What's the best liberal arts college for a future career on Wall Street?

I'm really interested in finance and considering a career on Wall Street. Are there specific liberal arts colleges known for strong finance programs or alumni networks in that field?

Sure, it's great that you've already identified your interest in finance and a future on Wall Street. Not all liberal arts colleges offer finance as a specific major, but many have great economics, business, or mathematics programs which can provide an excellent foundation. The idea behind a liberal arts education is to provide a broad-based knowledge base, and these subjects can certainly provide the quantitative skills needed in finance.

Williams College, for instance, is well-known for its economics program and strong alumni network in finance. Similarly, Amherst College is also highly regarded in this field. Both these colleges are part of the 'Little Ivies', a group of top-tier small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, and they offer rigorous academics and strong alumni networks.

In addition to these, Claremont McKenna College stands out on the west coast. It's situated in Claremont, California and is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Its Robert Day Scholars Program is renowned for its strength in economics and finance. They have a tremendous track record of placement in finance roles and offer unique coursework in finance and accounting.

Moreover, Middlebury College in Vermont has been known to send students to Wall Street. It offers a joint major in Economics and Mathematics which is quite popular.

Just a heads up - a liberal arts education will not provide the same technical training that a finance degree might. Instead, liberal arts colleges stress the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, all skills which are essential in finance.

Also, remember that networking and internships are a key part of landing a job on Wall Street. Attending a school closer to New York City, like Columbia or NYU's Stern School of Business, could also provide additional opportunities for internships during the school year and easier networking with alumni in the finance industry. But don’t worry if you're unable to attend school in New York; many schools have strong alumni networks and can help facilitate connections on Wall Street.

Consider looking into the alumni network and relationships that these colleges have with Wall Street, and don't forget to check LinkedIn to see where graduates end up. It can be a fantastic tool to gain insight into the career paths that alumni from different colleges have taken.