Hello! My name is Isabela Abbud and I have been accepted to Berklee College of Music for the Class of 2029! 

My Background

I have lived my entire life in São Paulo and have always studied at Colégio Dante Alighieri, a private school in the city. The school provided great support throughout the college application process, which made the experience much more comfortable.

Deciding to Study Abroad

When I was 10 years old, I had the opportunity to attend a gymnastics summer camp in Pennsylvania. The experience was incredible and opened my eyes to the possibility of studying abroad. Since then, I knew I had to at least try to apply to study there.

At one point, I even considered studying in Europe—mainly because it's more affordable and my school has an Italian heritage. However, once I decided on my major, the U.S. stood out for having stronger programs in that field, so focusing on American universities became the wiser choice.

Why Berklee?

Berklee was the first school I ever saw when I searched for “best colleges for music business.” It was also the first vlog I watched about studying music business abroad. Just by chance. But from that moment on, it always felt like THE school for me.

Still, I had doubts. Berklee is a music-only college, and I was scared I wouldn’t be musically talented enough compared to people majoring in instruments like guitar or voice. But in 2021/2022, Berklee launched a Bachelor of Arts (instead of the traditional Bachelor of Music) in Music Business, which is much more focused on the business side—no harmony, ear training, or sight-reading classes. Just what I actually wanted to study.

When I saw that program, I felt like my insecurities vanished. It was like a sign.

Berklee truly is the dream school for anyone interested in music. Musicians such as John Mayer, Lizzy McAlpine, Quincy Jones, Charlie Puth, and so many others studied there. These people often come back to campus to give talks, lead masterclasses, or just interact with students. 

Another thing I love about Berklee is the career support. The school has strong industry ties, and companies like Spotify and Universal Music recruit directly from campus. That was really important to me—I didn’t want to be stuck in a small town with no internship or networking opportunities. Boston is a major city, and Berklee is deeply connected to what’s happening in the music world.

The classes I’ll take are exactly what I wanted: from copyright law and royalty structures to tour planning and music marketing. Every part of the curriculum fits my goals.

Music Business Major

I believe I’ve had a lifelong connection with this major—one that started even before I was born. My mom used to play songs for me while I was still in her belly, and after I was born, she wrote diaries describing the music she shared with me and how joyful I became just by listening.

As I grew up, my passion for music only deepened. I remember listening to High School Musical songs on repeat, completely captivated. My entire family has always been made up of music lovers, so I was constantly surrounded by melodies, rhythms, and lyrics.

Eventually, I began exploring the world of pop culture on my own. I loved watching music videos, discovering new songs, and learning about the artists behind them. When I was seven, I started taking piano lessons, which made the music feel even more real and tangible to me. Later, I added guitar and singing classes—activities that felt incredibly aligned with who I was.

By the time I was 15, I started composing my own songs, not to share with others, but as a way of understanding myself better. Songwriting became my form of self-expression, helping me process emotions and moments in my life.

Because of this lifelong passion, I started researching ways to turn it into a career. That’s when I discovered the Music Business major. As much as I love music, I realized I didn’t want to study only the performance side—I wanted to work behind the scenes, helping shape the industry I admire so much. Through this major, I’ll learn how to manage artists, understand the business side of music, and contribute to the creative world in a way that fits both my passions and my personality.

Acceptances

Besides Berklee, I was also accepted to the University of Miami, Purdue University, Drexel University, Pace University (with presidential scholarship), and Emerson college with a trustee scholarship! All of those acceptances were followed by merit based scholarships, with more than U$104,000!

Stats & Tips

I graduated with a 4.0 GPA on both my Brazilian and American curriculum (offered by my school in partnership with Mizzou Academy), being a National Honors Society and Honor Roll Student throughout High School. Additionally, I earned a 150 on the Duolingo English Test.

My biggest tip would be to talk to your teachers—not just attend their classes, but really build a connection with them. That way, when things get tough or you're struggling to study for a test, you’ll feel comfortable asking for help. Building a relationship with your teachers is also incredibly helpful when it comes time to ask for recommendation letters as it makes the process much easier and more genuine.

Personal Statement

In my personal statement, I shared how my way of viewing the world has always been deeply connected to my songs. I used to be more self conscious— afraid to speak up, afraid to take space. But the moment I began to write music, everything shifted. My compositions became my lens for seeing and understanding myself and the world around me.

