First-Year Odyssey Career Program

Welcome to the Odyssey Career Resource Center! As a first-year 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. You also have the opportunity to secure a funded UChicago Metcalf internship or research opportunity during the summer after your first year, with a stipend of up to $5,000 for a full-time opportunity. Students may secure summer internships by leveraging the Jeff Metcalf Internship opportunities via Handshake or by self-securing their own internship experience with the support of their assigned career adviser.

students and mural

For helpful links and answers to commonly asked questions, please review the Odyssey Program FAQ. Stay up-to-date on upcoming Career Advancement events and programming for Odyssey Scholars by visiting UChicago Handshake or viewing the Odyssey First-Year Career Program Calendar.

You can start your year strong and track your progress by viewing the Odyssey First-Year Career Goal Setting Guide!

Odyssey Career Advising

As a first-year Odyssey Scholar, you have an assigned Career Advancement adviser that is here to support you through every step of your career development. You are encouraged to be in touch with them regularly throughout the year. You can set up an appointment with them through UChicago Handshake or by emailing them directly.

First-Year Odyssey Career Program Requirements

Download the Odyssey Metcalf Funding Requirements chart to view a comprehensive overview of required and recommended programming and track your progress!

To qualify for summer internship funding through the Odyssey Career Program, Odyssey Scholars must complete two special professional development programs and meet with their career adviser in fall and winter quarters. These opportunities will give you a holistic professional skillset and prepare you to thrive during your summer opportunity.

To gain access to summer funding, you need to meet the following requirements:

If you are unable to attend a mandatory Signature Programming event, you may attend a Careers In program as an alternative event.

*Event dates are subject to change. Always check UChicago Handshake for event details.

Eligibility Criteria for Self-Secured Internships

If you decided to secure an internship outside of the UChicago Metcalf opportunities in Handshake, please make sure you connect with your career adviser who can support you in identifying internship opportunities that meet the eligibility criteria for funding. Career Advancement has a template that you can use to e-mail potential employers as you reach out to potentially self-secure a summer internship experience.

To ensure that you have a high-quality internship experience that will support your professional growth, the proposed internship must meet the following criteria to qualify for Odyssey internship grant funding:

  1. Your professional experience must take place during summer 2025. According to your class schedule and commitments, your summer experience may start/finish earlier or later. For the College policy on summer internship start dates, please refer to the Undergraduate Student Recruiting Guidelines.

  2. Your professional experience may be located in the U.S. or abroad.

  3. You must have a direct supervisor.

  4. You must perform work that provides you with a substantive professional experience (defined below).

  5. Your experience must be unpaid or receive very little compensation.

  6. The grant only funds internship opportunities that students arrange directly with employers. Internships that require participants to pay a fee or deposit to the host organization are not eligible for funding.

  7. All organizations are eligible for funding under this grant, including government agencies and for-profit organizations. There are two exceptions: 1) the organization is on the State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations or otherwise sanctioned or monitored by the U.S. Government; 2) the organization was formed for the purpose of supporting a candidate for political office. Because the University is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the tax code, it is prohibited from participating in political campaign activities.

Substantive Experience Criteria

Substantive opportunities engage students in meaningful projects, expose them to rigorous concepts, and encourage students to regularly exercise their intellectual, organizational, and/or technical skills. Substantive positions should not be purely administrative or clerical. A substantive internship also provides a direct supervisor/mentor that can coach and guide the student throughout the internship.

What to do When You Secure Your Internship

If you recently secured a summer 2025 opportunity, congratulations! Please share your good news and submit our summer plans form here no later than May 23, 2025!

Odyssey Metcalf Intern Responsibilities

All Odyssey Metcalf Interns must complete:

  • a mid-summer check-in survey – a link to the survey will be sent via email; the survey must be completed by July 27, 2025

  • a final evaluation of the summer experience – a link to the survey will be sent via email; the survey must be completed by September 21, 2025

  • a submission of a picture

The Odyssey Metcalf Internship Program would not be possible without the ongoing support of its most important stakeholders—the students and alumni who have participated in it. You are encouraged to show your appreciation for the experiences and community you gain through the Odyssey Metcalf Internship Program by staying involved. Sharing your internship experience with Career Advancement helps improve the program for future Odyssey Scholars who may work in your role. If you secure an internship outside of the Odyssey Metcalf Internship Program and have a positive experience, please refer your employer to Career Advancement and help bring your internship host organization into the Odyssey Program for future UChicago students.