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Leila Lal

The Yale Dilemma: Why Blair Waldorf Should've Had the Upper Hand

Serena Van Der Woodsen, New York City’s "IT" girl, reigns as the coolest and most stylish icon of 2010’s television (in my very esteemed opinion). Although she's been known to cause a bit of commotion with her chaotic and occasionally dishonorable ways, she's shown devotion and transformation after her years at boarding school.


Blair Waldorf, aptly named Queen B, has consistently excelled, striving for greatness from the very beginning. Her goal of attending an Ivy League school, especially Yale, has driven her. Just as stylish as Serena, Blair manages to avoid much of the scandal – at least so far. Her scholastic prowess is undeniable, surpassing Serena in the realms of academia and education. She presents a more comprehensive package for consideration by the elite, prestigious colleges.


So, why did Serena secure a spot at Yale over Blair?


In the commencement of the Yale episode, it becomes apparent that Serena received an acceptance to Yale while Blair found herself on the waitlist. This, to me, seems completely ludicrous, but what's even more bewildering is this:


The episode reveals that Blair boasted a "straight A" report card and participated in multiple extracurricular activities – precisely what colleges covet.


It's also mentioned that Serena's potential acceptance at Yale would be more for PR purposes, as she is another infamous IT girl, thus making her desirable to Yale. Furthermore, an hour after Serena's acceptance, the Dean of Yale's office contacted her, inquiring about the possibility of a press release regarding her admission. This underscores her distinctiveness at Yale. Essentially, the message conveyed is that Yale isn't just for the intellectually gifted; it's also for the popular and cool. So, aspiring to be a Serena instead of a Blair can easily lead one to Yale.


Blair, expressing her frustration to friends, family, and the entire Constance & St. Judes community, felt the sting of rejection from Yale. As a response, Serena chose to decline her acceptance, making Blair the next viable option for Yale. Therefore, yes, Blair was offered admission, but her time at Yale proved short-lived due to her decision to exact revenge on her teacher, Ms. Rachel Carr.


While some might argue that Blair's actions toward Ms. Carr were reprehensible, they hardly warranted expulsion and rescission of her Yale acceptance. In my perspective, the entire Ms. Carr subplot was gratuitous and distasteful. Though I wouldn't have handled the situation in the same manner as Blair (admittedly not as egregious as it was portrayed), I share a dislike for Ms. Carr, and her swift departure from the series was rather satisfying. Was it truly necessary for her to expose Blair as she did? The show, after all, is Gossip Girl – if a teacher can't cope with a rumor circulating about her, the fault lies within her own realm.


In summary, my stance is that Blair Waldorf's qualifications rendered her more deserving of a spot at Yale compared to Serena. Blair's application contained a wealth of merits, bolstering my assertion of her superior compatibility with Yale's ethos.

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