"I look at business school as further specialized once you've done something in the real world," says Elissa L. Kao '94. "I would like to get a feel of what's out there first."

"It's not a good idea because it makes people not think about what they want to do in life and makes people apply without knowing what it's like out there," says Hok K. Yeung '94.

In fact, the immediate MBA may be just a choice for those who can't get the coveted business-world jobs.

Muse Y. Kwong '94 says that those without a job offer may prefer to immediately matriculate into business school.

"If I view it from people who still couldn't get a job, then it's a good way to spend a few years in business school," she says. "But otherwise working is more important and you're more mature when you finally get into business school."

And according to the financial firms on which the future MBAs will depend for employment, the Harvard undergraduates' lack of interest in the possible HBS admissions reform is the right choice.

Financial firm representatives say that applicants with work experience before business school will definitely have an edge in obtaining coveted financial jobs.

Chip Rae, director of recruiting at Smith Barney Shearson, says his firm prefers to hire MBAs who have work experience as well.

His firm, like many, offers an entry-level program for college graduates which puts them to work for two years before the new employees return to business school. Harvard's possible new initiative would not affect the program, he says.

"We hire people from across the country, and we're talking about just one school here," he says. "There are plenty of undergraduates out there who would want to work for two years."

Many management consulting firms assist employees with their business school applications and offer financial assistance to those pursuing an MBA program.

Bob K. Sullivan, director of recruiting for Deloitte & Touche, says almost 98 percent of the 80 to 90 undergraduate analysts hired each year go on to a top MBA program. The firm then pays tuition for those who return upon graduation, he says.

If the HBS plan is implemented, Sullivan says, it may impact Deloitte & Touche's compensation plans.

Instead of the senior consultant positions offered to traditional MBA graduates, he says, those without work experience will be offered consultant positions which will later be reclassified into senior consultant posts.

But those with MBAs and no experience are less appealing prospects than those with both, he says.