Meaning of phrasal verb "get into"

[Alena]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #193 "Phrasal Verbs (G to H)", question 5

He worked hard to ......... to Berkeley this past year.

(a) get with
(b) get in
(c) get by

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #193 "Phrasal Verbs (G to H)", answer 5

He worked hard to get in to Berkeley this past year.

Correct answer: (b) get in

Your answer was: incorrect
He worked hard to get with to Berkeley this past year.
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Can you explain me the phrase "get in"? I've understand that Berkeley is a town, but I don't understand the meaning of the phrase.

Alena

[Alan]

Hi Alena,

Get into is a prepositional verb meaning enter. In the sentence in the test it refers to entering a university (Berkeley) in the sense of being accepted as a student or being offered a place as a student.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Alan!

Are you trying to say that get into and get in to mean the same thing? or is there any difference?

Thanks

[Saneta]

get in the university =get into university, in the above context?

thanks

[Alan]

Hi Saneta,

The expression 'get into the university' suggests be successful in getting accepted as a student. You could also drop the article 'the' if you are talking about being successful in getting accepted without referring to any particular one.

A What do you want to do when you leave school?

B I am hoping to get into university (go to university).

A Any particular one?

B Yes, I am hoping to ge into the University of Oxford.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Saneta]

Hi,
Thanks Mr Alan for your remark. So:
get in the university= get into the university (particular one)
get in university= get into university=go to university (genearally)

can 'get in' be replaced by 'get into' in this context?

many thanks