Goethe Orientation Studies (GO)

At a glance

For: Prospective students, people with diverse interests

Topics: Degree program with orientation phase, orientation in the initial phase of studies, academic success through orientation, sustainable choice of subject through real study experiences

Location: Goethe University Frankfurt

Mission: Find your subject!

Being absolutely certain and trusting your own decision when it comes to choosing a field of study – this is the desire that brings prospective students to the Goethe Orientation Program (GO). Because this choice sets the course for their future. At Goethe University (GU), you can gain comprehensive orientation in the natural and life sciences as well as the humanities and social sciences – with a breadth of options unmatched anywhere else in Germany.

Focus: Our students

They have diverse interests but cannot yet decide on a subject of study
They already have a few subjects on their shortlist, but are not yet completely sure which subject is right for them
have already studied or completed an apprenticeship, but were not happy with it and now want to systematically reorient themselves
They want to know what university and studying actually mean and whether it's something for them

The profiles and needs of our GO students are very diverse and are therefore addressed individually. The mission "Find YOUR subject!" starts from within, with the students themselves: At the core of our program, we see (self-)reflection, exploration of personal interests and skills, coupled with diversity-sensitive advising and peer mentoring (by students for students), as well as experiencing real-life student life.

Togetherness, shared commitment and shaping the university are an important part of student and university life and benefit particularly from the funded projects, even beyond the funding period.

Systematic and individual orientation

The GO's offerings include support for skills development and foundational knowledge, an interdisciplinary overview, research-oriented approaches, and practical relevance. Settling in and getting comfortable with university life are also fundamental aspects of our culture. The departments and institutions of Goethe University Frankfurt (GU) organize this program, ensuring that knowledge and content go directly from experts to GO students and that there are always people available to answer their questions.

Successful!

During or after the orientation phase (one or two semesters, depending on whether they are studying natural sciences or humanities), students experience their first successes: Starting in the jungle of subjects and with unclear expectations, they now compare their understanding of a subject with their own experiences at every turn along their path. They discover and develop their own potential until they clearly recognize their destination and make a well-considered and sustainable decision for THEIR subject!

This often results in students dropping out of a particular subject at Goethe University, but it also leads some students to vocational training or other educational paths, and sometimes even to studies at another university. For Goethe University, the GO program fosters deeper exchange between subjects, provides teaching materials, and offers open courses. Furthermore, the program acts as a laboratory for innovative teaching methods at Goethe University, where these methods are developed and tested, and provides impetus for the overall development of degree programs. Mission accomplished: GO – Find YOUR subject!