Despite tales of dismal job markets and endless rat races, most college seniors are actually quite optimistic about their future financial outlook, a new Gallup poll reported this week.

Nearly two-thirds of college seniors polled from across the country said they expect to enjoy a higher standard of living than their parents.

Many Harvard students interviewed yesterday said they were not surprised by the poll's results.

"Of course every generation hopes to have a higher standard of living than their parents," said Sarah E. Tuttleton '96, an Adams House resident.

"I think it's fair to say that college graduates of my generation are very optimistic about their future because their parents worked very hard to put them through college," Tuttleton said.

But Athena L. Trattner '96 said she is not quite as optimistic. "I think the standard of living will probably remain about the same," she said.

Other Harvard seniors are even more skeptical about prospects for the standard of living in twenty years.

"I definitely don't think the standard of living will be increasing," said Sheridan J. Pauker '96, a Lowell House resident concentrating in environmental science and public policy.

"Unless we start making some structural changes, I foresee hitting some walls in terms of resource availability," she said.

The survey also found that the average annual income expected by members of the class of 1995 in 20 years is $98,000. Seniors said the amount was a good benchmark.

"In all likelihood, I won't be making that, but $98,000 sounds reasonable," Pauker said.

"I don't see that as a prediction. I see that as a goal," said Rivka A. Levine '96. "It's a good thing to shoot for."

Vassilis Kottas '96, a computer science concentrator who plans to work for a New York investment bank after graduation, hopes to make more than $98,000.

"Given the inflation of salary rates in information technology, I expect to be making more than that," he said.

Although seniors polled stressed future income and job prospects, 38 percent of seniors in the poll considered "having time to be with family" important to their quality of life.