Students who major in Professional Communication and English Studies (PENG) often aim to pursue English or linguistics degrees through the senior-entry pathway in Non-JUPAS. On October 28, 2025, graduating PENG students gained invaluable insights at an admission interview workshop, organized by The PENG Alumni Association, where two successful alumni, Rachel and Sridika, shared their hands-on experiences and sensible advice.
Having enrolled in BA in English Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Rachel offered practical guidance on crafting strong personal statements. In the same manner, now studying in BA in General Linguistics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Sridika explained how to excel in the interview. The “new” third-year students subsequently addressed common misconceptions about preparation for Non-JUPAS.
A critical point of discussion was the structure of the PENG study path, which emphasizes professional communication in the first year before shifting to literary and linguistic theories in the second. “Interviewers may assume us lack theoretical training because of our initial focus on practical skills, as shown in the transcript,” explained Rachel, who actually obtained high grades in PENG courses on linguistics and English literature. “But the outcomes of our later coursework, which were still ‘pending’ by the time we submitted the application form, did provide a strong foundation for theoretical studies,” said Sridika, who strongly recommended PENG students highlight this progression to demonstrate their readiness in the interview.
The PENG alumni encouraged students to adopt these strategies for a competitive application:
- Stress advanced coursework: Purposefully outline higher-level modules (e.g., “Literary Appreciation”) that they are or will be taking to showcase academic depth.
- Connect skills to theory: Illustrate how practical training, such as “Oral Communication for the Professions”, has strengthened analytical abilities related to linguistic courses, such as “Fundamentals of Linguistics”.
- Research the target program(s) thoroughly: Familiarize yourselves with the departmental focus areas, map the courses you have completed here, such as “Contemporary English Grammar”, to those you look forward to studying out there, and align your capabilities with some of the academic staff’s research interests.
For personal statements, Rachel advised moving beyond cliché or generic achievements: “Rather than repeat what is already told by the transcript, explain how PENG has shaped your academic goals and prepared you for advanced study.” Sridika added, “Tell them something that will blow their minds if you want to stand out in a big crowd of CVs.”
Attendees, a mix of both first-year and graduating PENG students, left with a clear understanding of how to present their AD background as an asset, one combining professional communication skills with rigorous theoretical training. On the day this feature story is published, some of them have already received a conditional offer from Non-JUPAS, starting a new chapter on English studies and linguistics soon.
