This Brian-centric episode begins with the set-up for the "B plot," wherein Peter, Quagmire, Joe, and Cleveland dress up as the A Team for Quahog's 1980s television convention. They win the costume contest, but can't relinquish their roles after the convention is over.
Brian covers the convention for the Daily Shopper. His article (titled "TV Convention Gets Good Reception") catches the eye of someone at the New Yorker, who invites Brian out to work as a contributing reporter.
Unfortuntely, when the New Yorker learns that Brian never finished college, they kick him to the curb (literally). It turns out that Brian left Brown University just one course shy of graduating. We never get much explanation for what happened, beyond Brian's vague explanation that he "cracked under the pressure."
This episode revolves around Brian being unable to pass a physics course. Which raises an awful lot of questions, none of which are satisfactorily addressed, if you ask me. It seems to me that pretty much anyone can graduate college, if they keep at it. Maybe you change your major, or maybe you take some easier classes. Is advanced physics a required course? And if so, why did Brian pass all the prerequisites? Basically it seems like someone will either flunk out of college after the first year, or make it all the way through.
Stewie stows away with Brian, and ends up having a lot more fun at college than Brian does. He discovers things about himself, such as the fact that he is "all about Ultimate Frisbee." And that not bathing is fun, apparently?