Learn to write supplements that transform admissions officers from gatekeepers to advocates.

College admissions is more competitive than ever, but there are some shortcuts you can take to make your application stand out...

Asalaam alaykum!

First of all, I want to congratulate you on this momentous step. Applying to college is a big decision, and the fact that you're here shows that you're taking this process seriously!

Furthermore, you're clearly a person who plans ahead. This will serve you well both in preparing your college applications and in life, insha'Allah.

I founded Five Before College to help Muslim high schoolers and their families get access top-quality information and advice on how applying to college REALLY works, so that you can make the best decisions for your deen and dunya, for this life and the next.

Over my career, I’ve gotten a really good understanding of college admissions. More specifically, over the past decade, I’ve advised hundreds of Muslim students through the college admissions process. 

This experience has given me a unique, high-level understanding of how college admissions works.  

And that’s what I want to share with you.

There is a pattern I have observed with many students--they obsess over their personal statement, spending many hours and countless drafts trying to get their "college essay" just right.

After an 11th hour rush, they apply early to their dream school before the early application deadline.

Then they hit November and they relax. The next deadline is not until January 1, and they have plenty of time to complete their regular decision applications, or so their thinking goes.

"Besides, I'll get in early to my dream school inshaAllah and won't have to worry about applying to college ever again."

Indeed, that is how things work out some of the time. Alhamdulillah.

But frequently December 15 arrives, and students get deferred from their early school. Suddenly all that time they thought they had has been reduced to a couple of weeks.

They begin to get serious about applying and realize they now have dozens of essays and more than 10000 words to write in only two weeks!

Their winter break, which they desperately need after a long semester slaving away at their AP classes, instead becomes transformed into the most stressful time in their lives.

The worst part is that since they don't have time to do things properly, their supplements are rushed, generic and subpar, and only end up convincing admissions officers that they are really not serious about the school.

Then when decisions come out in March, they receive a string of rejections from schools where they could have gotten in, and they feel that all their hard work was a waste.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU!

The FBC Supplements Masterclass is designed to help you craft the best applications you possibly can. It will teach you how to tell your unique story in a compelling way, to make an unforgettable impression on the admissions officers who read it, and so they'll advocate on your behalf to the admissions committee that they want YOU at their school. What's more, you'll do it all without so much stress and worry. You'll finish your applications early and win back your winter break. The hurricane of the regular admissions deadline feel like a light Sunday breeze. 

The Supplements Masterclass is a 5-week workshop based course in which you will learn how to write breathtaking supplements that stand out from the stack of forgettable applications. You'll get expert feedback to help you refine and improve your essays, until the reader can't help but see how truly unique and special you are.

Remember, admissions officers are scanning for truly interesting candidates - students whose personalities, character, and unique strengths are almost oozing from the pages of their application.

That's you!

And by the end of the FBC Supplements Masterclass, you'll have an application that will show it. 

If you join the FBC Supplements Masterclass, and you do the work, you’ll have standout college applications finished well before the deadline.

Done. Complete.

That’s my promise to you. 

You can find out more details below.

Bismillah.

Webinar replay: "How Elite Colleges Evaluate Applications"

Watch the replay of FBC's recent webinar below:

Instructor

Dina Atia

STEM Head Coach

Dina Atia holds both a BS and MEng from MIT in Computer Science, Economics and Data Science. She is passionate about both STEM and the Humanities and is the inaugural member of the Five Before College team.

Pricing options

Three ways to succeed

Class Levels Summarized

See how the three tiers differ from one another.

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Bonus material

Over $700 worth of extras to give you an extra boost and support you through the application process and beyond!

  • Accountability Check-Ins

    $100 value

    The instructor will reach out every week to make sure you are on track with your supplement writing so that you can finish on time.

  • 30 Minutes w/Br. Hamzah

    $100 value

    All course participants will get a free 30-minute one-on-one session with FBC founder and head coach, Br. Hamzah, to provide additional personal support through the application and admissions process.

  • Free Money Mastermind

    $500 value

    Course participants will have access to a 60 minute session with Br. Hamzah about how Muslim students can discover and unlock scholarships to help pay for college, plus strategies, tips, and tricks for how to submit a successful scholarship application.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What time are classes?

