Admissions committee
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Yusuf Demir

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

Turkey · IB Diploma, 36 points · TOEFL 98

Interviewed 16 October 2026 at 17:53 · 7 min

Summary

Yusuf is a clear, self-motivated applicant whose interest in aircraft is backed by a drone project built with friends and a specific interest in research labs. The applicant's general knowledge of aerospace work is thin, and the leadership example shows a self-acknowledged difficulty with holding peers to account.

Check before deciding

  • Ask the applicant to describe the drone project in more technical detail to confirm the personal role in building and fixing it.
  • The applicant was unsure about what aerospace engineers actually do, so the committee may want to probe professional familiarity further.

Khalifa University interview criteria

  1. Proficiency in English communication

    4/5

    The applicant answered clearly and fluently with only minor grammar slips, and could explain self-critique in English.

    “I think I was too soft, maybe. I was nervous to say it directly.”

    Yusuf, in the interview

  2. Familiarity with the relevant profession

    3/5

    The applicant gave a general picture of aerospace work and a physics example of lift, but admitted uncertainty about the details.

    “I'm not totally sure about all the details, but that is the general idea.”

    Yusuf, in the interview

  3. Commitment to pursue a professional degree program

    4/5

    The applicant showed sustained interest through self-directed videos and a drone project that was built and fixed after repeated failures.

    “I want to do practical things, not only read books. I like to build and test.”

    Yusuf, in the interview

  4. Reasons for choosing Khalifa University

    4/5

    The applicant gave specific reasons tied to early research lab access and hands-on work, though the ranking and English instruction reasons were more general.

    “I read on the website that there are research labs, and students can join projects maybe in first or second year.”

    Yusuf, in the interview

  5. Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities

    4/5

    The applicant described a clear personal role organizing a group project and reflected honestly on the weak follow-up, though the outcome was late.

    “In a group project in grade eleven, I made the schedule and the tasks.”

    Yusuf, in the interview

Full transcript

19 turns
  1. Nura

    Hi Yusuf, I'm Nura, and I'll be doing your Khalifa University admissions interview today. It takes about six minutes and there are no trick questions. To start, what first got you interested in Aerospace Engineering?

  2. Yusuf

    Um, okay. I like planes since I was small. My uncle took me to Istanbul airport and I watched the planes take off, and I was like, how does this big thing fly? So I always want to know that.

  3. Nura

    What does an aerospace engineer actually do day to day?

  4. Yusuf

    They design planes, I think. Make them fly better, more safe. And maybe they test things, like wings and engines, and they use computers for the calculations. I'm not totally sure about all the details, but that is the general idea.

  5. Nura

    Can you give me one specific example of something you've learned about how flight works?

  6. Yusuf

    Uh, yes. Like lift. The air goes faster over the top of the wing so the pressure is less, and that pushes the wing up. My physics teacher showed this with a paper, you blow over it and it goes up. It was very simple but I thought it was cool.

  7. Nura

    Thanks. What have you done outside of class that connects to aerospace?

  8. Yusuf

    I watch a lot of videos about aircraft, like how they are built. And, um, last year me and two friends made a small drone for a school science fair. It crashed many times. But we fixed it and it flew at the end, so that was good.

  9. Nura

    Thanks, Yusuf. Why Khalifa University, and not another university?

  10. Yusuf

    Khalifa University is very well ranked, my teacher said it is one of the best in this region. And it is in Abu Dhabi, the instruction is in English, which is good for me. And it has aerospace, obviously, so that is the main thing.

  11. Nura

    What draws you to it beyond the ranking?

  12. Yusuf

    Hmm. I read on the website that there are research labs, and students can join projects maybe in first or second year. I think that is important because I want to do practical things, not only read books. I like to build and test.

  13. Nura

    Good. Can you tell me about a time you led others or took the first step on something?

  14. Yusuf

    Hmm, I'm not sure it was leading really. In a group project in grade eleven, I made the schedule and the tasks. Some people did not do their part, so I wrote in the group chat and asked them. We finished, but late.

  15. Nura

    What happened when you asked them to do their part?

  16. Yusuf

    Some of them answered and they did it. Some did not answer until the last day. I think I was too soft, maybe. I was nervous to say it directly. I am still learning how to do that.

  17. Nura

    Thank you for being honest about that. Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about you?

  18. Yusuf

    Um, I am a quiet person but I learn fast. I work hard when I care about something, and I really care about aircraft. I know I need more experience with leading people, and I want to get better. That's all I think.

  19. Nura

    Thank you, Yusuf. That concludes your interview, and the admissions office will be in touch with you soon. Good luck.