The Right Classes
If a student in your family is interested in attending college - any college - it makes sense to do some curriculum planning during high school to ensure your son or daughter will be well prepared.
College admissions committees consider the high school record — courses taken, grades and class rank — as the most important factor in predicting academic success. Lutheran colleges, like most selective private colleges, do not require a specific pattern of high school courses for admission. However, students who are best prepared for college have a high school record that generally follows this pattern:
| Subject | Minimum Years of Study | Classes |
| English | 4 | At least one year of composition |
| Foreign Language | 2 | One foreign language |
| Mathematics | 3 | Through advanced algebra and/or calculus |
| Sciences | 3 | At least one lab science |
| Social Studies | 3 |
American and world studies |
| Arts and Music | 1 |
|
The 41 Lutheran colleges and universities vary in size, selectivity, and the caliber of students they serve. If your child has successfully completed the above pattern of courses, it is likely he or she can find a Lutheran college that is a good match academically.
Lutheran colleges also recognize the curriculum limitations of some high schools, where courses in a second language may not be available or where scheduling problems force choices between college preparatory courses. Students not following all the above curriculum who are otherwise well-prepared will still be considered for admission.
