<p>Okay. So this is my first time filling out FAFSA.</p>
<p>On the site, it states:</p>
<p>"If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25, you must register or already be registered with Selective Service."</p>
<p>I'm a 17 year old high school senior right now, and plan on enetering college in Fall of 09. What do I do? DO i check yes when it asks about the Selective Service? I already have my drivers license, does that mean I'm already on the Selective Service list?</p>
<p>I'm really sorry if I have mixed up the concept; I've never heard of this and I really don't want to get drafted or anything.</p>
<p>If you want any financial aid you must check yes - they will register you. If you do not register you can never receive federal student aid or work in federal jobs.</p>
<p>Not sure how to answer fafsa question. Since you are 17, You can't register yet. BUT YOU MUST do it when you are 18 (if you want any federal grants or loans)</p>
<p>IF there is a draft you COULD be called up. There hasn't been a draft in this country since Vietnam. We have been blessed by having enough men and women willing to serve their country that it hasn't been necessary.</p>
<p>a few more details from that site:</p>
<p>the law requires virtually all male U.S. citizens (regardless of where they live), and male immigrants residing in the U.S. (permanent resident aliens), to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Therefore, to be in full compliance with the law, a man turning 18 is required to register during the period of time beginning 30 days before, until 30 days after his 18th birthday...a 60-day window.</p>
<p>Late registrations are accepted, but not once a man reaches age 26. Men who do not register within the 60-day window are technically in violation of the law and should register as soon as possible.</p>
<p>I believe you can check that box on the FAFSA even if you're 17. They will process that information so that it registers you at the appropriate age.</p>
<p>Your financial aid will not be finalized until you answer yes to the question (assuming you are male). You cannot receive any federal aid until you sign up for selective service (if you are a male).</p>
<p>"EARLY SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION: Now, if you are a man who is at least 17 years and 3 months old, you may complete this form to submit your registration information. The information will be held on file and processed automatically when you are within 30 days of your 18th birthday, at which time we will mail confirmation to you."</p>
<p>I guess we can just go online and submit it. Will the FAFSA know that we submitted it if we do it directly through the selective service system?</p>
<p>We ran into this problem a couple of years ago -- son was 17 1/2 at the time. We checked "yes, please register me" on the Fafsa. He got an email a few weeks later that said he wasn't old enough to register yet -- but the fafsa part all went through, no problems.
When he was 18, he did get a postcard to fill out to register.
It is very unnerving to think about selective service while right in the middle of all the financial aid work. Don't sweat it. No one is currently being drafted. There would be TONS in the news if a draft were under consideration (that's the time to worry!). </p>
<p>One thing a teen CAN do now is to write a letter documenting one's beliefs about military service -- AND other service (for instance, if you know you could never carry a gun and fire on someone, would you be willing to serve as a medic or a fireman or a national park trail builder?). Write down your beliefs about service to the country. MAke two copies. File one copy and mail the other one to yourself. The sealed, postmarked envelope records that you have these beliefs from that date (not just the day the draft board calls) and the copy lets you refresh your memory on what you wrote. </p>
<p>Please know that people tend to fight the last war -- ie, if there was a draft, it might look very different than either the WWII draft or the Vietnam draft (as in college might not be a deferment option. Fleeing to Canada might not be an option). Know history, keep an eye on the news and think through your personal beliefs. Meanwhile, for now, don't freak out about the FAFSA question. Registering at 18 is the law for American males. So is driving on the right side of the road.</p>
<p>Can I go back and edit the FAFSA form or will it not go through at all if I didn't answer the question? I'm still waiting for my PIN to be verified.</p>
<p>The initial FAFSA will be accepted if you left that blank, or checked no. But down the road, the application gets hung up until you do a FAFSA correction to change it to "yes". Even if you're 17.</p>
<p>So don't sweat it. If you can change it now before you submit it, great. If you've submitted, as soon as you can do a correction (a couple days, as I recall), just to a correction online, and indicate "yes".</p>
<p>FAFSA corrections are pretty quick and painless. You'll likely be doing another after you have your actual income and tax figures in a couple months.</p>
<p>They changed the wording of that question this year. Thank goodness ... because we were getting females who answered it ... we had to get statements from them stating that the reason they didn't register is because they are female & weren't required to do so! The question is more streamlined this year.</p>
<p>thanks everyone, especially HoppingLass (your post really calmed me down!)</p>
<p>Just so you guys know, I did my FAFSA at 12:30 a.m., as soon as it came out lol. And I selected "Register Me" for the Selective Service question.</p>