"It's a good way to cut the financial umbilicalcord," Mulholland says. "My parents paid for myeducation here, and I'd like to be able to pay forthings now."

"People are attracted to more money becausemore money means more flexibility," she adds.

"I don't think anyone's particularly enamoredof consulting or investment banking...You get paidwell, and you feel like you already have somestatus at this early stage," Shlionsky says.

Money is not the only attraction.

Harvard students heading to Wall Street saythey like the idea of spending two years in NewYork with an already-established social circle.

"A lot of people in our class are going to NewYork. Maybe there's a desire to stay withfriends," Bagby says.

"[It will be] fun being young and being in NewYork. One of the things I look forward to isthere's going to be a whole group of my friendsdown there," Gordon says.

Recruiting

If work at an investment bank is strenuous, theprocess of securing a position at one is equallydemanding. Candidates usually go through anintense recruiting period in February and earlyMarch.

It is not uncommon for candidates looking at upto 50 companies to have at least one interviewscheduled every business day for the entiresix-week period.

Many students say the grueling interviewschedule interfered with academic work.

"The interviews themselves were not toopainful, they just made it difficult to go to allmy classes," Chan says.

"It takes a significant time commitment. Youdon't get to classes much," Bagby says.

"I had an interview every day the first coupleweeks. It was tough balancing [the interviews]with school and my thesis," Gordon says.

"I think it's the most hectic time I've everexperienced at Harvard," he adds.