I hate to ask such an obvious question but is your dependent entered as a dependent in the Personal Info section of TurboTax?
When I go to that section in my CD/download product, the first screen to appear is the screen to Add a Student and then a screen appears with a drop down showing the names of all the persons entered in the Personal Info section. Are you saying that screen does not appear when you first go to the education section?
To get there click on Federal Taxes then Deductions and Credits then click on Start or Update after Expenses and Scholarships.
