Item number 9,510,970,485 on popular online auction site eBay is not a car, a pair of baseball tickets or a T-shirt: it is Justin Breton's education.
Breton, a high school senior from North Vasselboro, Maine, was recently accepted by the College of General Studies at - his "dream school" - Boston University. He was, however, offered minimal financial aid: just $3,125 in university loans. Breton appealed for more aid, but was turned down.
BU spokesman Colin Riley, who said the Financial Aid Office cannot comment on specific students' cases, said each student's full need cannot be met, simply because "the university does not have unlimited funds."
Two weeks ago, avid eBay user Breton posted a lengthy profile on eBay under the title, "Make a student's Boston University dream come true!" in hopes that someone would donate to his college education.
"After reading this letter, I ask that you please take my information and consider aiding me in my education ... Again, please help my financial burden and consider placing a bid to further my education. Please help keep my dream alive," Breton stated on the auction website.
In an interview, Breton said he came up with the idea when joking with a friend about how "people sell really stupid things on eBay and get lots of money for them."
"My future isn't stupid," he said. "Maybe someone will catch on and be interested in helping me."
So far, he has not received any bids.
Breton said he has received email ranging from nasty directives to earn his own money and polite advice on how to make it with little aid.
BU's admissions website explains that aid-which typically consists of need-based grants, work-study opportunities, federal loans and merit scholarships-is offered to students who present financial need and who "demonstrate the greatest academic promise by presenting the strongest academic records."
Breton, who applied originally to the School of Management, was referred to CGS. He said in comparison to other BU students, he might not have the best grades.
Though he has not received any more aid offers, and must wait until June to find out if he received several outside scholarships for which he applied, Breton plans to enroll at BU in the fall.
"I'll take a big student loan and work my way through BU with the debt," he said. "[Debt] is part of life, I guess. It's one of the downsides of college."
"Twenty-two thousand [Breton's expected family contribution] is a big number," he said. "That's a lot of money. Even if my parents were making a hundred thousand dollars a year-which they're not-it's still a lot."
Though Breton considered attending the University of Maine, he decided that marketing and advertising opportunities in the state, as well as in the university's coursework, were too limited.
Breton may be eligible for aid in the future, according to BU's financial aid website.
Riley said President Robert Brown has indicated that he wants to increase the financial assistance provided for undergraduates.
Be the first to comment on this article!
Log in to be able to post comments.