Today's graduates have the same bragging expectation, except for one thing. They want to say that their first paycheck was a big one. KPMG LLP just completed an on-line survey of 1,743 accounting and business students - and forty-two percent of them expect first job starting salaries of $50,000 or more. Some 10% are looking for more than $60,000.

So how has that changed - majorly! Last year just 17% expected a salary that big. Actual starting salaries are about $35,668, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

What's going on? Jeri Calle, partner in charge of Montvale, N.J., KPMG's university relations says that in this dot com economy many grads "believe they're qualified to be consultants. It's unbelievable to see what's happening."