The Summer I Turned Pretty College Drama: 5 Major Differences Between Belly, Conrad, And Jeremiah’s Lives

The highly anticipated final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty is set to plunge Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers into the complex world of college life, marking a significant departure from the familiar, sun-drenched beaches of Cousins. As of the latest updates in late 2025, the narrative takes a massive leap, moving past the high school years and dropping the beloved characters into the challenging reality of university, complete with new academic pressures, social dynamics like Greek life, and the inevitable distance that tests even the strongest bonds. This shift is not just a change of scenery; it’s the catalyst for the final, heartbreaking, and ultimately defining chapters of the central love triangle.

The transition to college life—primarily at the fictional Finch College and the prestigious Brown University—introduces a fresh batch of drama and growth for Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. With Season 3 confirmed to feature a substantial time jump, fans will witness the protagonists navigate their freshman and junior years, forcing them to confront who they are outside the protective bubble of Cousins Beach. The contrast between their college experiences, particularly the distance separating them, becomes the new emotional battleground for the series.

The College Destinations: Finch, Brown, and the Stanford Question

The most immediate and defining change for the main characters is their chosen—or forced—college path. Their university choices reflect their personalities, ambitions, and the emotional baggage they carry from the previous summers. This section breaks down where each character lands and the significance of their new academic homes.

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• Isabel "Belly" Conklin (Lola Tung): Belly attends the fictional Finch University, a smaller school located in the Northeast. Season 3 kicks off with Belly moving into Finch for her freshman year. The atmosphere of the campus, which is filmed at the University of North Carolina (UNC), is designed to have a classic collegiate charm. Belly is joined by her best friend, Taylor Jewel, and Jeremiah Fisher, meaning her social safety net remains relatively intact as she starts this new chapter.
• Jeremiah "Jere" Fisher (Gavin Casalegno): Jeremiah also enrolls at Finch University. His decision to attend the same school as Belly, where he is also joined by Taylor, initially suggests a stable and happy period for the couple. Jeremiah is shown to be thriving in college and is embracing the social scene, including joining Greek life. His relaxed approach to academics contrasts sharply with his older brother’s intense focus.
• Conrad "Con" Fisher (Christopher Briney): Conrad is accepted into the prestigious Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. His Ivy League status highlights his academic ambition and intellectual nature. However, the narrative suggests a major change is coming: Conrad is expected to transfer to Stanford University in California by the end of the series. This potential cross-country move represents the ultimate distance from Belly and Jeremiah, forcing a final reckoning for the central trio.

The physical distance between Brown and Finch, and the looming possibility of Conrad moving to the West Coast for Stanford, serves as a powerful metaphor for the emotional chasm that opens up between the characters. Their college experiences are setting the stage for the book's final, pivotal moments.

5 Major Differences in the College Experience That Drive the Drama

The college storyline in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 is far more than just a backdrop; it’s a crucible for personal growth and conflict. The following differences in the characters' university lives are the primary drivers of the final season's emotional intensity.

1. Academic Paths and Career Ambitions

The characters’ majors and academic focuses reveal their hidden aspirations and future trajectories, which were often overshadowed by the summer romance drama.

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• Conrad's Intellectual Intensity: Conrad’s enrollment at Brown, and his likely transfer to Stanford, underscores his serious academic drive. His focus is on his future, suggesting a path in medicine or a highly competitive field, which often isolates him from the more carefree college experience of others. His college essay, which secured his spot at Brown, was a deep dive into the "importance of place," specifically Cousins Beach, showing his emotional connection is still tied to his past, even as he strives for a high-achieving future.
• Jeremiah's Social Focus: Jeremiah's major at Finch is rumored to be something like business administration, but his college life is heavily centered on the social scene. He is shown to be thriving, dating Belly, and engaging in Greek life. His ease in the university environment is a stark contrast to the emotionally burdened Conrad.
• Belly's Undefined Future: Belly’s major is never explicitly stated in the books. Speculation suggests she might be studying psychology, based on a study session with Taylor. This ambiguity reflects her journey of self-discovery; she is still figuring out who she is and what she wants, making her identity more intertwined with her relationships than her career path at this stage.

2. The Role of Greek Life and New Social Circles

The introduction of Greek life—fraternities and sororities—at Finch College adds a new layer of social complexity that was absent in the Cousins Beach dynamic.

• Jeremiah and Taylor’s Immersion: Both Jeremiah and Taylor quickly embrace Greek life, becoming deeply integrated into the college social hierarchy. This provides them with a ready-made community but also introduces new characters and potential distractions, which could strain their relationships with Belly.
• Belly’s Balance: While Belly attends Finch, her focus remains more on her relationship with Jeremiah at the start of the season. She navigates the college party scene, but her core conflict remains the love triangle, suggesting she is less defined by the new social groups than her friends.
• Conrad’s Isolation: At Brown, Conrad is physically and socially removed from the Finch crowd. His focus on rigorous studies likely means he avoids the more extensive social dynamics of Greek life, further isolating him and making communication with Belly and Jeremiah more difficult. The geographical distance amplifies the emotional disconnect.

3. The Impact of the Time Jump on Relationships

Season 3 employs a significant time jump, starting with Belly's freshman year and quickly moving to the end of her junior year. This narrative device is crucial for showing the evolution—and eventual dissolution—of relationships.

• The End of the Honeymoon Phase: The initial time jump shows Belly and Jeremiah happily dating and thriving at Finch. However, the subsequent jump to junior year highlights the strain that two years of college—with its parties, new friends, and academic stress—has put on their relationship, leading to the pivotal conflict that defines the final book.
• Conrad’s Growth: The time jump allows Conrad to mature and process his grief and emotional turmoil away from the constant pressure of Belly's presence. His time at Brown is a period of intense personal development, making him a different person when he eventually re-enters Belly’s orbit.

The College Catalyst: Why Finch and Brown Matter for the Ending

The college setting is not merely a plot device; it is a catalyst for the ultimate conclusion of the series. The university years are when the characters transition from teenagers to adults, making independent choices that shape their destinies.

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The contrast between Finch College—a more socially focused, accessible environment shared by Belly, Jeremiah, and Taylor—and Brown University—a high-pressure, intellectually demanding Ivy League school attended by Conrad—epitomizes the fundamental differences between the Fisher brothers. Jeremiah represents the immediate, comfortable, and present joy, while Conrad embodies the distant, challenging, and future-oriented ambition.

The college timeline, which spans nearly three years of the characters' lives, is what forces Belly to finally choose not just between two boys, but between two very different versions of her future. Her journey at Finch, surrounded by friends but constantly reminded of her past, culminates in a choice that is less about who she loves and more about the woman she is becoming. The college years are where the summer finally ends, and the real world begins, setting the stage for the definitive, emotional conclusion fans have been waiting for.