Rory receives her Harvard application in the mail and then learns from a visiting panel of Ivy League admissions experts at Chilton that all her instincts about how to fill it out were wrong. Rory and Lorelai decide to consult a nearby Harvard alum, Darren Springsteen, and end up joining him and his Harvard-perfect family for a lunch filled with quiz questions. Darren later tells Rory that he thinks she's perfect for Harvard and he'll put in a good word with the admissions office for her. Rory is interested to meet Darren's odd-ball daughter, Carol, who works as a waitress and a birthday bunny and doesn't want to go to college. Both Lorelai and Dean start to worry about Rory leaving them when she goes to Harvard. Taylor bullies Luke into renting him the retail space that he bought next door to the diner so that Taylor can open an old fashioned soda shoppe there. Lane puts an in the paper to find a band she can drum in and meets a cute music-nerd named Dave who's looking for a drummer for his band.

While nervously waiting for their college acceptance letters to arrive, Rory and Paris find themselves competing to give a speech at Chilton's bi-centiential, where Paris makes a startling admission. When Lorelai runs into her former fiance, Max Medina (Scott Cohen) and they share a passionate kiss, she is left to wonder if ending the engagement was the right decision. Sookie's strange behavior has a surprising explanation. Jamie Babbit directed the episode written by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Rating: 4.2/6

When a meeting of the Edgar Allan Poe Society at the Independence Inn is interrupted by a fire, Lorelai must find rooms for the guests at various homes around town. Forced to give up her own room, Lorelai spends the night at Luke's. Trying to decide among Harvard, Yale and Princeton, Lorelai and Rory make an extensive list of pros and cons for each school. Luke worries that Jess may be skipping school when he learns that Jess has been working a surprising number of hours at Wal-Mart. Rory visits a humiliated and hibernating Paris to deliver school assignments and a pep talk. Chris Long directed the episode written by Daniel Palladino.

Rating: 2.9/5

While Lorelai deals with the rebuilding of the fire-damaged Inn, Rory schemes to give her mom a great birthday party, complete with a gigantic pizza. Richard surprises Lorelai with a large check from an investment he made when she was born, and Lorelai uses part of the money to repay her parents for Rory's education, a gesture which does not please Emily. Meanwhile, Luke confirms his fear that Jess has been skipping school to work extra shifts at Wal-Mart. Luke agrees to meet Nicole's parents. Paris returns to school a changed person. Tobin: Bruce McCulloch. Gail Mancuso directed the episode written by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Rating: 3.3/5

With graduation approaching, Rory is happily looking forward to attending the Stars Hollow High School prom with Jess, but he gets some surprising news from Principal Merten (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). Lane's band makes its debut at a big party, but the evening ends on an ugly note when the long-standing animosity between Jess and Dean finally erupts into a fist fight. Meanwhile, Lorelai gets roped into serving on the parents' committee for the Chilton graduation party, putting her back in contact with a very uncomfortable Max Medina (Scott Cohen). Chris Long directed the episode written by Daniel Palladino.

Rating: 3.2/5

Both Rory and Jess avoid one another when they find it difficult to deal with their emotions after the fight at the party. When Lorelai and Sookie learn that the owner of the Dragonfly Inn has passed away, they see their chance to buy the inn of their dreams. Jess' long-lost father, Jimmy (Rob Estes), shows up in Stars Hollow and introduces himself to Jess, then suddenly leaves town. Luke is furious when he learns Jess has flunked out of high school and gives him an ultimatum to repeat his senior year or leave. Rory finds out that Dean is engaged to be married. Lane's beau, Dave, pleads his case to a stoic Mrs. Kim. Jamie Babbit directed the episode with teleplay by Amy Sherman-Palladino & Janet Leahy and story by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Rating: 3.5/6

After the blow-up with Luke, Jess leaves Stars Hollow for Venice, California, to stay with Jimmy (Rob Estes), the father he knows almost nothing about. Jimmy admits he isn't capable of being a father, but promises to ask his live-in girlfriend Sasha (Sherilynn Fenn) to let Jess stay. Back in Stars Hollow, at the same time Lorelai is wondering how to tell Rory that Jess is gone, she learns that the money Richard gave her will make Rory ineligible for financial aid at Yale. Feeling stressed out about everything, Rory unexpectedly confronts Emily over her treatment of Lorelai. The episode was written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Rating: 3.3/5

Season finale

As Rory's graduation day approaches, the Gilmore girls plan their long-awaited summer backpacking trip across Europe, even as Lorelai faces the possibility that the recent fire will force the owners of the Independence Inn to sell the building. Rory takes matters into her own hands when she discovers that Lorelai is making a great personal sacrifice to pay for the Yale tuition. Richard and Emily present Rory with a lavish graduation gift, and everyone is touched by Rory's moving valedictory speech. Meanwhile, Luke has second thoughts about a summer cruise with his new girlfriend. The episode was written by Daniel Palladino and directed by Jamie Babbit.

Rating: 3.8/6