Odyssey Career Resource Center

Welcome to the Odyssey Career Resource Center! As an Odyssey Scholar, you have access to a unique set of resources that will help you explore your career interests and develop a strong foundation for your professional development.

Career Resources for Odyssey Scholars

Odyssey Scholars can take advantage of many special resources, including:

  • Personalized one-on-one advising with a career adviser

  • Frequent updates from Career Advancement about opportunities aligned with your interests

  • Funding available for unpaid or partially paid internships or research opportunities during the summer.

  • Access to the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program, which provides 4,500+, substantive internship opportunities each year with a highly diverse range of organizations. The stipend for a full-time Metcalf internship is $5,000 for both first-year Odyssey Scholars and Odyssey upperclassmen students.

  • Mentorship and community with fellow Odyssey Scholars

  • Workshops designed to maximize your career potential

  • An opportunity to gain technical skills and apply to positions at nonprofit endowments/investment offices through the Rogers Scholars Program in Finance

First-year Odyssey Scholars looking for information on program and funding requirements for the First-Year Odyssey Career Program, please visit the First-Year Odyssey Career Program page!

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"The opportunity to conduct research at University Hospitals Case Medical Center was an invaluable experience that I truly believe advanced my aspirations of pursuing a career in medicine."

Andrew H.

Andrew H

During his internship at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Andrew researched several different variables that influence how well hypertension patients control their blood pressure.

Career Resources for Self-Secured Unpaid Opportunities for Odyssey Scholars

“Self-secured internships” refer to high-quality internships that students secure by independently contacting professors or employers to find a position, or by applying to internships posted outside of the Metcalf Program. Odyssey Scholars who self-secure an opportunity that is unpaid or partially paid can apply to the Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Odyssey Students to support their living expenses.

Pursuing a self-secured internship is an excellent option if you are seeking an opportunity that might not be available in a traditional job database (e.g., highly specialized industry, specific geographic area, etc.). Self-securing an internship is also an effective strategy for students interested in conducting research with a faculty member. Students interested in self-securing an opportunity are encouraged to reach out to faculty or employers whose work aligns with their interests early on in the academic year. For additional guidance on how to self-secure an internship, including support in setting up an outreach timeline and crafting an email to employers, please schedule an appointment with your career adviser.

Please speak with your career adviser if you would like support in crafting an outreach e-mail to send to potential organizations you’re interested in working for over the summer, the earlier you send your inquires, the more success you are likely to have. Additionally, career advisers can help you in to setting up a timeline for your self-secured outreach!

QuestBridge MBA Scholarship Opportunity

The QuestBridge Graduate School Match gives QuestBridge alumni the opportunity to apply for admission and full-tuition scholarships for Chicago Booth's MBA program. This opportunity is for students who apply through the traditional Full-Time MBA admissions process - students in the Chicago Booth Scholars or Accelerated MBA track do not qualify. Visit the QuestBridge website to learn more and apply!

"More than the skills I have acquired, this job has given me a renewed sense of purpose and a belief in my own capability to change."

Jessica C.

Jessica C

Jessica’s internship with About Face Theatre allowed her to plan and organize several original events and expand the scale of its outreach to multiple new communities.

Funding Eligibility Criteria for Self-Secured Opportunities

To be eligible for consideration of Odyssey funding, your self-secured opportunity must:

  • Provide substantive projects and responsibilities (i.e., limited or no clerical tasks such as filing, fetching coffee, or doing heavily administrative work)

  • Provide you with an immediate supervisor who can serve as a professional mentor

  • Last a total of 320 hours over the summer (approximately 8weeks)

  • Internships that last less than 320 hours may qualify for partial Odyssey funding

Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Odyssey Students

Odyssey Scholars are eligible to apply for grants to fund unpaid academic year or summer internships and/or research experiences both in the U.S. and abroad; up to $5,000 for domestic internships or internships abroad. To learn more and apply students can visit the Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant for Odyssey Scholars page.

Career Advancement also encourages all Odyssey Scholars to apply for summer internships through the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program, which provides 4,500+ paid, substantive internship opportunities each year with a highly diverse range of organizations.

Additionally, to help you explore your options for a meaningful experience this summer, Career Advancement has compiled two resources to assist with planning for funding and logistics: