<p>CMC is a target school, though. The big companies recruit at the top schools like Columbia and Penn, but they also go to top liberal arts colleges like CMC, Pomona, Amherst, Swarthmore, etc. I don’t think OP would have any significant trouble trying to work on Wall Street from CMC if that’s what they want - as long as they are willing to work hard for it. (For what it’s worth, I went to a mid-ranked liberal arts college - top 100, but not close to the caliber of CMC - and a lot of my classmates and alumnae sisters ended up working on Wall Street or in other big financial firms in different cities. One of our alumnae is the CEO of Sam’s Club.)</p>
<p>I also disagree with the advice that leadership positions aren’t important. While there are the very outstanding candidates who have already run their own successful businesses in college and done amazing things, they are in the minority - even at these very top business schools. Most students at top MBA programs took a more “mundane” route - internships and leadership experience in college, then 3-5 years working at a competitive firm with progressively more responsible positions.</p>
<p>So you want to try to do 2 internships in college at financial firms - preferably one in Wall Street one year, and hopefully the summer before your senior year so you can get an offer there. And any kinds of big leadership activities you can get are awesome. SGA president, president of the Greek council, chair of the homecoming org, student trustee, etc. It has to be something that demonstrates decision-making power and the ability to take the lead in organizing and administering programs and people. But yes, those are things that are taken into account when trying to get into top programs.</p>