On her day of graduation, Felicity asks a longtime high school crush, Ben, to sign her yearbook; after she reads his message, in which he says that he would have liked to have known her better, Felicity changes her lifelong college plans to follow Ben to a New York school. There, she meets her quirky (and smitten) resident advisor Noel and her first new friend Julie.
When Felicity learns a male called the admissions office requesting a copy of her application essay, she assumes it was Ben — the subject of said essay — and sends him a copy. Meanwhile, Felicity's parents pop up in New York again.
Felicity's excited about attending her first college party, and plans to invite Ben — so long as Julie doesn't mind. Meanwhile, Felicity butts heads with a professor, and meets a fellow competitive student Elena.
After Noel acts on his feelings for Felicity and kisses her during a game of Boggle, the two decide to go on a "maybe date" to discuss the future of their relationship. Julie befriends an aspiring filmmaker.
After Felicity and Ben are held up, he seems especially spooked and calls on her for late-night chats, one of which includes an invitation to a Halloween party.
Ben is accused of cheating after Felicity rewrites his paper without telling him; and Julie fears she won't understand a Russian film that Zack is taking her to see.
Noel tires of hearing about Felicity's goings-on with Ben and forbids her to talk about it with him. Julie and Zack's relationship intensifies. Elena reveals she may be leaving school. Julie's date pushes her too far. Felicity tries to mend fences with Ben. Felicity urges Julie to report the date rape and get counseling, but Julie thinks she caused the incident. Meanwhile, a prospective student visits.
Noel tires of hearing about Felicity's goings-on with Ben and forbids her to talk about it with him. Julie and Zack's relationship intensifies. Elena reveals she may be leaving school. Julie's date pushes her too far. Felicity tries to mend fences with Ben. Felicity urges Julie to report the date rape and get counseling, but Julie thinks she caused the incident. Meanwhile, a prospective student visits.
Felicity's hurt when Noel downplays their friendship to his girlfriend, Hanna, who's visiting for Thanksgiving but may transfer to New York. Meanwhile, Elena begrudgingly visits her dad; and Ben can't locate his plane ticket.
Though finals and Christmas break are fast approaching, Felicity spends most of her study time literally wrapped up in Noel; and helping Ben prepare for a poetry test. Meanwhile, Sean tries to sell fruit to students in the library.
Felicity returns from winter break and tells Noel she wants to have sex, an endeavor that brings about much scheduling, research and preparation; Julie dreads telling Felicity about her new bond with Ben; and Elena wonders how to use a gift from Blair.
After Felicity thinks she spots Blair kissing someone other than Elena, she decides to blow the whistle on him - until she realizes the mystery vixen is Elena's best friend. Meanwhile, Julie learns the identity of her birth mother.
When a boy that Felicity knew when she was 12-years-old comes to town to act on feelings that he has had for her, she consults someone familiar with stalkers: Ben. She also applies for a seminar with a geneticist named Dr. McGrath. Todd gets hit by a bus, and as he arrives at the hospital, he gives Felicity a note she wrote years ago about being an artist. Todd almost dies, which causes Felicity to rethink her career path and blow an interview with Dr. McGrath. Also, Julie mails a tape to Carole, and Elena severs ties with Tara.
When a boy that Felicity knew when she was 12-years-old comes to town to act on feelings that he has had for her, she consults someone familiar with stalkers: Ben. She also applies for a seminar with a geneticist named Dr. McGrath. Todd gets hit by a bus, and as he arrives at the hospital, he gives Felicity a note she wrote years ago about being an artist. Todd almost dies, which causes Felicity to rethink her career path and blow an interview with Dr. McGrath. Also, Julie mails a tape to Carole, and Elena severs ties with Tara.
Felicity receives a marriage proposal from a green-card seeking Javier; and Noel gets a visit from his brother (Eddie McClintock), who shocks him with news that he's gay. Also, Ben takes up swimming.
Noel is confused about his feelings for his ex when they reconnect after a kiss. Also, an art student who admires Felicity's work invites her to the studio; and Julie clashes with Ben's new friends from the swim team.
The morning after the fight, Noel confesses he made a "huge mistake" in going off with his ex-girlfriend and begs Felicity for another try at their relationship. Felicity struggles to tell Noel about her own indiscretion.
Panicked over a surprise visit from her parents, Meghan entrusts Felicity with the safekeeping of her box. Meanwhile, Julie gets bombshell news about her birth mother.
Noel and Felicity are driven to distraction when Sean, seeking a selling angle for his documentary, latches onto their shattered relationship and pesters them to discuss their feelings on-camera.
Facing temporary suspension because of his unpaid tuition bill and pressure from his bookie over his gambling debts, Ben frantically sorts through his diminishing options.
Felicity suspects one of Meghan's "spells" when finals stress is exacerbated by a series of sudden relationship mishaps, including Noel reconsidering a drive to California with her.
A disappointed Felicity faces the drive home to California without Noel, until he unexpectedly asks her to fly to Berlin with him. She accepts, but Ben's reaction makes her rethink her plans. Meanwhile, Elena's relationship with Prof. McGrath progresses along with her growing unease about the consequences of their affair.
