Did you ever wonder how the word “dead” ended up in the word “deadline”? As if the pressure of completing your college applications isn’t bad enough already, you have to be reminded of death every time you look at that looming date.
 
In fact, most etymologists (those who study words, not insects—those are entomologists) agree that “deadline” was coined during the American Civil War. Its first appearance may have been in an inspection report describing the horrific conditions of the Andersonville, GA prison camp:
 
“On the inside of the stockade and twenty feet from it there is a dead-line established, over which no prisoner is allowed to go, day or night, under penalty of being shot.” (Confederate Captain Walter Bowie, May 10, 1864)
 
College application deadlines aren’t looking so bad now, are they?
 
Early Decision I
Early Decision II
Regular Decision
 
Nov. 1, 2016
Jan. 1, 2017
Jan. 1, 2017
 
 333 North College WayClaremont, CA 91711
 admissions@pomona.edu909.621.8134www.pomona.edu

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