Admissions committee
← Interview review

Ahmed Elsayed

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Egypt · Thanaweya Amma, 97% · IELTS 6.0

Interviewed 13 October 2026 at 5:54 · 7 min

Summary

Ahmed is a motivated applicant with a genuine early interest in how machines work and a reasonable grasp of what mechanical engineering involves. The interview showed general knowledge and a specific interest in Khalifa's Masdar campus, but few concrete examples of hands-on work or leadership actions.

Check before deciding

  • The applicant could not give a specific engineering problem example and said they were not sure of the details, so the committee may want to probe technical depth.
  • The leadership claim lacks specifics about what the applicant personally did when the group got stuck.

Khalifa University interview criteria

  1. Proficiency in English communication

    3/5

    The applicant was understandable throughout but relied on frequent fillers and some grammar slips, so the English is adequate rather than polished.

    “Khalifa is a very good university. It is, uh, one of the best in the UAE, and the engineering is strong.”

    Ahmed, in the interview

  2. Familiarity with the relevant profession

    3/5

    The applicant described the field's core activities and subjects accurately but generally, and could not give a concrete example of an engineering problem.

    “They apply principles of thermodynamics, and, um, materials, and also they do the testing and the... the improvement of the products.”

    Ahmed, in the interview

  3. Commitment to pursue a professional degree program

    3/5

    The applicant has taken some self-directed steps, such as videos, a free physics course, and a gear drawing attempt, but the examples are thin and modest in scope.

    “I tried to draw a, a gear in a computer program. It was, um, not perfect. But I learned the basics.”

    Ahmed, in the interview

  4. Reasons for choosing Khalifa University

    3/5

    The applicant gave a specific interest in the Masdar campus and research labs, though the first reason offered was general reputation.

    “the campus in Masdar, which is about, uh, energy and sustainability. That is interesting for me.”

    Ahmed, in the interview

  5. Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities

    2/5

    The applicant claimed a leadership role in a group project but described only general encouragement with no specific actions taken when the group got stuck.

    “I told everyone to, um, work together and be positive. And we, we finished the project in the end.”

    Ahmed, in the interview

Full transcript

22 turns
  1. Nura

    Hi Ahmed, 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 Mechanical Engineering?

  2. Ahmed

    Uh, yes. So since I was small I like machines, and how things work. My father has a car and I always want to open the engine and see inside. So, mechanical engineering is the field that, um, designs and builds machines.

  3. Nura

    What does a mechanical engineer actually do day to day?

  4. Ahmed

    Mechanical engineers, they design, analyze, and, uh, manufacture mechanical systems. They apply principles of thermodynamics, and, um, materials, and also they do the testing and the... the improvement of the products.

  5. Nura

    Can you give me one specific example of a problem a mechanical engineer solved?

  6. Ahmed

    Um... like, engines? Designing a better engine, to use less fuel. I think. I'm not sure the details.

  7. Nura

    Thanks. Outside of school, what have you done toward engineering?

  8. Ahmed

    I watched a lot of videos on YouTube, about engineering and, uh, mechanics. And I did an online course, like a free one, about physics.

  9. Nura

    What did you actually build or try yourself from that course or those videos?

  10. Ahmed

    Uh... I tried to draw a, a gear in a computer program. It was, um, not perfect. But I learned the basics.

  11. Nura

    Why Khalifa University, and not another university?

  12. Ahmed

    Khalifa is a very good university. It is, uh, one of the best in the UAE, and the engineering is strong. And the classes are in English, which is good for me.

  13. Nura

    What is it about Khalifa specifically, beyond its general reputation?

  14. Ahmed

    Um, the research? I read that they have research centers, and the labs. And the campus in Masdar, which is about, uh, energy and sustainability. That is interesting for me.

  15. Nura

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

  16. Ahmed

    Yes. In school we had a group project, a science project. I was the leader of the group.

  17. Nura

    What did you specifically do when your group got stuck?

  18. Ahmed

    Uh... I told everyone to, um, work together and be positive. And we, we finished the project in the end.

  19. Nura

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

  20. Ahmed

    Um, I work very hard. I am ready for the challenge of the program. I hope you accept me, please.

  21. Nura

    Thank you, Ahmed. That's everything for today, and you'll hear from the admissions team soon.

  22. Ahmed

    Thank you, Nura. Thank you for your time. Bye.