Are Grads SOL?

[RamblingMad]

The American dream is all about luck. They're unlucky. But they are finishing grad school, which is a huge accomplishment.

I wonder how these life events will change their views going forward.

 

[okeydokey]

You don't get the child tax credit for 17 year olds.

But if you claim them as dependents you get something, correct? You get the deduction which means you pay less in taxes? I guess I used the wrong word, my apologies.

My point was, that if you claim them on your taxes, they do not get the 1200.

 

[Monykalyn]

imagine a lot of grads are in the same position.

My oldest is graduating college and heading to grad school. Her hands on field camp was cancelled (was required for graduation but gave her option of online or waver-she chose waiver). But they were promised money for field camp, and scholarships specifically designated for field camp expenses. She did end up getting a small "refund" for her cancelled field camp-the money was designated for this specific purpose and as I am understanding it-had to be disbursed or somethint. But her roommate had a job lined up, and was actually working for them parttime up until all this hit-now saying they won't have anything until at least January.

My daughter was in an off campus apt so tough luck for us

Yea so is mine. She has been working for a restaurant for a couple years, and initially had her hours cut too-but the place got one of those loans to keep workers on, so she is getting nearly normal hours-without the customers (yet-Dining room opens this coming week). What do bored workers do? CLEAN-they've been cleaning all along - like super deep cleaning anyway-but if there is a single germ still able to survive in that place then I just surrender right now. This week they've been practicing how the spacing etc will work.

You don't get the child tax credit for 17 year olds.

Well-as far as stimulus-you don't get it if your kid was 17 when taxes were due/filed. We haven't filed yet this year, and middle turned 17 last october-so the stimulus calculation is based off 2018 taxes-and we got the money for her. If we'd been good little soldiers and filed immediately for 2019 then nope-no money. I just don't get the age 17 cut off thing! Most 17 year olds are still living at home the majority of the year. We owe taxes so we haven't filed until last minute for years now. I was surprised we got the money-but it's going into her college fund-every bit helps.

 

[sam_gordon]

But if you claim them as dependents you get something, correct? You get the deduction which means you pay less in taxes? I guess I used the wrong word, my apologies.

My point was, that if you claim them on your taxes, they do not get the 1200.

But you don't get the $500 that you do for your younger children. I can (sort of) understand the argument that they're not eligible for the $1200 if you claim them on taxes. But what's different between a 17 year old (in HS or college) and a 16 year old? IMO, if they're claimed on the parent's taxes, the parents should get the same amount for each child.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

If the clinical experience is so important, I’m sure they can take that class again somewhere/anywhere; even though they’ve graduated.

 

[Searc]

But if you claim them as dependents you get something, correct? You get the deduction which means you pay less in taxes? I guess I used the wrong word, my apologies.

My point was, that if you claim them on your taxes, they do not get the 1200.

Parents don't get the $600 stimulus for them, either.

 

[gillep]

It isn't just new grads either, I feel really badly for all college students right now. We usually offer a fellowship program in our labs each summer to undergraduates, and volunteer opportunities to a variety of students looking to complete practicums or other internship type requirements for their various education programs, and we have had to cancel them all indefinitely. We have had to reduce the number of our own staff allowed in our labs, so we certainly can't have extra students, and I have no idea when we will be allowed to host students again. It makes me sad as I love developing new scientists through our programs, but it just isn't feasible right now.

 

[momoftwins]

I guess I don't understand what you want the school to do about the clinicals. They were not able to provide them - it wasn't just that they arbitrarily chose to not offer them - they were told by a higher power to shut down their university and they had to do it. Yes - your child may have missed out on some clinical hours, but so did every single student at every university in the United States - the playing field is even.

I understand the schools could do nothing about the clinicals themselves. However, to still have to pay tuition for online classes. For ex, my son studied to become a medical physicist. His last semester was to spend his time in the hospital learning the various equipment. He did not get that online. So why pay for something he did not get. They did have online classes, but is was to do things like work on general physic problems (things he learned iin undergrad), help the first year students with their work - so nothing I can see of worth a whole semester of tuition ($18K)

 

[okeydokey]

Our last day on campus was March 13, so students received 10 weeks of regular instruction, then five weeks of online. Because we were already 2/3 of the way through, and instruction was completed after that, I feel satisfied with what we paid for our students and what they received. I am grateful we got some housing money back for my son. It is what it is and we all have to do the best we can. Universities have worked hard to finish the semester in unprecedented times.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

I understand the schools could do nothing about the clinicals themselves. However, to still have to pay tuition for online classes. For ex, my son studied to become a medical physicist. His last semester was to spend his time in the hospital learning the various equipment. He did not get that online. So why pay for something he did not get. They did have online classes, but is was to do things like work on general physic problems (things he learned iin undergrad), help the first year students with their work - so nothing I can see of worth a whole semester of tuition ($18K)

Whether online or in person, tuition is still charged. I’ve never seen a big difference in costs for online vs in person classes. They still had credit to earn and work to do to earn that credit, so 100% tuition should be charged. Room & board and maybe parking would be the only things I would see you saying you wanted money back on and that’s varied from every college I’ve heard about.

 

[fritogator]

In 2021 when they file their own taxes and assuming they are no longer your dependent they would be eligible to claim the credit and receive their $1,200 with their tax refund.

 

[sam_gordon]

In 2021 when they file their own taxes and assuming they are no longer your dependent they would be eligible to claim the credit and receive their $1,200 with their tax refund.

But the parents should get the $500... just like they get for those under 17.

 

[Nox]

I know several students who lost prestigious internships. Some were highly competitive, once-in-a-lifetime deals, and were told "we don't know when or if this position will be available again."

I also know a handful of new grads who just moved several states away from home for great jobs that vaporized after they signed year-long apartment leases.

Sorry I don't have a more positive response. My outlook is currently pretty bleak.

 

[AustinTink]

These are young kids just starting their lives. If this is the worst thing that happens to them in life, I think they are going to be ok. If they are healthy that's all that matters. Life will return to normal someday and their luck will turn.