Rory Gilmore, a fictional character from the television series Gilmore Girls, attended Yale University for her undergraduate studies. Rory initially dreamed of studying at Harvard University and was accepted into the prestigious and fictional Chilton Academy, where she stayed for her sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. However, in season three, Rory made the decision to attend Yale instead of Harvard. This decision was surprising at first, but it made sense because Rory had a nurturing relationship with her grandfather Richard, a Yale alumnus himself, who often spent Friday night dinners waxing lyrical about his days as a Yalie. Additionally, Rory going to Yale foreshadowed her future character development, as she was influenced by her grandparents privilege and connections. The shows creators built sets in Burbank, California, to look like Yales campus, which was closer to Rorys fictional home in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, to allow more onscreen interactions with her family.