What’s the best way to approach a professor?
Professors hold office hours weekly, and welcome students. You may want to contact the professor beforehand to see if making an appointment is necessary (there is an online list of contact information for the faculty, including office hours). Many students feel intimidated by approaching a professor, but remember that in most cases you must be proactive in establishing a relationship with a faculty member; the faculty member most likely will not seek you out. When you do meet with him or her, make sure you are prepared for the meeting – discuss what you want to research, why you want to work with the professor, or what advice you are soliciting and for what purpose. If you need some guidance on approaching a professor, you can talk to a staff member of the Undergraduate Program Office, particularly a CA.