    Classes will be held Mondays at 7:00 pm eastern time, weekly from November 27 through December 25. Pro & Premium members will also have access to Thursday bonus 1-on-1s on the weeks they are being workshopped.

  • How long are classes?

    Monday classes will consist of 60 minutes of instruction (mandatory) and 60 minutes of workshopping (recommended).

  • How will I access classes?

    The Zoom link for each class will be sent by email beforehand. Class recordings will be available shortly afterwards on Thinkific.

  • Will there be time for questions?

    Class time will be packed! We'll try to address some questions during class, but you can also ask questions during the weekly office hours sessions. Office hours will open to both parents and students at the pro and premium tier. Office hours will be on Sundays iA, time TBD

  • Will there be any 1-on-1 time with the instructor?

    Pro & premium tier students will have 30 minute one-on-ones with the instructor during the weeks they are workshopped. Premium tier members have five 1-hour one-on-ones with the instructor.

  • If I am not a senior, can this class help me?

    Absolutely. Juniors will get enormous benefit from the class. It will help them learn how to write about themselves, how to craft compelling applications for summer internships and scholarships, and will give them a 1-year headstart on one of the trickiest parts of college applications.

  • Will I be able to access personal coaching if I need it?

    In addition to the 1-on-1s mentioned above, Sr. Dina & Br. Hamzah are available for 1-on-1 consultations, essay editing, and application review on an hourly basis.

  • Do Supplements Masterclass students get a discount on one-on-one coaching?

    Yes! Early Application Masterclass students will have LIFETIME access to one-on-one coaching at the discounted rate of $150/hour ($75/30 minutes).

  • How do I access one-on-one coaching?

    Head over to https://hamzahhenshaw.com/ to book a meeting.

  • Will there be any opportunity to meet other students in the class?

    Absolutely! One of my goals for these classes, and for Five Before College overall, is to help Muslim students to connect with one another, support each other through this process, and to build relationships that will continue into the college years and beyond insha'Allah.

  • What's the difference between the tiers?

    The Basic tier includes the Monday classes and a minimum of one workshopping session. The Pro tier includes this AND a 30 minute one-on-one on weeks you are workshopped and access to weekly office hours. The Premium tier includes all regular features AND five 1-hour one-on-one sessions.

Testimonials

What previous students are saying. (Scroll to see more)

“College applications are undoubtedly daunting; with a laundry list of factors to take into consideration and an increasingly volatile college landscape, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds of it all (I know I did at least). When struggling to whittle down ideas for a personal statement, Hamzah’s help was a godsend. He brought a wealth of knowledge to the table — knowledge that I, as a first-generation American Muslim, was not privy to — and made sure to handle my application with care and conscientiousness. He’s proven himself to have mastered this process, and I could not recommend his services more highly.”

Amina N. (Williams College)

“Initially, I was concerned about writing a story about myself. What if the essay would not reflect my personality and goals, what if it sounded fake? Hamzah, however, not only encouraged me to do it but also gave me the right tools through his insightful and deeply reflective suggestions. The best proof that working with Hamzah is effective and almost essential is that I am proud of my essay and I cannot only use it for the MBA applications but for my future personal and professional development.”

Zeynep A. (Columbia Business School)

“My feelings towards Br. Hamzah, his classes, his help, and support can never be expressed in words. Wallahi, I won't be able to show he how much I appreciate and respect everything he did for me and all the other students! After Allah (SWT)'s help, if I hadn't had such a great teacher, mentor, advisor, and caring person like him, I would've been somewhere completely different in life. He always made an effort to respect our feelings, needs, and wants while solving the problem with patience and care. I pray that one day I could be just as inspirational as him and help change other people's lives.”

Ahd H. (Brown University)

“I would not have gotten to where I am without Br. Hamzah. He coached me throughout the college application process. We explored different options together, and the insight he provided made me know what to expect. Br. Hamzah not only helped me reach the Ivy League but also helped me figure out how to find the best fit for me. He got to know me, so he was able to give me genuine advice tailored to my preferences and needs. He also helped me distinguish my voice among thousands of other applicants. Br. Hamzah always made himself available when I needed advice, regardless of how busy he was. Our meetings were cathartic in the sense that once they were over, I would always have an answer or know which direction to proceed. I really could not have done this without him.”

