where does serena go to college
Serena van der Woodsen, the fictional “It Girl” from Gossip Girl , ends up going to Columbia University in the TV series, while different sources also mention Yale and Brown in her wider storyline.
Quick Scoop
- In the TV show , Serena enrolls at Columbia University in New York City, where much of her college-era drama takes place.
- Earlier in the show, she is accepted to Brown University (her mother Lily’s alma mater) but chooses not to attend and defers instead.
- It is also referenced in commentary and fan discussions that she manages to get into multiple Ivies (Brown, Yale, Columbia), which many viewers see as exaggerated for her academic record.
- In some descriptions of her broader arc, including novel–adaptation summaries, Serena is said to attend the New School first and later transfer to Yale University , from which she eventually graduates.
Put simply: on screen, the college most clearly associated with Serena is Columbia University , but in the extended Gossip Girl universe she has acceptances or attendance tied to Brown, Yale, the New School, and Columbia.
Different versions at a glance
| Version | Where Serena goes to college |
|---|---|
| TV show (main continuity) | Enrolls at Columbia University in New York City, after previously being accepted to Brown and other Ivies. | [5][7][1]
| Extended / described arc | Attends the New School for a year, then transfers to Yale University and later graduates. | [3]
| Book-based and forum discussions | Often note that she gets into or ends up at Yale at the end of the series, while also having options at Brown and Columbia. | [4][8][9][1]