University of Michigan Industrial and Operations Engineering (U-M IOE) undergraduate student, Wilson MacRitchie comes from a long line of U-M engineers. Now it’s 2022 and MacRitchie is set to graduate with a degree from U-M IOE.
University of Michigan Industrial and Operations Engineering (U-M IOE) undergraduate student, Wilson MacRitchie comes from a long line of U-M engineers. His grandfather completed a degree in Civil Engineering from the U-M College of Engineering in 1963. Followed by MacRitchie’s father who earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1990. MacRitchie also has two siblings and a grandmother who attended U-M.
Now it’s 2022 and MacRitchie is set to graduate with a degree from U-M IOE. Even with strong family ties to many other departments, MacRitchie holds the belief that U-M IOE was the right place for him.
“When I was applying to college, I was really focused on engineering programs,” said MacRitchie. “On my U-M campus tour, my tour guide talked about how she switched from Mechanical Engineering to IOE. She shared how it gives you a ton of optionality for careers because of its broad focus.”
After taking a mechanical engineering course MacRitchie decided that wasn’t the path for him. Remembering what his tour guide said he decided to declare U-M IOE.
“In my opinion, it’s the most well-round engineering degree that you can have.”
-Wilson MacRitchie
“In my opinion, it’s the most well-rounded engineering degree that you can have,” said MacRitchie. “The core classes you take are really interesting and applicable. And that’s demonstrated with the capstones because you’re doing what you’ve learned over the past 4-5 years to solve a real-life problem. You can also take classes from the ME [Mechanical Engineering] or EECS [Electrical Engineering and Computer Science] departments to personalize your experience.”
MacRitchie will also earn minors in Computer Science, Business, and Mathematics.
“I knew realistically that I probably wanted to work in a business-related role and maybe in leadership or management,” said MacRitchie. “Computer science can be much more in the weeds and can focus on execution or producing a product rather than overall decision-making, which is why IOE was a better fit for me overall.”
MacRitchie also felt that it was easy to tap into internships and clubs at the U-M Ross School of Business which helped him gain the business skills he was looking for while in U-M IOE.
While MacRitchie was a first-year student, both his brother, a junior at the time, and his sister, a senior, were currently enrolled at the U-M Ross School of Business.
“I had a really strong relationship with both of them before I went to Michigan,” said MacRitchie. “But being on campus with them and going through the college experience in the same environment made us that much closer. Which I will always be grateful for.”
As part of his education, he also took part in a hybrid internship with Moelis & Company as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst working on deals across different industries, providing advice to their clients on various investment and strategic opportunities. After his internship, he was given an offer to start full-time at Moelis & Company upon finishing his last year of school.
“Don’t take your time at Michigan for granted,” said MacRitchie. “It goes by way too quickly. Enjoy campus, enjoy the atmosphere, and enjoy the activities; while trying to do your best to succeed in school.”
MacRitchie will be moving to New York City after graduation to begin working at his full-time job as an Investment Banking Analyst with Moelis & Company. He’ll be reunited with his brother and sister who also live in New York City.