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For high school students aspiring to major in STEM fields, having research papers and experience is crucial for college admissions. In an increasingly competitive educational environment, gaining distinctive experience related to your intended major can make your application stand out. While a high GPA and standardized test scores are important, universities often favor students who have conducted high school research or published papers. Including high school research in your college application essays, activities, and portfolio highlights your unique qualities.


 

Tips for High School Students on Publishing Research Papers

Why Do High School Research?

• Express Intellectual Curiosity
• Develop Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
• Gain Practical Experience
• Build Relationships with Mentors and Experts
• Demonstrate Dedication and Perseverance
• Stand Out in the College Application Process

Despite its benefits, publishing research as a high school student can be challenging. Balancing test scores and research, and knowing where to start can be daunting. The process generally involves four main steps. In this post, we'll explore each step in detail to guide you through the process of publishing a research paper as a high school student.

 

Step 1: Finding Research Opportunities

To conduct research, you first need to find opportunities.
There are two main types of research: Independent Research and Formal Research.
 

1. Independent Research

Independent research involves conducting studies without being affiliated with a specific professor or research team.
This approach allows for greater freedom in exploring topics of personal interest.

Step 1. Choose a Topic: Select a subject you are genuinely interested in.

Step 2. Gather Information: Research relevant papers, books, and online resources to collect information.

Step 3. Contact Experts: Email professors at nearby universities to seek guidance or advice.

Step 4. Conduct Experiments and Analyze Data: If applicable, design experiments and collect data for analysis.

Step 5. Network: Engage with the research community by attending seminars or conferences to connect with other researchers.

2. Formal Research

Formal research is conducted within a structured framework, typically associated with universities or research institutions.
This approach provides mentorship and exposure to larger academic fields.

Step 1. Find Research Opportunities: Apply to join university research labs or projects.

Step 2. Connect with Mentors: Build relationships with professors or Ph.D. students to explore research opportunities.

Step 3. Participate Actively: Attend lab meetings and engage in the team’s research activities.

Step 4. Gain Hands-on Experience: Participate in data collection, experiment design, and other research tasks to build practical skills.

Step 5. Share Results: Present your findings or write papers for submission to academic journals.

Step 2: Conducting Research

A crucial part of conducting research is the literature review. You'll encounter unfamiliar terms and need to spend considerable time understanding the research background. Useful tools for literature review include Mendeley, a reference manager and academic social network that helps manage, share, read, annotate, and cite research papers.

It is also crucial to learn necessary skills such as programming languages. For instance, before starting your research, consider taking extensive online courses related to your topic, like NLP (Natural Language Processing). Finding a mentor can be highly beneficial. A mentor can assist with research tasks and improve the quality of your paper. This mentor could be a family member or a relative with relevant experience.

Step 3: Writing the Paper

While writing your paper, consider if your research topic has real-world impact. You need to decide between a Pre-Print and a Paper. Using Pre-Print servers allows you to share your research widely before actual publication.
 

Examples of Pre-Print Servers

1. arXiv

2. medRxiv

3. bioRxiv
 

If not using Pre-Print, learn to write a Paper. LaTeX is useful for creating documents with specific formats like scientific and mathematical symbols. Alternatively, use Microsoft Word for easier formatting. When submitting to a specific journal, adhere to its formatting guidelines to save time.

 

Step 4: Submitting/Publishing

Before submitting, decide between Pre-Print or Paper. Having an academic email makes it easier to contact professors and collaborate with universities for Pre-Print. If your paper is of high quality, seek guidance from experts on Pre-Print methods.

Another option is to seek peer-review. Getting your paper reviewed by experts can reduce the chances of rejection. If Pre-Print and publication are not possible, consider high school journals as a last resort.

 

Research Opportunity for High School Students


Conducting research independently can be quite challenging, which is why receiving guidance and feedback from a mentor is essential. GIRE offers high school students interested in research the opportunity to collaborate with professors from prestigious U.S. universities such as Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia.

• Fellowship Program: Students can conduct research with professors and receive writing coaching from Ph.D. graduates, leading to publication in academic journals.

• Internship Program: Students can gain valuable experience by participating in research projects within professors' areas of expertise as research assistants.
  
  

If you’d like more information, please book an info session(click here!) to learn more!