Riva Khan Tareen

E-mail: rivakhan@student.elte.hu

Hello! My name is Riva Khan and I’m 19 years old. I thoroughly enjoy reading books, sports activities like boxing, listening to my music and would call myself quite political. I’d also say I'm big on travelling (largely because I love collecting magnets).

"There is a lot of attention paid to the students who attend the university and special care to make them comfortable."

WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT ELTE?

During my college search, one of my greatest priorities was to attend a university that was not just diverse, but also one with history and foundations that are necessary for any educational institution to be considered reputable. ELTE’s history alone goes back years and this in itself makes being a student at the university a much more special experience. In a way it makes one feel as if they are a part of something larger than themselves.

WHAT MAKES STUDYING AT ELTE SO GREAT?

As an international student, my initial experience in ELTEwas great because I’ve found myself surrounded by hundreds of other students experiencing the same adventures (and challenges) like me. In addition to the support I’ve felt from the students, the administration itself is incredibly outgoing and willing to assist the students. There is a lot of attention paid to the students who attend the university and special care to make them comfortable.

WHAT ARE / WERE YOUR CHALLENGES IN YOUR STUDY PROGRAM?

I’ve yet to encounter any true challenge and luckily my experiences have been pretty smooth sailing so far. At most, I sometimes struggled with overenthusiastically registering for courses, only to realize a week later that I was a bit out of my depth.

HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?

I find it helps to be honest with oneself about what we truly (and even comfortably) can or can’t achieve. Overcompensating will only lead to an eventual burn-out, and why do that when you could move at a productive but also logical and comfortable pace.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ELTE IN THREE WORDS?

Diverse - Prestigious - Fulfilling

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR DEGREE WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?

My degree in Psychology would allow me to venture into the more driven and focused branches of the field, hopefully allowing me to apply my knowledge and skills in my home country. It’s very important to me that I can eventually contribute to my community someday soon, and this is the first step in doing so.

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STUDENTS AT ELTE?

Circling back to my previous recommendation, try to be honest about what you can and can’t do. It’s always better to do something, and do it passionately and with heart - rather than to do many things all at once with little direction.