I understand for you guys as pilots, but I'm soaking up every cent of the gas prices. It shows you that not everyone hates them. When I graduate, my projected starting salary is going to be $85,000-$90,000 + 10k signing bonus, depending on what company I go with. I'm doing an internship with Schlumberger this Summer for 4.6 k a month. The catch is that I'll never be home, traveling to foreign countries until I get a desk job in Houston after 5 years. I'm praying that there isn't a bust like in the '80s or I'm screwed. Petroleum Engineering is a hard, dirty work, but definitely rewarding and risky. I would do anything to be a pilot, but I decided to not take the risk 2 years ago. So when gas prices go down, the majors hire more or what?