Admissions committee
← Interview review

Rania Barakat

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Palestine · IB Diploma, 37 points · IELTS 7.5

Interviewed 13 October 2026 at 2:53 · 8 min

Summary

Rania links a personal origin story about an uncle's prosthetic to a prototype project, a clinic volunteer stint, and a clear plan to return and build devices for people at home. The strongest evidence is the debate captaincy, where the applicant grew a four-member team to eleven and changed practice based on what members wanted.

Check before deciding

  • The applicant was unsure about the everyday work of a biomedical engineer, so the committee may wish to probe familiarity with the profession.
  • The claimed growth of the debate team to eleven members and the regional finals result could be verified against school records.

Khalifa University interview criteria

  1. Proficiency in English communication

    4/5

    The applicant answered clearly and fluently throughout, with only minor hesitations.

    “Also the classes are in English, and I think that will help me later with research papers.”

    Rania, in the interview

  2. Familiarity with the relevant profession

    4/5

    The applicant described a concrete prototype fix and a clinic experience, though the day-to-day description of the job was vague and unsure.

    “So I changed the design to use a different tendon path, and I printed the joints in a stronger plastic.”

    Rania, in the interview

  3. Commitment to pursue a professional degree program

    4/5

    The applicant linked a personal origin story, hands-on projects, and a stated plan to return and build devices to a commitment to the field.

    “and I want to come back and build devices for people at home.”

    Rania, in the interview

  4. Reasons for choosing Khalifa University

    4/5

    The applicant cited early undergraduate research and English-taught classes as specific reasons, and acknowledged the cost of moving to Abu Dhabi.

    “I want to work in a real lab, not just read about it.”

    Rania, in the interview

  5. Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities

    5/5

    The applicant took over a four-member debate team, grew it to eleven, reached regional finals, and adjusted the approach by listening after early discouragement.

    “So I asked each member what they wanted to get from debate, and I changed the sessions to match that.”

    Rania, in the interview

Full transcript

20 turns
  1. Nura

    Hi Rania, 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 Biomedical Engineering?

  2. Rania

    Um, okay. So, my uncle lost two fingers in an accident when I was like twelve. He got a prosthetic, but it was really expensive, and it kind of didn't fit well, so he stopped using it. I remember thinking, why can't this be better? And that's, I guess, where it started.

  3. Nura

    What does someone with a biomedical engineering degree actually do day to day?

  4. Rania

    I think... they work with doctors and patients to design devices, or they test things in a lab, and they also do a lot of calculations and simulations on computers. Maybe they also write reports? I'm not totally sure about the everyday part, honestly. I'm still learning that.

  5. Nura

    Can you give me one specific example of a problem you solved while building your prototype?

  6. Rania

    Yes. The first version had fingers that would not close properly, because the cables kept slipping off the joints. So I changed the design to use a different tendon path, and I printed the joints in a stronger plastic. After that it could hold a small cup, which was really exciting for me.

  7. Nura

    Outside of class, what have you done toward biomedical engineering?

  8. Rania

    I did an online course about medical devices, and I entered the prototype in our regional science fair. I also volunteered for a few weeks at a community clinic, mostly filing papers, but I got to see how the staff talked to patients. That was useful, I think.

  9. Nura

    Which of those experiences taught you the most, and why?

  10. Rania

    The clinic, I think. The prototype was my design, but at the clinic I saw that a device is not just about working. People need to feel comfortable using it. A nurse told me that some patients avoid equipment because it looks too strange, so now I think about appearance too.

  11. Nura

    Why Khalifa University, and not another university?

  12. Rania

    Khalifa University has a lot of research labs, and I read that undergraduates can join research early, which is different from many places. I want to work in a real lab, not just read about it. Also the classes are in English, and I think that will help me later with research papers. Abu Dhabi is far from home, so that is a big decision, but I'm ready for it.

  13. Nura

    Thank you. Tell me about a time you led others or took the first step on something.

  14. Rania

    In my school, our debate team had only four members and we were losing every competition. I became captain, and I asked the teachers for a training schedule, and I started practice sessions on Saturdays. At first only three people came, but by the end of the year we had eleven, and we reached the regional finals.

  15. Nura

    What did you do when things didn't go well at the start?

  16. Rania

    Honestly, I got a bit discouraged. Some people said it was a waste of time. So I asked each member what they wanted to get from debate, and I changed the sessions to match that. Listening first made a difference. I didn't expect that to be the lesson, but it was.

  17. Nura

    Is there anything you want the committee to know about you?

  18. Rania

    Yes. I know my school in Palestine doesn't have many resources, and some things I learned, I learned from videos and borrowed books. I'm not saying that to get sympathy. I just want them to know I make things work with what I have, and I want to come back and build devices for people at home.

  19. Nura

    Thank you, Rania. We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today.

  20. Rania

    Thank you, Nura. This was a good conversation, and I hope to see you at Khalifa University.