A student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has raised over $85,000 in three days after losing family support and being denied financial aid adjustments. The student, identified as Matthew N. to protect his privacy, was unable to register for classes for months due to unpaid balances and his parents cut off financial support after learning he is transgender. Because MIT calculates financial aid based on parental income, he did not qualify for institutional aid. His appeals for independent status were denied. A GoFundMe campaign organised by fellow student Irene Dong raised $86,212 of its $81,100 goal in just three days. Matthew continued attending classes and completing coursework, maintaining a 4.7 GPA on MIT's 5.0 scale. The case reflects broader challenges in the financial aid system, particularly in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid system, which assumes students have access to parental financial support.