Asking a professor for a research position

quasar_4

with regards to everyone freaking out about interrupting professors, I don't see what the big deal is, either. If they don't want to see students who come by they can always just not answer the door... thus the point of an office?

At my university everyone welcomes drop in visits, and if they are really just too busy, they shoo us out of their offices politely - it's not as if we're ruining their entire day or something...

Laura1013

I agree with everyone else that professors generally are not at all bothered by students dropping by. Office doors can close if they're too busy. It's really not a big deal to just stop by; it's not rude nor disruptive. One of the primary duties of a professor is to talk to students.

The reason why I think emailing ahead of time is a good idea is to make sure the professor is actually present and available when you drop by, and to give the professor time to think about the student's request.