Shaun Brumder is intelligent but little interested in his education, leading a carefree SoCal lifestyle of surfing in affluent Orange County, California, drinking and partying.

Shaun dramatically improves himself academically, obtaining high grades and SAT scores and becoming president of his graduating class.

Reaching out to his wealthy father, Bud, who left his family for a younger woman, Shaun pleads with him to donate to Stanford to increase his chances of acceptance.

In a last-ditch effort, Ashley and Lance convince Shaun to drive to Palo Alto and plead his case directly to Stanford Admissions Director, Don Durkett.

Disaster strikes again when Ashley confuses Lance's MDMA, commonly referred to as ecstasy, for pain relievers, offering Durkett the pills for his headache, getting him high.

Skinner reminds him that many famous authors such as James Joyce and William Faulkner grew up in places that were not intellectually stimulating, and were inspired by the conflicts in their own lives.

To make amends, Bud donates enough money to Stanford for the construction of a new Admissions Building, which secures Shaun's acceptance.

Shaun leaves a copy of Skinner's book at the beach for someone else to find, then surfs with his friends for the first time since Lonny's death.

Orange County was given 3 of 4 stars by Roger Ebert, who described it as, "one of those happy projects where everything seems to fall naturally into place.

Matthew Turner of ViewLondon states that, "though there are no real belly laughs or any Farrelly-like set pieces, this is still a better than average comedy, thanks to its witty script and its amusing collection of characters.