Season 3

The third season focuses on Blair, Dan and Vanessa getting into NYU along with movie star Olivia Burke (Hilary Duff), whom Dan starts dating; Nate getting into Columbia University; Serena taking a year off from school; Jenny becoming Queen Bee at Constance; and Chuck running Bass Industries, along with now adoptive mother Lily van der Woodsen. The first couple of episodes feature part of the summer vacation, respectively the week before the start of University and School. The role of "Gossip Girl" is slightly decreased throughout the season.

Robert John Burke, who played Bart Bass, returned for A Christmas Carol themed episode in December, while Desmond Harrington returned as Chuck's uncle Jack with a major storyline disturbing Chuck and Blair's relationship again and involving Chuck's alienated mother Evelyn Bass Fisher.
The season focused hugely on Jenny Humphrey's growth and downhill spiral. She spends a good part of the season alienating herself from Eric, her former best friend, and chasing after Nate, who has his heart set on Serena. Due to her one night stand with Chuck Bass, and new drug dealing habit, Jenny's father and Lily send her to New York to live with her mother. Blair and Chuck's attempt to have a successful relationship which goes downhill; Dan and Vanessa move from friends to something more; and Serena's attempts to find herself through a new job and brief love affairs with Carter.