But students say they make decisions about firms based on their conversations with employees. They say that atmosphere is key in their decisions about where to apply.

"I think [the sessions] are for information during your sophomore and junior years," says Roanak V. Desai '00, and then it's all about connections. "By the time it's senior year, you go to meet new people or see new people so you know people there."

Firms encourage students to ask questions to determine whether the candidate and firm would have what have become key words in recruiting lingo: a good fit.

Some seniors, though, say they do not feel comfortable asking questions because the recruiters are recent graduates, and thus the seniors are by no means anonymous applicants.

Cheryl A. Gray '99, now a consultant at Monitor in Cambridge, says students are often too intimidated to ask questions. But the situation is not unique to information sessions, she says, comparing the atmosphere to a large lecture class.

"From that perspective you'll always get the people willing to ask the questions," Gray says. "It's also true that in a lot of cases they ask a question to make them sound intelligent or impressive but I'd again compare that to lecture."

So the companies provide a remedy. Instead of asking questions, curious students can choose to speak with company representatives at the end of the information sessions. The students say this also gives them a chance to learn about the character of a firm. Benjamin A. Rahn '99-'00 says students can overestimate the utility of this person-to-person interaction. "A lot use the opportunity to schmooze and get business cards and think it will help them in the process," says Rahn, who spent last summer as a consulting intern. "I don't think that's particularly useful. What is useful is coming prepared with questions to ask different people informally."

Rahn had suggestions for students who are not sure what questions will eventually help them decide where they want to work. He says asking firm representatives what they find exciting in their jobs is a good way to determine "fit."