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8 Research Journals for High School Students | High School Research Guide

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For students preparing for admission to prestigious U.S. universities, a research paper is one of the most persuasive and competitive extracurricular (EC) activities. The reason many Ivy League and other top universities are globally recognized is their outstanding faculty with excellent research achievements and their students who possess an academic mindset, can identify problems independently, and overcome challenges through research.
 

From the perspective of admissions officers at these prestigious universities, they are keen to select students who exhibit research potential and passion. A research paper is a perfect way to meet these expectations as it showcases a student’s enthusiasm for a particular field, their development process, and their achievements.



Academic Journals for High School Students


Selecting the Right Journal for Your Research Paper

When aiming to publish a research paper for college applications, it's important to ensure that the work is both qualitatively excellent and genuinely authentic. Admissions officers are well aware of the challenges involved in publishing a research paper and can easily identify inauthentic submissions, such as papers that are merely added to a master's or doctoral research project or those submitted to obscure journals.

 

 

To avoid this pitfall, it's crucial to carefully select a reputable journal for submission. Most respected journals adhere to the "Open Access Journal" format, which allows all published papers to be freely accessible to users without needing prior permission from the publisher or author. This format also ensures that the author's copyright and license are protected. Choosing the right journal not only enhances the credibility of your research but also showcases your dedication and authenticity to the admissions officers.


Open-Access Journals List
Here are some reputable open-access journals where high school students can submit their research papers. This list includes key characteristics of each journal, so students can find a suitable journal based on their interests.

Journal

Background

Research Fields

Submission
Deadline 

Publication
Time 

Reviewed by 

Remark 

Journal of
Emerging
Investigators
(JEI)

Non-profi
organization
started in 2011 

Natural Science, Healthcare,
Medical,
Engineering,
Social Science 

Rolling admission
(no deadline) 

Online publication
within 4-8 weeks
after final review
and revision 

Graduate students with advanced degrees and other professional scientists 

Almost all
submissions
can be published 

The Columbia
Junior Science
Journal (CJSJ) 

Spin-off journal of the Columbia
Undergraduate
Science Journal
(CUSJ),
started in 2015 

Natural Science,
Healthcare,
Medical,
Engineering,
Social Science 

Starts July 1st
annually,
ends early
October 

Decision by
November,
followed by
review and
publication 

Peer review and
advisory board of
CUSJ faculty 

Limited to 1-2
page research
papers to convey
ideas clearly and concisely 

International
Journal of
High School
Research
(IJHSR)

International high school research
journal published
since 2019,
non-profit
organization 

Natural Science,
Healthcare,
Medical,
Engineering,
Social Science 

Rolling admission
(no deadline) 

Review and
revision within
2-4 months after
submission 

University
professors and
STEM
professionals 

Publication fee
$250 

Journal of High School Science (JHSS)

Refer to website 

Natural Science,
Healthcare,
Medical,
Engineering,
Social Science,
Literature 

Rolling admission
(no deadline) 

Quarterly (March,
June, September,
December) 

University
professors and
STEM
professionals 

Topics merging
with Economics,
Political Science,
Music, Dance
are possible 

Youth Medical
Journal (YMJ) 

International
student-run
publication
sharing medical
research and
journalistic article

Natural Science,
Healthcare,
Medical 

March 

Review and
publication
after submission 

YMJ committee 

Platform for
sharing medical
research and
journalistic article
by students 

Hope
Humanities 

Established in
2019 by students,
international and
non-profit
academic
platform focused
on humanities 

Social Science,
Literature 

Rolling admission
(no deadline) 

Every
two months 

Hope
committee team 

Supports
publication of
excellent
humanities works
by high school
students globally 

The Concord
Review (TCR) 

Established in
1987, publishes
academic history
papers by middle and high school
students 

History 

August 1,
November 1,
February 1,
May 1 

Quarterly (September, December, March, June) 

TCR committee 

Only 5% of
submissions are published;
many authors
go on to attend
prestigious
universities
including
Ivy League

ISSCY (International Social Science Conference for Youth) 

Research
competition for
high school
students
worldwide
focused on
humanities and
social sciences 

Social Science,
Literature,
History 

Preliminary in
late August,
final presentation
in early
September,
final by late
September 

Mid-October
(selection of 80
finalists) 

Jointly hosted
and supported by
WFUNA and GATSVI challenge 

Selected finalists'
work published in
ISSCY online
journal 


These journals provide excellent opportunities for high school students to publish their research and demonstrate their academic capabilities and passions. By choosing the right journal and ensuring the quality and authenticity of their work, students can significantly enhance their college applications and stand out in the competitive admissions process. 
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