Yasin S. (University of Pennsylvania)

“It’s rare to find a mentor so deeply invested in the success and happiness of their students. Br. Hamzah not only spent the time to get to know every one of his students on a personal level, but he was also incredibly knowledgeable about how to use that information to their benefit. Br. Hamzah leveraged his extensive experience as a phenomenal English teacher and a seasoned college counselor to both oversee the logistics of applying to college and help me craft authentic, polished essays. I can confidently say that he was a decisive factor in my college acceptance results, where I ended up committing, and ultimately where my life stands right now.”

Injy E. (Brown University)

“Br. Hamzah played a crucial role in helping me tackle the college application process. He provided me with examples of great storytelling essays to help us write our narrative essays, he taught me strategic methods to filling out the common app (especially in terms of utilizing space in the activities section), and he supported me in my essay writing process by helping me showcase the most diverse and compelling parts of my personality and life story. Br. Hamzah helped me put my best foot forward by helping me present my best self to colleges.”

Ayia E. (Tufts University)

“Br. Hamzah changed my life. He is the “realest” teacher and counselor I have ever met that truly showed me the realities of life and the beauty in everything. During my struggle to apply to and decide about my new school next year, he went out of his way to sit and have a genuine talk with me. He genuinely wanted me to succeed and be the best I can be while also showing me that college is not the only aspect of life. For that, I will be always grateful. He has shaped me into the person I am today and the person I strive to be in the future. He is just as inspirational as John Keating in Dead Poet’s Society.”

Zaynab K. (Boston University Academy)

“While everyone else around me was grumbling about how they didn't know what they wanted to do in college, I was certain it was going to be English, and I have him to thank for that. I also really really admire the way he prioritizes Islam above all else. It's so inspiring to hear him talk about Islam because he's so well-spoken and he does such a good job at instilling of Allah in my heart. It's been so refreshing to see someone so grounded in faith.”

Hira K. (Wellesley College)

“Br. Hamzah encouraged my growth throughout the entirety of my high school career. And he saw potential in me even when I didn't see it in myself. His class taught me so much more than just applying to college. It taught me about myself. It enabled my growth as a person in general and for that I will be forever grateful. I will forever and always attribute my success to the lessons I have learned from him.”

Rayan T. (Northwestern University)

“I can't put into words how grateful I've been for Br. Hamzah’s counsel and guidance. He instilled a lot of self confidence in me especially pertaining to my writing abilities, and I can soundly say that I will never enjoy an English class as much as I did his. I have respect for him as a teacher as well as a sort of second father figure. The way he speaks makes me want to open up a book and absorb new ideas. May Allah reward him for all that he’s done to help me.”

Fatimah L. (Tayseer Seminary & UMass Amherst)

“Br. Hamzah is the best teacher I have ever had. I was a shy, timid student. But he is an exceptional teacher who knows how to connect with the students. His amiable nature, kindness, and warmth makes him our favorite teacher. My family was very happy and proud of me because of him. I thank him for making me a better human and a little more confident and social. May Allah bless him with happiness and accept all his good deeds. I pray that he gets the best of both worlds.”

Shamiza Q. (MCPHS University)

“After years of having Br. Hamzah as my teacher, through all the great ups and downs, I can confidently say that he is one of the greatest mentors I've had. I hope his contributions will continue to have such a beneficial effect on our community.”

Ali N. (Williams University)

“I mean it with everything in me when I say how happy, appreciative, and thankful I am that I was able to be one of Br. Hamzah’s students for 3 years. He has taught me so much about English, Islam, and life in general. He believed in me to be and do great when I didn't believe in myself, and I thank him for pushing me to become a better student and human. He changed my outlook on life, and I really would not be the person I am today if it weren't for everything I've learned from him. His sense of humor is most definitely unmatched by anyone. He was more than just my teacher, but my mentor and friend as well. He truly is one of my greatest role models and I hope to be even HALF as great as him one day. ”

Yumnah E. (Middlebury College)

Part of the Five Before College mission is to make top-quality advice accessible to everyone. We never want finances to prevent you from getting the help you need. If you would like a pay-what-you-can discount, please email us. No one is turned away! 

Email: [email protected]