"When you're a senior you realize there are very few things you can do," says Christian A. Maas '95. "I don't think anyone's really ready to make a decision."

"I'm writing a thesis. I had to finish running Model U.N. I don't have much time. Harvard's system of recruiting was lucky for me," Maas adds. "[But] we are limited by Harvard because there are few options that recruit outside consulting and investment banking."

Students also say they are attracted to consulting because the field accepts applicants of all concentrations, and they cannot find other jobs.

"People want a high-paying job where they don't care you did English for 10 years," Choo says.

Students hesitate to say whether the mass movement into consulting reflects a general weakness in liberal arts education. But even if so many students are interested in consulting out of default, Cosentino says this is not a big problem.

"If you look back through time, a lot of students don't know what they're doing. It's their first call and they'll change maybe five or six times. That's okay," Cosentino says. "Besides, companies can pick up on that. They want people who know what they want. These people can get very far.