From Business Chinese to a Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS) at the Central University of Finance and Economics
From Business Chinese at FTU to the Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS) at CUFE, Phuong Linh proves that a cross-disciplinary profile can be compelling with a clear and consistent direction.
🌱 For Nguyen Phuong Linh, the journey to a Master's degree didn't start with a profile full of "heavyweight" achievements. The most notable aspect of her application lay in a different question: how to convince the admissions committee that transitioning from Business Chinese to International Business was a logical step?
Linh graduated with a degree in Business Chinese from Foreign Trade University (FTU). When deciding to apply for the Master of International Business (MIB) program at the Central University of Finance and Economics, she understood that her profile might be viewed as a career pivot.
But for Linh, this was no impulsive decision.
Her Business Chinese background helped her approach the language within economic and commercial contexts. Subsequent internship experiences drew her even closer to the business field. Therefore, instead of "abandoning" her old major to start over, Linh wanted to use her linguistic proficiency as a tool to delve deeper into International Business.
💜 When she began working with Tron Tru, the most important challenge wasn't adding a mountain of new achievements, but clarifying the logic of the entire profile.
Why choose MIB after studying Business Chinese?
How does previous experience relate to the new field of study?
Why is CUFE the right fit for her career goals?
After graduation, what path does Linh intend to pursue using both her language background and business knowledge?
The academic CV was revised so the committee could quickly identify truly relevant experience. The study plan was also structured with a clearer narrative, connecting the past, present, and future goals rather than forcing a story that didn't belong to the candidate.
This is also the point that Linh considers most important in an application for a career change.
A candidate does not necessarily need to prove that the two fields are identical. What needs to be proven is that the transition has a clear rationale, preparation, and serves a specific long-term objective.
For Linh, the advantage lay in a solid GPA, a strong foundation in Chinese, and relevant internship experience. Each element individually might not be an extraordinary achievement, but when placed within a single development trajectory, they help the committee better understand why you want to study International Business.
Another challenge arose during the documentation stage because Linh had not yet officially graduated at the time of application. Fortunately, CUFE did not require a certificate of expected graduation in her case, which helped alleviate some of the procedural pressure.
After the application round came the interview.
The questions focused heavily on internship experience, foundational economic knowledge, and future career direction. This is also when the consistency of the application becomes more important than ever.
Linh did not need to memorize a perfect version of herself. What helped her feel confident was having a deep understanding of what she had written in her CV and study plan, knowing why each experience was included in her profile, and being clear about where she wanted to go after the MIB program.
As a result, Phuong Linh officially received the CIS Scholarship Type B and enrolled in the Master of International Business program at the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE), Beijing.
Looking back on this journey, Linh believes that before submitting an application, every candidate should answer three questions:
Why this major?
Why this school?
Why this country?
If the answers to these three questions connect to your own experiences and goals, then a "career change" isn't necessarily a weakness.
At Trơn Tru, Phương Linh’s case demonstrates a profile very different from those packed with numerous high-profile awards. Sometimes, what makes an application compelling isn't how many lines of achievements you have, but whether every part of your application tells a consistent story about who you are and where you are headed.
Changing fields isn't scary. What’s scarier is an application that fails to explain why you want to pursue a new path.
Student Testimonials
“Trơn Tru helped me identify the right schools, refine my Academic CV, and build a more logical Study Plan. When I went into my interview, what gave me the most confidence was having a deep understanding of my CV, my Study Plan, and the reasons behind my choice of major.”
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Messages from Mentees
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"Enthusiastic support and guidance on top-tier schools. I trust Chi completely."
"Chi is super dedicated, thoughtful, and meticulous. I only had to focus on working on my application; she took the initiative to remind me of every stage: what needed to be done next and what to prioritize. Beyond just helping with my studies abroad, she also provided emotional support whenever I felt anxious or stressed."
"The biggest reason was the transparency from our very first conversation with Mai Chi—her advice was direct, clear, and no-nonsense. If I had been left to navigate that sea of information on my own, I probably would have given up or settled for a safe path that didn't meet my expectations."
"Thanh Hà is incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She helped me write my research paper, which strengthened my application—this was the key to me getting into CSC Nankai and securing provincial/university scholarships. We did mock tests day and night, and she really helped me hit the mark."
"She believed in my potential more than I did myself — instead of advising me to apply to lower-tier schools, she encouraged me to aim higher. I told a friend that I probably wouldn't have achieved these results today without the Tron Tru team."
"The mentor is enthusiastic and dedicated to her mentees. Tron Tru has many students who have successfully won full scholarships, even to top-tier universities in China."
"The mentor has a strong academic background and practical experience; her way of working made me feel secure and respected. After this journey, I have much more confidence in myself."
"The mentor has a strong academic background and practical experience, and is always dedicated to helping members improve their profiles. I saw many others succeed, which is why I decided to join Tron Tru Hoi."
"Affordable pricing, attentive care for mentees, and clear advice. My mentor provided great encouragement, gave an honest assessment of my profile rather than just pushing for high-ranking schools, and truly respected my decisions."
"I applied for the English program, which included guidance on scientific research, interview preparation, and writing a study plan. I am grateful for the high-quality support in preparing my application and interview."
"The biggest reason was the transparency from the very first conversation with Mai Chi — her advice was direct, clear, and no-nonsense. If I had been left to navigate the sea of information on my own, I probably would have given up or settled for a safe path that didn't meet my expectations."
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