I studied hard last year so that I can/could go to a good university next year.

[Mike MC]

Adverbial clauses of purpose: mixed past and future.

Which is correct?

• I studied hard last year so that I can go to a good university next year.
• I studied hard last year so that I could go to a good university next year.

I guess the second one is correct. I wonder what you think.

 

[emsr2d2]

They're both possible but the second is more likely.