S2 Q&A: Do I pay the SEVIS fee or a deposit when I apply?

No - nothing is paid before admission. The order is: apply (fee waived) -> admission letter -> enrollment deposit and tuition -> SEVIS transfer or I-20 -> CPT. The SEVIS I-901 fee applies only to Initial and COS students, and only after the I-20 exists. You never pay a school that hasn't accepted you.