I wrote about pressure, self-doubt, and the constant feeling of not being enough. These weren't songs I ever intended to share, they were personal, but through them I began to build emotional intelligence and gain a deeper understanding of who I was. Songwriting gave me a quiet strength. It allowed me to validate my feelings and to see value in my emotions, even the hard ones.

This transformation went beyond the pages and melodies. The confidence I found in my lyrics slowly bled into other areas of my life. For example, when I started participating in Model United Nations conferences, I showed up as someone entirely different from who I had been just two years before. The girl who once avoided the spotlight now stepped up to speak in public, lead teams, and defend complex positions—all because writing had helped me trust myself.

In my essay, I gave examples from both my personal and academic life, but they all came back to the same truth: empowerment. Songwriting changed how I see the world and how I see myself. It’s not just a hobby, it’s how I make sense of everything. I have endless playlists for every feeling, and every experience. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t write something—a line, a verse, a thought. I have stacks of notebooks filled with lyrics. When I flip through them, I remember exactly what I felt, what I lived, on each page. These lyrics are like keys to understanding the person I was and the one I’ve become.

Extracurricular Activities

My main activity was definitely being a delegate at MUN simulations. I began participating in Model UN at the end of my first year of high school. Actually, I didn’t enjoy my first conference at all. Still, something told me to keep going, and with time it grew on me. And I’m grateful it did since it led me to be the first Brazilian to receive an award at Brown University’s MUN (in its 28 years of history!).

Eventually, I organized simulations at my own school with over 150 delegates. When I first joined, we had only 18 students and held our events in a tiny classroom. This year, the event grew to more than 350 delegates and over 40 active students attending weekly training sessions.

I also spent two years working with Youth for the Climate, a global organization focused on environmental education. Our biggest project was building a climate journalism curriculum for schools lacking access to environmental education. We developed it collaboratively with researchers, educators, and activists. The curriculum reached over eight schools, and we’re now translating it into Spanish and Portuguese to expand its reach even further.

Being the captain of my school’s basketball team was also one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Basketball gave me balance during stressful times—it was my therapy when I boarded the bus after crying over a math test. Even today, I go back to my school to cheer for my team during games. It’s a bond that never fades.

Some people might dismiss TikTok, but for me, creating content related to gender equality through music was powerful. My videos weren’t viral hits, but they reflected who I was and what I cared about. And, eventually, I grew a platform of more than 14k music-lovers.

Music has always empowered me. Even if I didn’t have access to formal music programs or the means to organize a festival, music gave me the courage to pursue everything else I’ve done. I was honest in my storytelling—I didn’t pretend to have a long list of musical achievements, but I shared how music gave me the confidence and emotional depth to become a leader, activist, and change-maker.

Portfolio

Although I was not a music major, many universities still required a portfolio as part of the application process. Because of that, I focused on schools where the portfolio requirements aligned with my goals and interests. Most schools asked for:

• A main essay, usually answering why I wanted to pursue that major.

• A second, longer essay focused specifically on the field of Music Business or Music Industry.

For both essays, I developed a consistent and personal narrative that reflected my passion for creating a healthier and more inclusive music industry.

Some universities also asked for a video component, where I had to talk about:

• The area of the music industry I’m most passionate about.

• The genre or niche I want to work with – in my case, Latin music, especially Brazilian music.

• What I want to do differently in the industry.

• A short performance video.

For the performance, I chose to sing and play “Força Estranha” by Gal Costa. I wanted to highlight my cultural background, showcase my musical roots, and make it clear that I’m not just another international student. I’m bringing my full story – and a mission to create space for unheard voices in the industry.

Some universities also require interviews. These were usually focused on:

• My vision for my future in the music industry.

• What I would like to explore in a senior thesis or capstone project.

• Critical thinking questions, such as “What would you change about this artist’s strategy?”

I prepared as much as I could, but I also welcomed the opportunity to speak authentically about my values and ideas for the future of the music industry.

Financial Aid

For the financial assistance at Berklee, it wasn't necessary to submit a separate application. They automatically consider all applicants for this scholarship. I was gifted roughly 40%, which equals 22,000 per year. 

One great thing about Berklee is that this scholarship can increase over time. If I maintain strong academic and artistic performance, there's a chance it could grow each year. As long as my performance doesn’t drop, the scholarship is secure at this current amount—so that’s basically my minimum guaranteed aid, but there's potential for more.