html - Dropdown default values return null? -

i have html in jsp ask simple questions, having drop-down boxes users select responses. set default responses incase decide hit next null returned. jsp:

<div id="startqrtquestion" align="left">1) when did first arrive here?</div>         <div id="startqrtresponse" align="left">             <select name="quarterstart">                 <option value="summer">summer quarter</option>                 <option value="fall" selected="selected">fall quarter</option>             </select>          </div>         <div id="programquestion" align="left">2) program taking?</div>         <div id="programresponse" align="left">             <select name="programselect">                 <option value="bscs" selected="selected">bscs</option>                 <option value="bstm">bstm</option>                 <option value="bsgd">bsgd</option>                 <option value="bswd">bswd</option>             </select>         </div>         <div id="extendedquestion" align="left">3) staying quarters?</div>         <div id="extendedresponse" align="left">                <div name="extendedstayresponses">                    <input type="checkbox" name="extendedstay" id="extendedstay"/>yes                </div></br>                <div id="extendedfulltime" style="display:none">                    full time:<select name="extrafullquarters">                        <option value="0" selected="selected">0</option>                        <option value="1">1</option>                        <option value="2">2</option>                        <option value="3">3</option>                        <option value="4">4</option>                        <option value="5">5</option>                        <option value="6">6</option>                        <option value="7">7</option>                        <option value="8">8</option>                        <option value="9">9</option>                        <option value="10">10</option>                    </select>(taking 12 credits or more)                </div></br>                <div id="extendedparttime" style="display:none">                    part time:<select name="extrapartquarters">                        <option value="0" selected="selected">0</option>                        <option value="1">1</option>                        <option value="2">2</option>                        <option value="3">3</option>                        <option value="4">4</option>                        <option value="5">5</option>                        <option value="6">6</option>                        <option value="7">7</option>                        <option value="8">8</option>                        <option value="9">9</option>                        <option value="10">10</option>                    </select>                </div>         </div> 

this wrapped in form call post method in servlet. when retrieve values so:

    string startquarter = request.getparameter("quarterstart");     string programselect = request.getparameter("programselect");     string extendedstay = request.getparameter("extendedstay"); 

i null pointer exceptions. value not automatically set have default selected option?

am not accessing these inputs correctly?

i found out wasn't of code. set of code in group's project.

it turned out session attribute that's suppose set, isn't.