HSMP borderline case?

Hi out there in cyberspace. I've been reading this message board for a while and found it very helpful, now i'm hoping for a bit more help!!  My story-- I'm currently studying here in the UK and would like to stay and work (because I've met that special someone and just want to stay now!). My student visa goes until January 2007. I've had several interviews but most places I've been interviewing with have said up front that they don't sponsor work permits. So I'm looking into HSMP but I'm unfortunately a borderline case. Does anyone know how strict they are on the rules? Here's how my points add up:

Age: 29 (no age bonus)
Education: MSc (25 points)
Work Experience: 5 years at graduate level (25 Points)
Earnings-- this is the borderline part. I need to show I was making 40,000 pounds equivalent in the US. I'm waiting for wage confirmation but at my full-time job I was getting around $63,000 and at a part-time job $4500. My total salary will be around $67-69,000.

Soooo.... if I use today's exchange rate of 1.87 I would need to show a salary of $74,999.62. I'm still about $10,000 short of that.
but-- if I use an exchange rate of 1.65, it's on the order of $66,000 which I'm sure I'll be above. So you can see the dilemma. It's such a small difference in the exchange rate, and when a friend of mine was studying here in 2000 that was the exchange rate! Argh.

Does anyone know what the exchange rate is that you are supposed to use, how stringent they are, and if it would make a difference if you had a job offer??? Thank you so much for any advice you can offer 

rachelm,

i've just been through the HSMP application process.  Unfortunately, it's my understanding that they use the exchange rate on the day your application is received as the rate at which your salary is calculated.  In my case this meant waiting until the exchange rate moved in my direction (initally was up at 1.93 and i was just shy so i had to wait until it was around 1.89).

Is there any chance you've been published in your field? 

A great resource for HSMP applications is www.immigrationboards.com where they have a page dedicated to HSMP applications.  I found it really helpful when pulling together my application last winter.  This site is also extremely helpful (not to mention all the support)

Best of luck, i know how frustrating it can be (I too met my boyfriend while in England and we were looking for a way to live on the same continent).

-Alison