FAFSA - how to fill out for sibling if still waiting for appointment

whynotnow

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I've tried searching and couldn't find a prior post with this question.

I'm filling out the FAFSA for the older sibling of our SA candidate. For the questions regarding household size and number in college, I am not sure how to answer it because we don't know yet whether DS will receive an appointment or end up going to a civilian college.

Household size: "Your parents will continue to provide more than half of their support from 7/1/20 through 6/30/21"
Number in College: "Don't include students at a U.S. service academy."

Obviously can't include DS in household size or add him to number in college if he gets into an SA (lowering our financial aid) but can if he goes to a civilian college (increasing our aid). I called the sibling's college's financial aid office to ask what to do. They said don't wait to fill it out, just fill it out "as best as you can."

Is anyone in this same situation? If so, how did you handle it?
 
My advice would be to assume the worst case scenario (that your candidate will not get an offer of appointment) and if the appointment happens, the forms can be amended.

Maybe you already knew this, but someone reading may not know:
It is paramount that males aged 18 to 25 register for Selective Service. They can do it up to 30 days before their 18th birthday and no more than 29 days after turning 18. If they do not, they will not be eligible for federal student loans or grant programs, among other things.
 
They can still register after that 29 days following their birthday, as we found out. We had assumed he had registered at an event at his high school, discovered he hadn't when I went it to confirm it for the FAFSA (probably 4 months after his 18th birthday), and registered him then.
 
Wow, I rushed through that FAFSA so fast for my candidate son's two older siblings I didn't even see the comment about service academies. So I counted him as if here were going to a regular college. However, that may likely the be the case so I guess that is our best guess - no appointment yet.
 
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