<p>What a month this has been. </p>
<p>First, our taxes. The 1099T from son’s college: $36,000. The amount we were allowed to claim when filing: 0.</p>
<p>Then just this week he learns his very well-endowed college is extending the deadline on a summer stipend program that pays $2500 for six weeks of volunteer work anywhere this summer so long as it’s in the public sector. He was already plainning on volunteering this summer - now the sky brightened - perhaps he could earn some money, which he badly needs. After completing the form, requesting the letter from his supervisor - he learns, “Sorry! This is just for official Work Study students. Surely, you would have realized that!”</p>
<p>There are so many layers to this big ugly onion. Once you say yes to the lunacy of full freight, you discover that your child is last in line for campus jobs and a whole world of other perks. This notion that the “rich” kids are the favored, is just completely false. </p>
<p>We are trying hard to stay positive about the descision to go this route because it cost so much in terms of our son’s efforts to be accepted and our own sacrifice and stress to pay for it, but quite honestly it feels like a huge stupid mistake. He should have taken one of his full tuition merit offers . . .</p>