<p>before I get bashed for asking such a stupid question (could forebode things to come for those professors hehehe), let me explain.</p>
<p>I’m probably going to major in economics or finance(depending on where I get into).</p>
<p>However, I have had a few questions on psychology, the adolescent brain, and the effect of medications on the adolescent brain for quite some time now.</p>
<p>As any Internet snooper would tell you, it’s pretty much impossible to get a straight answer from Google. It’ll lead you to dinosaur extinction and back before it elucidates the initial inquiry.</p>
<p>With that in mind, I know that many college professors (especially considering a school like UChicago) are experts in the aforementioned fields. </p>
<p>I wonder if I can visit their offices to ask them some questions, as I will be a complete stranger except for my student status and his or her professor status at the same school.</p>
<p>Has anyone ever tried?</p>
<p>Also, are doctors at University-run hospital open for questions? Or do you have to make appointments and pay a billion dollars for each visit?</p>
<p>Sorry for my ignorance, if anyone is offended.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think you’re definitely allowed to drop in and ask questions - but use common sense. Like if you go to the prof’s office hours, and he’s busy dealing with students in the actual class who need help, leave. But if you show up and he/she’s not that busy, then I don’t think it’s rude to ask a question. Sometimes I need help in a class and I’ll go to the dept and my professor won’t be there, so I’ll ask a random professor in that dept who’s free for help and it’s fine. I’ve also asked random profs about their research because i wanted to work in their labs or whatever. </p>
<p>As for doctors/nurses, they’re generally very busy. In my college there is the medical center which consists of various hospitals, but there is also a “Health Center” specifically for students where we’re supposed to go when we’re sick, and that’s where I would go if I had a question. I would only go to the hospital if I had an emergency or was very sick. Plus my college’s hospital is very busy since it’s in NYC and I assume Chicago is the same.</p>
<p>I would probably email the teacher and ask first. Find their CVs (should be on the department faculty sites) and read some of their research so when you contact them you’re more likely to catch their interest. They’d be more likely to talk if you are connecting it to something they do rather than just asking a bunch of questions. </p>
<p>I think its a little different if you ask someone who is not your professor a question but you are taking a class in that field than if you have no classes in that field at all and aren’t planning on working for them or something. Students in that major/those classes come first. That’s why I wouldn’t just randomly drop in on their office hours. I’ve had teachers that are really anal about stuff like that.</p>
<p>Although I have never been there, I am pretty sure the U of Chicago has some libraries. If you have a question about some field outside of you classes check there first. Is it less convenient than having a prof. spoon feed you the answers? Yes, but it is college and if you can answer a question on your own try not to waist other people’s time. I would only go to the professor if I have familiarized myself with the topic and have something very specific that I want to talk about. It is not his/her job to act like a Wikipedia page for obscure topics. </p>
<p>However, before I would go to the library, I would actually ask my friends. The great thing about going to a school that is around the caliber of U of Chicago is that there are some pretty smart kids there and each of these kids have different interests. You quickly learn who you can go to have certain types of questions answered.</p>
<p>obviously these are not pressing questions if you are willing to wait months to get them answered, and only willing to get them answered by bothering a random professor.</p>