Where to Publish Your Research

In today’s competitive college admissions landscape, high school students seeking acceptance into elite colleges and universities need more than just stellar grades and high test scores. Engaging in original research provides a unique opportunity to stand out. Conducting and publishing research demonstrates a student’s ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and contribute to academic conversations in their fields of interest. These experiences not only enrich the student’s learning but also significantly bolster their college applications.

Understand Publishing in Academic Journals

For those aiming to publish in top-tier, double-blind peer-reviewed journals that are prestigious within specific fields—those where leading faculty and scientists publish—the best strategy often involves joining a research team at a college or university. Serving as a research assistant and contributing to the team’s work can open doors for co-authorship. Keep in mind that the review process–from submission, revision and resubmission, to final publication–typically takes at least 6 to 12 months, so it’s essential to plan ahead, especially in relation to the college application timeline.

There are also journals specifically for high school and college students, which have higher acceptance rates but are still respected in college admissions. In this article, we provide a list of recommended journals for high school students, ranked from most to least selective. Students should be aware of the review process length and publication timelines when submitting their research. Some journals offer quicker turnaround times, so careful planning is again necessary to align with the overall application deadlines.

Top Journals for High School Students to Publish Their Research

1. Stanford Intersect: Run by Stanford undergraduates, this journal explores the intersection of science, technology, and society. It is highly selective for high school submissions (<5% acceptance), encouraging a broad range of academic writings without a submission fee.

   
   

2. The Concord Review: Known for publishing high-quality history essays by high school students. This journal is particularly selective (<5% acceptance) and charges a submission fee of $50-150, with a $200 publication fee if accepted.

   
   

3. Columbia Junior Science Journal: Managed by Columbia University, this journal publishes original scientific research by high school students. Highly selective, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%, it has no submission fee and operates with set deadlines.

   
   

4. Young Scientist Journal: Vanderbilt's Center for Science Outreach publishes this journal recognizing high school scientific achievements. It accepts submissions until December, offers no fee, and has a 10-15% acceptance rate.

   
   

5. Journal of High School Science: A peer-reviewed STEM journal that publishes research and ideas from high school students. It offers a rolling deadline, no cost, and an estimated 20% acceptance rate.

   
   

6. International Journal of High School Research: Specializes in behavioral and social sciences, technology, engineering, and math. It accepts both original research and literature reviews, charging a $200 publication fee with a 20-30% acceptance rate.

   
   

7. STEM Fellowship Journal: Welcomes original investigations, review articles, and insights with review times ranging from 2-6 months. It has a rolling deadline, 10% acceptance rate, and a $400 fee.

   
   

8. Schola: A quarterly journal focusing on humanities and social sciences essays by high school students, with a rolling deadline, $120 fee, and 20% acceptance rate.

   
   

9. Hope Humanities Journal: An online platform celebrating young writers in the humanities, published bi-monthly with a $100 fee and 30% acceptance rate.

   
   

10. Open Journal of Business and Management: Focuses on business and management studies with a $299 fee, rolling deadline, and a 15-20% acceptance rate for high schoolers.

    
    

11. Journal of Research High School: An open-access online journal publishing high school research across all disciplines with a $100 fee and 30% acceptance rate.

    
    

12. Journal of Emerging Investigators: Run by Harvard graduate students, this journal focuses on original, hypothesis-driven STEM research with a 40-50% acceptance rate.

    
    

13. Walt Whitman Journal of Psychology: A student-led publication highlighting high school research in psychology with a 30-40% acceptance rate.

    
    

14. National High School Journal of Science: Accepts all science and social science disciplines with a $250 publication cost and a 60-70% acceptance rate.

    
    

15. Journal of Student Research: Publishes research from high school to graduate students across all disciplines with a 70-80% acceptance rate.

    
    

16. Curieux Academic Journal: A California-based, youth-led journal publishing a wide range of academic subjects with a 60-70% acceptance rate.

Publishing in any of these journals can be a transformative experience, providing not just an academic platform but also a significant advantage in the college admissions process. Start by identifying a research area, mentor, and target journal that aligns with your interests. The effort you invest in this process could very well be the stepping stone to your future in college and beyond.