<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm currently working independently on a project in Computer Science, which is quite high-level (around freshman-level, I think). I've wanted to work with a mentor for a while now, but so far I've been able to overcome every obstacle that came up, so I wasn't sure if I had any reason to contact one. </p>
<p>Recently, however, I haven't been able to solve a particular problem, which I've been working on for weeks, despite reading all the books I borrowed on the subject, looking up research papers online, and so forth. I am homeschooled, so I don't currently have anyone to ask. </p>
<p>Should I contact professors at the nearby university, asking if they could help? I have been trying to solve this problem for ages, and without a solution I can't progress any further in my research, which is probably one of the parts of my work I enjoy most.</p>
<p>Thanks ^^.</p>
<p>
The answer is yes. Why not? If you’re stuck, ask for help. And it’s always good to get to know professors. If you’re home-schooled, you may (or may not) have trouble getting reference letters too. Working with a professor is beneficial in many ways. Go for it. The worst that can happen is that the professor says he/she is too busy.</p>
<p>OK, thanks :). </p>
<p>I’ll probably have to contact more than one professor (although I’ll make sure, of course, that they’re all working in the field I’m doing a project in). This may sound trivial, but should I send the same email to each of them, or write a different one each time? I don’t want it to sound like I’m just sending a cookie-cutter email to everyone I can, but do you think they’d mind?</p>
<p>I suppose I could also get a reference letter, but could I ask someone for a reference if they’d just helped me with a couple of problems and known me for a month or two? (I’m moving overseas in July, you see.)</p>
<p>Oh, and also: should I attach a resume? If so, what should it contain?</p>