The Omar ibn Said Fellowship
A groundbreaking and visionary two-year college preparatory and leadership program for high-achieving Muslim high school students by Hidayah Services.
Overview
Omar ibn Said Fellows will receive expert college counseling, monthly sessions with accomplished guest speakers, and access to a national network of high-achieving Muslim high school students. In addition to high quality college counseling, the fellowship will focus on developing an Islamic worldview that is grounded in purpose and serving the community. The fellowship will begin at the end of sophomore year and continue until students are accepted into college.
The Omar ibn Said Fellowship is a project of Hidayah Services, a premier Muslim college counseling service in the United States. The founder previously served as an Admissions Reader at Stanford University for 5+ years reading over 2,500+ college applications, has worked with dozens of schools to improve their college counseling efforts, and has helped Muslim students across the country gain admission to the most selective colleges in the country, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, and more.
Requirements
The explicit goal of the fellowship is to increase admissions and enrollment into the most selective universities in the United States.
Grade 10
The fellowship targets Grade 10 students who are interested in attending the most selective colleges in the United States.
Strong GPA
Students interested in applying to the fellowship should have a strong academic track record both in terms of course rigor and grades earned.
Leadership
Applicants must show meaningful leadership contributions through involvement in extracurricular activities and community service.
Nomination
A letter of recommendation from a school representative (teacher or school counselor) or community member is required for consideration.
Components
College Preparation
Master the college application process.
Islamic Worldview
Ground your worldview in an Islamic ethos.
Leadership Training
Develop your leadership skills through guest speakers.
Cohort Model
Network with a national cohort of high-achieving students.
Our Team
With decades of experience serving the Muslim community, our team is comprised of authors, educators, and leaders.
Dr. Celene Ibrahim
Faculty Member at Groton School
PhD, Brandeis University
Dr. Jawad Qureshi
Associate Professor at Zaytuna College
PhD, University of Chicago
Dr. Salman Khan
Founder & Director at Hidayah Services
PhD, Harvard University
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the fellowship below.
01
Why focus on grade 10?
We target grade 10 to ensure students have enough time to strategically develop their academics, test scores, and leadership experiences to maximize their chances of admissions to the most selective colleges.
02
What is the value of the fellowship?
The value of the Omar ibn Said Fellowship is well over $50,000/student with two years of individualized college admissions counseling, an in-person retreat experience, monthly mentoring sessions with guest speakers, access to test preparation, and a one-time college start-up fund. Students selected for the fellowship will bear no cost towards any of these expenses.
03
Who should apply to the fellowship?
The explicit purpose of the fellowship is to help students apply and enroll to the most selective colleges in the United States. Students and families who are serious about this goal should apply.
04
Who was Omar ibn Said?
Omar ibn Said spent 25 years of his life studying with prominent Muslim scholars, learning subjects including mathematics, astronomy, business, and theology. In 1807, he was enslaved and taken to the United States. His legacy includes writing multiple manuscripts as a slave, but extends well beyond his writing to encompass the broader history of Islam in early America, challenging the narrative that Islam and America are mutually exclusive.
Ready to Apply?
Questions?
Get in touch with us about the Omar ibn Said Fellowship.