By Rev. Scott C. Klemsz, Director of Admissions

For seminary families the transition to the seminary community can be a time of joy and a time of pressure. How are all the pieces going to come together? “I know that God will make it work, but what about (you fill in the blank)?” Housing, tuition, and schools all become concerns for men and their families and yet, somehow, it does work out.

Concordia Theological Seminary doesn’t have a “flat rate” tuition. Instead, students pay for the classes that they take. If students take nine credit hours, they pay for nine hours. If they take 15 credit hours, they pay for 15 hours. The average student takes 12 credit hours. Paying for the hours you take reduces the overall tuition cost of a seminary education.

CTS only requires three pre-seminary courses. Since the majority of students take their pre-seminary requirements at the seminary, the reduced number of classes and the lower tuition rate save you time and money.

Our seminary provides Cost of Attendance (COA) sheets to all our students. We want you to know the cost of the seminary to help you prepare for a successful transition. You can view these forms by logging on to www.ctsfw.edu, selecting Admission, and then selecting Financial Aid.

No matter how you slice it, you will need to prepare financially for the seminary. Consumer debt (credit cards) is one of the largest drains on a seminary family’s finances. Pay them off before you come to the seminary; you will be glad that you did.

If you have a car that is five years old and running great, keep it. While the advertised low, lease payment is a temptation when you think of your future needs, remember most of the time it will be cheaper to repair an older car rather than make the payments on a new car. Don’t think of your car as old; think of it as a classic, part of the family.

While the seminary provides a major portion of your financial aid, you will still be dependent upon your congregation and district. Contact the Financial Aid Office at the seminary (260-452-2107/e- mail: Langegh@ctsfw.edu) and ask what the average gift is from your district. Talk with your pastor about the ability of your home congregation to assist you with the cost of seminary education. This information will be critical to you as you prepare to enter the seminary.

With gas prices at record levels, where you live makes a big difference in your budget. Fort Wayne offers an abundance of housing opportunities within a few miles of the seminary. You can rent or buy in family-friendly neighborhoods. Most of the Lutheran schools in Fort Wayne are within a 20-minute drive of the seminary.

A YMCA membership for your entire family will cost $50.00 a month in Fort Wayne. With five branches in Fort Wayne basketball, swimming, aerobics, and weight training are only minutes from your front door. The YMCA also offers scholarships to further reduce the cost. You can call or e-mail our Relocation Coordinator, Marsha Zimmerman (260-452-2248/e-mail: Zimmermanmj@ctsfw.edu) who will be happy to tell you about all the opportunities for fun and recreation in the Fort Wayne area.

The seminary Food Co-op provides around 70 percent of your food and household needs at no cost. Individuals and groups from across the country are dedicated to this outreach to our students and their families.

Seminary life is a family affair. Fort Wayne is an incredible city for the entire family. It’s large enough to provide all you will ever need, but small enough to care. So make plans now to join us for the spring Prayerfully Consider Visit, March 23-25. Simply fill out and return the form included with this issue of Pilgrimage, register online at www.ctsfw.edu, click on Events, click on Prayerfully Consider in the left-hand column, or call the Office of Admission at 1-800-481-2155.

+ The Lord be with you +

The Rev. Scott C. Klemsz is the Director of Admission, Public Relations, and Publications at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

From Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter 2006