provide individualized guidance tailored to the student’s unique needs and goals.

  • An educational consultant will get to know the student well. Taking into account the student’s unique academic profile, interests, and goals, and combining that with their extensive knowledge of colleges, they help students craft a balanced list of best-fit colleges. They help students discover schools that otherwise might not have been on their radar.

  • Quality educational consultants, especially those belonging to professional organizations such as IECA, have insider information about colleges and universities and can help students make informed decisions about which schools will fit best with their goals and interests. They also are connected with admissions officers, alumni, and colleagues, and have information and resources that aren’t available online.

  • Educational consultants take time to get to know the student’s strengths and interests, and can provide advice and direction on potential future careers, guiding students towards college programs that best align with their career goals - whether that be a college that aligns well with a specific career interest or a college that offers plenty of opportunity to explore.

  • An educational consultant helps keep the college application process organized by advising them on timelines, tracking and managing deadlines, and understanding requirements of colleges on the student’s list. Better knowledge and organization means less stress and anxiety.

  • From advice on high school course selection and extracurricular involvement to strategies and feedback for crafting strong and authentic essays, an educational consultant will help students put their best foot forward on college applications.

  • Hiring an educational consultant can help students and families understand college affordability and increase the chance of a student receiving financial aid. A consultant can help students and families understand the expected cost of colleges, identify colleges that are a good financial fit, provide resources for scholarships, and assist with the financial aid application process.

  • Teens don’t always want to listen to their parents (an understatement?), and parents and teens don’t always see eye to eye when it comes to college choices and fit. A consultant acts as an objective partner, helping bridge the gap between students’ and parents’ perspectives and goals. Consultants can also help student clarify their goals and aspirations, leading to more informed college choices.

High school college counselors have an important role to play in the college admissions process, but they likely have to spread their time and attention across hundreds of students, making it very difficult if not impossible for them to personalize their advice for each student. An educational consultant gets to know you well, is knowledgeable about the college admissions landscape, and can help you discover colleges that are the best fit academically, socially, and financially.

"Why Choose a Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association" flyer, describing benefits of hiring an IECA member for educational guidance, including expertise, a professional network, and adherence to high standards. Includes contact details for IECA.

Testimonials from parents and students

  • "When we started the process, we were overwhelmed for several reasons. One, the process is entirely different from when us parents went through it eons ago. Two, we wanted to keep our relationship with our teenager as positive supporters, not stressed out parents nagging about deadlines. Having an "outside person" (Joy actually becomes a trusted confidant during the process) handle the process, including asking the questions to find out what the kid really wants with informed options, was very valuable. Joy is *very* knowledgeable. And more importantly, she spends individual time to first really get to know your child. Joy spends a foundational time understanding your child first so she can the recommend a variety of places that may match. Again, it's a process and she brings a wide net and then helps in the focus...all along with the support of deadlines etc. She is the trusted counselor. The journey is not about the "top uni" but more about the magical match and honestly, I feel our daughter found her college thanks to Joy."

    ~ Mie, parent

  • "Before we began working with Joy, I was feeling like I needed help. I was feeling like my daughter would benefit from another voice in the room rather than mine. Navigating applications, coming up with a list, figuring out financing were all daunting. The best part of working with Joy was the pace, the consistency, knowing that my daughter was in good hands and that I could enter and exit the process whenever...Joy is the answer to all of your questions!"

    ~ Mark, parent

  • "Working with Joy, I realized that the college application process is not as daunting as it seems. I appreciated having her perspective on which colleges were best for me and getting constructive feedback on my essays."

    Leela, student

  • "We really appreciate all Joy's help and could not have done it without her. What started out as so stressful and overwhelming became possible! My son learned a lot about himself in the process and changed the direction from where he thought he wanted to go."

    ~ parent

  • "I wouldn't have been able to get those application together with such good quality without Joy's help. So thankful!"

    ~ student

  • "We're thankful for Joy's guidance and support throughout our daughter’s college application process. We are incredibly grateful for the advice and encouragement Joy provided. It helped out daughter better understand her options and feel confident in her college decision."

    ~ parent

  • "We loved working with Joy and couldn’t have managed the college application process without her guidance."

    ~ parent

  • "I’m grateful for Joy’s support and for answering all of our questions as our son applied to 4 year schools after junior college. Her knowledge of the admissions process and what would be looked for in the essays were extremely helpful. I am thankful that we had Joy to help manage the entire process and confirm submission deadlines were met – helped us tremendously!"

    - parent

  • "Before I started working with Joy, I had no idea where to start, and it all scared me. It’s very helpful to have a guide through this process because you want to make sure you have all the information in order to make the best decision possible. Joy was very good at gathering data and that helped me choose my college."

    ~ student

  • “I was very nervous and didn’t know where to start before I started working with Joy. I didn’t know what I was looking for in a college. Trying to find ideas for the essays was hardest. Joy made the process way smoother and made me feel less anxious and the process less daunting. My favorite part of working with Joy was that she always pushed me in the right direction and she was easy to work with.”

    ~ Maggie, student