How do I factor in current student loans on FAFSA?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I have Stafford loans from medical school this year, and am trying to figure out how to include those on my FAFSA application. The financial aid lady at my school said that you can't report loans on the FAFSA because they are not in repayment. However, on FAFSA question #43 where they ask about how much money you have, it says do not include student financial aid. I called the FAFSA help # and they said that I can subtract my loan amount from my savings, so I will do what they say. However, my loan amount exceeds the amount of cash I have in my bank account, so can I subtract the rest from my investments (i.e. mutual funds)?

 

[Arginine]

You can subtract the rest from your mutual funds, as long as they are not your retirement funds. None of your retirement money is counted on the FAFSA.