Admissions committee
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Meera Shah

Bachelor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences

Kenya · IB Diploma, 35 points · Native English

Interviewed 11 October 2026 at 20:57 · 8 min

Summary

Meera shows real curiosity about Mars and the Hope probe, along with a clear personal role organizing a school science project after volunteering. Meera was less certain about what the degree involves day to day and gave general reasons for choosing the university.

Check before deciding

  • Check Meera's day-to-day understanding of the field, since Meera said it was unclear and the interview did not fully explore it.
  • Confirm the level of Meera's independent study, as the claim of nightly reading was not tested with specific examples.

Khalifa University interview criteria

  1. Proficiency in English communication

    4/5

    Meera answered clearly and fluently with only minor filler words, and the answers were easy to follow.

    “I think I'm really serious about this, even if my background isn't the typical one.”

    Meera, in the interview

  2. Familiarity with the relevant profession

    3/5

    Meera knows a few relevant field activities, such as microscope work, sample collection, and modeling, but said plainly that the day-to-day work is unclear.

    “I read that geologists look at minerals under a microscope to figure out how a place formed.”

    Meera, in the interview

  3. Commitment to pursue a professional degree program

    4/5

    Meera describes self-driven study done late at night and a stated wish to learn the subject in depth.

    “I've been reading on my own a lot, and I want to learn it properly, not just from videos.”

    Meera, in the interview

  4. Reasons for choosing Khalifa University

    3/5

    Meera's reasons rely partly on a teacher's advice and general features of the university, with little specific knowledge of its programs.

    “my biology teacher said KU has science research, and it's in the UAE near the desert”

    Meera, in the interview

  5. Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities

    4/5

    Meera took a clear personal role organizing a stalled school project and changed the approach when attendance was a problem, though the result was described only loosely.

    “I kind of volunteered to organize it. I wasn't sure how to do it, so I made a schedule and just started asking people.”

    Meera, in the interview

Full transcript

19 turns
  1. Nura

    Hi Meera, 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 Earth and Planetary Sciences?

  2. Meera

    Um, so I think it started when I watched a documentary about Mars, like the rovers and the red landscapes. And then I just kept looking things up at night, you know, until really late.

  3. Nura

    That sounds like a good start. What does someone with an Earth and Planetary Sciences degree actually do day to day?

  4. Meera

    Umm... I think they study rocks? And maybe they go out to the field to collect samples. I'm not totally sure about the day-to-day part, honestly.

  5. Nura

    That's fine. Can you give me one specific example of something a scientist in this field might work on?

  6. Meera

    Like, I read that geologists look at minerals under a microscope to figure out how a place formed. And some people do computer modeling, I think. Sorry, I'm still learning that part.

  7. Nura

    Thanks, that's helpful. What have you done outside of class to explore this field?

  8. Meera

    Well, our science club did a volcano project, but that's kind of basic. I also read a lot about the Hope probe, the UAE one, and I watched the launch livestream on my phone.

  9. Nura

    What stood out to you about the Hope probe?

  10. Meera

    Umm, that it's the first Arab mission to Mars, and it's studying the atmosphere, like why Mars lost so much of its water. I thought that was really cool, that a small country could do something like that.

  11. Nura

    Why Khalifa University, and not another university?

  12. Meera

    Honestly, my biology teacher said KU has science research, and it's in the UAE near the desert, which is kind of like Mars? Also I like that there are a lot of international students. It makes it feel possible for me, as a Kenyan.

  13. Nura

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

  14. Meera

    Um, in Form Four our school's science club had nobody doing the environment project, so I kind of volunteered to organize it. I wasn't sure how to do it, so I made a schedule and just started asking people.

  15. Nura

    What was the hardest part, and what did you do about it?

  16. Meera

    Getting people to show up. Some of them didn't really care, so I made the tasks shorter and gave everyone a specific job. After that, more people came back.

  17. Nura

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

  18. Meera

    I think I'm really serious about this, even if my background isn't the typical one. I've been reading on my own a lot, and I want to learn it properly, not just from videos.

  19. Nura

    Thank you, Meera. That concludes your interview, and best of luck with your application.