 When college acceptance and rejection letters are received, the kids must consider what path they are going to follow. Summer is accepted into Brown University, whereas Seth is not. Not wanting to hold back Summer from such an grand opportunity, Seth lies by telling Summer and everyone that he got accepted into Brown, and begins to treat Summer badly. Ryan and Sadie try to decide what Ryan will do after high school when he is accepted into Berkeley. Marissa is also accepted into Berkely, but does not know if she wants to leave Newport. Meanwhile, Sandy tries to resolve the conflict between the unscrupulous, and mob-connected Henry Griffin and the hotshot Matt, where Mr. Griffin tries to bribe Sandy into not filing charges against him. Accepted to a college in France, a joyful Taylor holds a college acceptance bonfire party where Summer and Marissa try to fix their friendship problems, and Sadie decides not to move to Berkey with Ryan after seeing that it will hold him back and she leaves for Portland, for good.