Admissions committee
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Noor Al-Hashimi

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Iraq · American, GPA 3.6 with AP Physics · TOEFL 85

Interviewed 14 October 2026 at 20:59 · 6 min

Summary

Noor connected a childhood memory of a damaged bridge in Mosul to a clear goal of rebuilding bridges there, supported by a hands-on popsicle-stick project and a family-based leadership example. The interview showed solid engineering interest and commitment, while the reasons for choosing Khalifa University were general and the applicant left the main reason unstated.

Check before deciding

  • Noor said the Abu Dhabi connection was 'not the main reason' but never named the main reason for choosing Khalifa University.
  • Noor's leadership example is a home responsibility for a younger brother, not a group or formal role, so the committee may want to probe leadership beyond family.

Khalifa University interview criteria

  1. Proficiency in English communication

    4/5

    Noor answered clearly and fluently with some hesitation, and the points were easy to follow throughout.

    “I added triangles, because triangles don't bend the same way. And the second one held more, almost three times.”

    Noor, in the interview

  2. Familiarity with the relevant profession

    4/5

    Noor described design, safety checks, and site calculations, and tested a popsicle-stick bridge model with a clear personal role, though admitted uncertainty about details.

    “There was this engineer measuring everything, and I was like, wow, somebody has to be that careful.”

    Noor, in the interview

  3. Commitment to pursue a professional degree program

    4/5

    Noor has a concrete long-term goal tied to a personal experience and a hands-on project, though the closing 'I guess' hints at some uncertainty.

    “I want to rebuild the bridges in Mosul. Not just look at pictures of them.”

    Noor, in the interview

  4. Reasons for choosing Khalifa University

    3/5

    Noor gave relevant but general reasons and said the main reason was not stated, with a convenience reason (a cousin in Abu Dhabi) offered.

    “the classes are in English, which is good for me, and I read that it's a research university, so students can do real projects, not only exams.”

    Noor, in the interview

  5. Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities

    4/5

    Noor gave a specific example of building a study schedule for a brother that led to a passing grade, with a clear personal role, though it is a family setting rather than a formal group.

    “I'm not really a leader, like with a title. But at home, my mom works long shifts, so I take care of my brothers.”

    Noor, in the interview

Full transcript

20 turns
  1. Nura

    Hi Noor, 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 Civil Engineering?

  2. Noor

    Um, okay. I grew up in Mosul, and there was a bridge near our house over the river. After the war it was, like, broken in the middle. My grandfather used to walk us across to visit my aunt, and then he couldn't anymore, because it wasn't safe.

  3. Nura

    And what does a civil engineer actually do day to day, as far as you know?

  4. Noor

    Hmm. I think they design the bridge, and they check if it's safe? And they go to the site, with the workers, and they do calculations, like how much weight the bridge can... carry. I'm not sure about all the details yet.

  5. Nura

    Can you think of one specific thing you read or saw that made that real for you?

  6. Noor

    Yes, I watched a documentary about the old bridges in Mosul and how they were rebuilt. There was this engineer measuring everything, and I was like, wow, somebody has to be that careful. I want to be that person.

  7. Nura

    What have you done outside class to explore that field?

  8. Noor

    Um, I did a small project with my physics teacher. We made a model bridge from popsicle sticks, and it held like two kilos? Then it broke, and I was really sad, but I learned the joints were weak.

  9. Nura

    What did you change for your second try?

  10. Noor

    I added triangles, because triangles don't bend the same way. And the second one held more, almost three times. My teacher said that's a real idea engineers use.

  11. Nura

    Why Khalifa University, and not another university?

  12. Noor

    Um, the classes are in English, which is good for me, and I read that it's a research university, so students can do real projects, not only exams. My cousin lives in Abu Dhabi, so I know the city a little. But that's not the main reason, I think.

  13. Nura

    Thank you. Now, tell me about a time you led others, or took the first step when nobody else did.

  14. Noor

    I'm not really a leader, like with a title. But at home, my mom works long shifts, so I take care of my brothers. I make them breakfast and check their homework. My little brother Ahmed was failing math, so I made a schedule with him.

  15. Nura

    What happened after you made that schedule?

  16. Noor

    Um, he got better. Not perfect, but he passed. And I think he started to like it, because now he asks me questions about the bridges too, like how they stay up.

  17. Nura

    Is there anything you want the committee to know that we haven't asked?

  18. Noor

    I think... I want to rebuild the bridges in Mosul. Not just look at pictures of them. When my little cousins cross a bridge there one day, I want to know it's safe. That's why I'm here, I guess.

  19. Nura

    Thank you, Noor. We appreciate you sharing that with us, and we wish you the best of luck.

  20. Noor

    Thank you, Nura. Thank you for listening.