ETAMU Accounting Student Lands PwC Tax Internship

Michelle Reyna's accounting journey at East Texas A&M University has taken her from early inspiration in high school to a coveted Summer 2025 Tax Internship at PwC. Currently completing her accounting degree and graduating in summer 2025, Reyna credits her high school teacher, Mrs. Sanders, for sparking her passion for accounting and setting her on a path of continuous growth.

When Reyna spotted the PwC Tax Internship on LinkedIn last year, she applied despite knowing how competitive the process is. Within two weeks, a recruiter had arranged two 30-minute interviews—one with a partner and one with a manager. “I treated each conversation as a chance to showcase my problem-solving skills and genuine curiosity about tax work,” she recalls. A week later, she received the call offering her the internship.

In her role at PwC, Reyna works with large clients to prepare, connect, and analyze data using specialized software, aiming to boost efficiency and deliver high-quality results. She's particularly excited to see how classroom lessons translate into real-world impact. “Every data challenge here feels like an extension of what I learned in it intermediate accounting and financial reporting courses,” she says.

Behind her success lies ETAMU's College of Business support network. The revival of Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting honors society, gave Reyna a community of peers navigating interviews, accounting classes, and postgraduate life. “Connecting with classmates who share the same goals made me more confident,” she explains. Equally pivotal was the mentorship of Dr. Robert Rankin, whose open office hours and resume-and-interview guidance helped her refine her professional approach—and even landed her introductions to recruiters.

Reyna offers these insights for fellow Lions exploring internships: apply even without prior experience, because firms like PwC invest in promising students who demonstrate potential. View the internship period as an extended interview for both you and the employer—an opportunity to assess cultural fit and showcase your abilities. She encourages students to leverage campus resources—join honors societies, seek out faculty mentors, and attend career-fair events—to build the relationships and skills that turn applications into offers.

Reyna's story illustrates how deliberate preparation, a supportive campus community, and mentorship can transform an ambitious application into a career-launching opportunity. As she begins her PwC internship, she hopes her experience inspires other ETAMU students to take that first step—even when the road ahead feels competitive.

Featured photo: ETAMU student Michelle Reyna | Courtesy photo