<p>Is it worth it to submit a FAFSA with an EFC of $50K? (I already posted this question in the FA forum.)</p>
<p>It depends on the school. Our EFC is too high to qualify for any need based aid,yet I have to still complete FAFSA for any schools that my child applies to in our state in order for her to get the lottery scholarship-which is a merit only based scholarship-go figure! Her stats enable her to get $5K a year if she gets into Vanderbilt and decides to attend. I am not about to give up $20K over 4 years!</p>
<p>It's a complete waste of time but you are supposed to fill one out anyway. Something about if your financial situation changes later on.</p>
<p>Waste of time: Who knows. Maybe they will give you something. At least it is free.</p>
<p>You will receive the unsubsidized Stafford loan no matter what your EFC--but it does require you fill out the FAFSA</p>
<p>Some schools require it before they award merit aid. Check and find out or just send it in to all your schools. Like the above post says, it's free. But if some schools you are applying to require it, they may also want the CSS Profile and that one costs.</p>
<p>I posted this in another place, but is anyone concerned about question 22 regarding registering for the armed forces in order to receive aid? I contacted FAFSA and they said that if the student received ANY aid whatsoever, they would be required to register with the armed forces.</p>
<p>It is a federal law. At a FA night at my S's HS they said that leaving it blank will slow down the processing of your forms.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I posted this in another place, but is anyone concerned about question 22 regarding registering for the armed forces in order to receive aid?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What are you concerned about?</p>
<p>If you want federal aid, then you have to sign up for the draft, if and when, the Country needs you. That's the deal. If you don't like it, then don't ask the Country for $$$'s.</p>
<p>OperaDad,</p>
<p>It's a good thing we don't need to ask. It was suggested by the guidance counselor that all families fill one out. No thanks.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I contacted FAFSA and they said that if the student received ANY aid whatsoever, they would be required to register with the armed forces.
[/quote]
Any Federal aid? Or any institutional aid?</p>
<p>You have to sign up with Selective Service anyway, when you turn eighteen.</p>
<p>It has nothing to do with filling out a FAFSA or not.</p>
<p>Signing up for selective service is required by law for all males (including some non citizens and illegal aliens) between 18-26. The penalties for not signing up include fines, imprisonment, ineligibility for federal financial aid and other federal programs, ineligibility for Federal jobs. Some state also have their own penalties. It has been a requirement for decades. it is not something new.</p>
<p>From Selective</a> Service System: Welcome</p>
<p>
[quote]
What is the penalty for not registering?
If you do not register, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $250,000 and/or be put in jail for up to five years. Registration is also a requirement to qualify for Federal student aid, job training benefits, and most Federal employment.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If your EFC is $50K, it would seem you might qualify for some institutional aid if anything changed in the least--a job loss or home value going down. If it's much higher than that and these things would still leave you with a $50K plus EFC, I wouldn't fill the forms out unless your child wants a loan.</p>
<p>I did a little more research on the Selective Service website and it is required that males register between the age of 18 to 26. It doesn't have to be at 18, but just before the age of 26.</p>
<p>Oregonlanman,</p>
<p>No, strictly need based aid. Institutional aid can be and is offered by some institutuions without FAFSA. It just depends on the institution.</p>
<p>I also have a problem with the draft registration - it only applies to male applicants, not females. So those of you with only daughters have no worries since the government is not collecting their information for a possible draft, and those with sons are being discriminated against.</p>
<p>If this question is mandatory for our young men, then it must apply equally to our young women as well. Since it does not, I naturally have a problem with it since I abhor discrimination in all of its forms.</p>
<p>Does anyone agree that young women should be made to answer this question as well in order to qualify for aid? (and before you ask, yes, I have a daughter as well as a son, and I raise them both equally. If, according to OperaDad, my son should be willing to do this for his country, then why not my daughter likewise? Or is she not an equal citizen with equal rights? and equal responsibilities?).</p>
<p>I don't want my daughter to have to sign up for selective service. it is bad enough that she may not have equal pay and be discriminated against in other ways. In more ways she is the center of a family and keeps the family together. i don't want her marching off to a war and leaving her family behind. Sorry.</p>
<p>Sorry Jewels you don't HAVE to register before 26 but you have to register before you ask for federal money.</p>
<p>ebeeeee according to the selective service website, if you do not register by the age of 26 you could be denied benefits, federal jobs, etc. in the future. Registering does not only pertain to ASKING for money. Thankful to never have been in a position to ASK. DS has multiple full-ride MERIT scholarships all to Tier 1 schools.</p>