School and university

Question

Hi!

Please, I need someone's help to understand the meaning of a question I found on the following site:

http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Red%20Level/R5%20Do%20questions.html

Where do you go to school? and the answer is: I go to school at the university.

If someone asked me this question, I'd probably answer: I go to school in Boston, for example. I'd never say at the university, because in AmE school means a college or university, or the time when you study there.

Does anyone understand the reason for this question?

I'm pulling my hair because of this and I don't want to go bald!

Thanks!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I need someone's help to understand the meaning of a question I found on the following site:

http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Red%20Level/R5%20Do%20questions.html

Where do you go to school? and the answer is: I go to school at the university.

If someone asked me this question, I'd probably answer: I go to school in Boston, for example. I'd never say at the university, because in AmE school means a college or university, or the time when you study there.

Does anyone understand the reason for this question?

Some comments.

The use of 'school' to mean 'university' is, I think, fairly unique to American English.

Hence, one hears things like 'Harvard is a great school'.

If the question is 'Where do you go to school?', I'd expect an answer like this.

Harvard.

I'm in Harvard.

I'm at Harvard.

I go to school at the university sounds pretty odd to me. I wouldn't expect the words 'school' and 'university' in the same sentence like this.

The 'the' also suggests the speaker is referring to some specific university that has been mentioned earlier in the conversation. A less specific answer would be

I go to university.

I'm in university.

Finally, I believe Americans often use the word 'college' to mean 'university'. Perhaps an American member of the Forum will comment further on this point.

Best wishes, Clive

Vorpar · Answer

ClivePerhaps an American member of the Forum will comment further on this point. Best wishes, Clive

Quite true, we (certainly in California) tend not to differentiate between university and college. Rarely will we say university unless we're using the school's name. Even then I abbreviate...I went to UC.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Agreed.

If asked "Where do you go to school?" the response would be the name of the college or university.

Gustavo K · Answer

Ok, thanks! If the answer to the question where do you go to school? is the name of the school, so to know the place where the school is, you just ask where is the school you go to? Right?

Gustavo K · Answer

Hi!

I'd like you to take a quick look at the question about in or into posted by qq_aa_zz to see what you think about the discussion. Thanks!

School and university

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions