Nate Garens

Nate Garens is a student veteran originally from Akron, Ohio. At the age of 22, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After serving for 12 years, Nate decided he wanted to go back to school with the goal of becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). Being from Ohio, Nate has always been a Buckeye fan and chose to attend Ohio State and Fisher School of Business because of their academic prestige and recognition.

This year, Nate will finish dual degrees in accounting and Chinese language and culture, the latter of which was sparked by both his experiences in the military and the recent economic growth of China. Having satisfied the academic requirements, he plans to take the first of his four CPA exams this spring.

At Ohio State, Nate attributes many of his student experiences to the community of people around him. He is currently the treasurer of Vets4Vets, Ohio State’s undergraduate student veteran organization. As part of the organization, he interacts with other veterans, helping them transition from the military to life as a student, an experience Nate says can be challenging. In addition to Vets4Vets, Nate is a member of Mountaineers at Ohio State, an outdoor adventure club. As part of the organization, he developed a passion for sport climbing and hiking, which he said was a great way to stay active and balance his schoolwork.

After completing his internship this summer, he was offered a staff position in EY’s business consulting practice. His advice to other students is to plan out your courses and stay organized.