Year after year, a new pool of seniors faces the time-consuming process of applying for the colleges they wish to attend. After four years of hard work to maintain a good grade point average, writing college essays and participating in a wide range of extracurriculars, the end of application season seems like a breath of fresh air for seniors

Cavaliers like senior Sebastian D’Alessio were absorbed in the college admissions process. When the early decision application results came out for the University of Pennsylvania, D’Alessio kept his hopes up, only to be rewarded with an acceptance letter from the Quakers.  

“Throughout high school, I was trying to make decisions I would not regret. That’s why I don’t have any regrets in terms of academics. Aside from the basics like staying in a sport for longer, making a bigger impact in clubs, or diving into something outside of school that shows passion for what I’m trying to do, I am happy with my results,” senior Sebastian D’Alessio said.

Over the summer, D’Alessio received a promotional letter in his mailbox inviting him to apply for an academic program at UPenn. There and then, D’Alessio realized that he had a fairly good chance to get admitted into the Ivy League school. UPenn went from being a far fetched idea to his dream school.

“My mom helped me a lot with the research aspects of my application. I hoped that the admission officers would be intrigued by my responses. I was so adept at precisely noting what I had been interested in, like specific classes or specific programs, that they would want to see,” senior D’Alessio said.

Leading up to his senior year, D’Alessio had spent three summers enhancing his knowledge and trying his hardest to push himself further academically. For example, prior to his sophomore year, D’Alessio took Algebra 2 and Physics Honors over the summer. 

He embarked on an unfaltering academic journey by taking at least one course every summer. During that window, D’Alessio was also a counselor at a summer camp for disadvantaged kids. He also participated in the Summer Youth Internship Program, an internship experience that gives students hands-on experience within a specific field of their choice. 

“Sebastian [is] a very determined person. So, he was always very driven and knew what classes he wanted to take in the summer for dual enrollment. He knew UPenn was his goal to the point that he didn’t even apply anywhere else. With that, he stuck to his plan,” IB counselor Ms. Lezcano said.  

After taking Physics Honors antecedent his sophomore year, D’Alessio developed a passion for the subject and decided to study physics in the International Baccalaureate Program. Each year, he strove to understand the material so that he could progress in the physics track. 

Leveling up, D’Alessio has decided to major in Physics: Business and Technology at the College of Arts and Sciences. He intends to apply his strong background in physics, science and mathematics to his upcoming years up north. 

Although D’Alessio’s career is up in the air, he is interested in a career within the realms of business, technology, economics, computer science or mathematics in the future.

“I’m hoping that a strong physics background or strong STEM background would actually really help with giving me a foundation for getting into that fields [that I like],” senior D’Alessio said. 

Striving in the future, D’Alessio looks forward to excelling in UPenn where his dreams will become a reality. College will be a fresh start, living in a new beautiful scenery and making new friends. He will continue to excel on the next playing field, just as he flourished at Gables.