Contacting Faculty

<p>I have some questions about the majors and programs at some of the schools I'm applying to, and thought I'd contact faculty within the departments at each school to get some of these questions answered. What's the best way to do this? Should I directly e-mail proffessors listed under the department, or would it be better to get in touch with a director of studies (for that major, of course).
Also, what's the format for these types of queries? Should I just jump right in with questions, or is it appropriate to do a brief introduction as well?
Thanks!</p>

<p>Why don't you telephone the departments and speak to whomever answers the phone? They can direct you to either Directors or students charged with answering these questions. Full time faculty are probably not going to bothered with replying -- it's not as if they don't have enough to do. Plus, they might not know the intricate details of the departmental requirements for students.</p>

<p>Try emailing the director of undergraduate studies for that major. I emailed professors at Yale, Chicago, and Hopkins with specific questions about my major- all of them were perfectly willing to answer my questions.</p>

<p>Definitely give some sort of introduction. "I'm a high school senior applying to X University as a Y major, and I have a few questions..."</p>