Well, buying one's way into the MBA program at Nyenrode University through ebay is hardly a unique concept anymore. When I was still a newbie here someone was selling their classes (with examination tickets included) for the Heriot-Watt University MBA via ebay. (Gee, wonder what Prof Kennedy thought of that?)
I think we already had a discussion about this? Unfortunately, the search is broken, so I can't check. From what I recall, the auction winner was not guaranteed admission. but tuition costs would be waived if the winner was admitted on his/her own merits. The auction was won by an American who bid US$36,000 (compared to normal tuition cost of ca. US$39,000).
I remember that the university was asked before auction whether it would accept a bid HIGHER than the normal tuition cost. The response was that they would, but that they would make sure that the student got some extra tutoring on basic economics when he/she started the program.
Its a smart move Some guy posted on the BW forum about it. He had never heard of the school before he heard of the auction. They get free publicity and since they give the money to charity they look altruistic thus avoiding the E-Bay stigma. People go to their site and some may even enroll because of it. Might be some pretty smart marketing people over there at Nijenrode....
And that was an individual who decided to back out selling their EBS courses, and not the university itself. I bought a couple on eBay as well.