Wright-Swadel said that he and his colleagues at the Office of Career Services (OCS) have been especially surprised by the recent incidents because the experiences of graduating classes before have been so "upwardly mobile and upwardly progressive."

And the phenomenon is not just affecting those that are graduating in June.

Underclass students are bearing the brunt as well. Some firms have chosen to cancel their summer internship programs.

If and when the economy reblooms, Wright-Swadel said he believes students will be more suspicious of the companies that recently rescinded and postponed their job offers.

"Juniors are hearing the names of these companies, and they could very well show a decreased interest in them in the next recruiting season," he said.

But he added that the effects in the long run might not be all bad.

If students turn away from these consulting and investment banking firms, recruiters from other industries might gain more success with Harvard students.

"One negative aspect of campus recruiting that has been too top-heavy with consulting firms and investment banks," Wright-Swadel said.