Professors as References + Talking to College Professors in HS

Chance Me / Match Me
1

I’m a sophomore in high school. I was wondering if it was appropriate for me to contact Professors even if I am not a student. I want to do this for my Research Project and interview. I also was very interested in talking about a psychology theory and experiment I have but I have not heard anyone who has done this? If the Professors are impressed, do you think perhaps they will give me a good reference if I am applying to said College/University they teach at? I just want to share my theory with someone and want a Professional to give me their opinion. It’s based on child development and intelligence, if your wondering.

   - Thank you
2

Yes, it’s definitely acceptable to send them emails if you’d like to work on projects. Note that people get varying responses from professors, so you should look if there are any programs which help bridge the gap and facilitate work between professors and high school students.

They can give you a reference in the application (depending on what the application look like because some may not call for references or letters of recommendation). I’d only recommend to do this if they’ve worked with you over a longer period of time and are familiar enough to provide a valuable reference.