So, to give my two cents: the deposit due dates are guidelines set by AACOMAS, but schools are free to do whatever. Newer DO schools tend to do their own thing and require deposits early (and are at a hefty price) as their way of doing yield protection. They may well accept higher-stat applicants early because they want to bring their matriculating/accepted average GPA/MCAT up (as a way to tout growing prestige), but they also know higher-stat applicants will likely get accepted elsewhere and, because the risks of a new school are certainly a factor in deciding where to matriculate, will most likely attend a different school. So they figure if you way an outrageously high deposit, and either 1) don't want to lose that money or 2) can't afford another deposit, you'll still go there even if you have other options. It sucks, but I wouldn't call it inherently a red flag because that's just what new schools, especially new DO schools, do. So it's completely up to you if you want to pay the deposit on/by 11/30 to hold your seat while you think about your other options through the spring, but don't give up on Burrell (if you like the program) because of what you think to be a red flag. Is it immoral at the very least, what they do? Yeah, but again, it's not uncommon for the newer DO schools, it's not a BCOM specific thing, so I wouldn't let this taint your opinion of the school so much as to reject their acceptance.
