Academic research publication is becoming a popular way for top high school students to distinguish themselves in the admissions process. However, many students are unsure of what publication is and how to approach it.
What does “Publish Your Research” mean?
Publishing your research means that you have gone through a rigorous, peer-reviewed process in which your research was analyzed, critiqued, and ultimately accepted as legitimate. Scientific publications serve as gateways to the rest of the world. If a research paper is not published in a journal, it means that it has not yet been subjected to a rigorous, external review.
Publications employ a process known as “peer review,” in which fellow researchers in the same field analyze the paper and its contribution and provide feedback to the authors. This process is frequently double-blind, which means that neither the reviewer nor the author knows who the other is.
Is it possible for a school student’s research to be published?
Yes. There are many different types of journals with varying selectivity rates and rigor standards. Some publications, like universities, are extremely competitive while some journals are less competitive.
There is a growing group of journals for high school and college students that focus on high-school or college-level research. Because these journals recognize the limitations of high school students and their ability to conduct research, they are often more feasible (though still difficult) for students to gain admission to. Below, we’ll look at some of the different types of journals.
Why would you publish your research in high school?
But why go through the trouble of publishing? Is it really that important?
Publication in a prestigious journal, such as the Concord Review, can send an important sign to a college admissions officer about your work.
When evaluating research or passion projects, admissions officers look for standout points. Was the project accepted into a prestigious journal? Was it subjected to peer review by reputable researchers? Was it directed by a researcher whom the admissions officer would trust? Did the research mentor guide mention the student favourably? All of these are encouraging signs. Thus, while publication is not the only way to demonstrate ability, it is one of the most important for young researchers.
What kinds of studies can be published?
The majority of research can be published. However, the more original research you can conduct, the more options you will have. In other words, if you write a literature review, your writing and synthesis must be excellent in order for it to be accepted by most publications.
If you do some type of data collection or new data analysis, the bar for rigour in student publications is usually a little lower because this type of data collection or analysis is more difficult.
Targets for Publication
There are three types of journals:
- Research journals (the most selective),
- Target journals, and
- Safety journals.
In short, the selectivity and rigor of journals vary.
Publications for High School and College Students
High school and college-level publications are the first type of journal that students should consider.
The Concord Review and the Columbia Junior Science Journal are examples of such publications.
These journals have a review process as well as a limited number of spots in the journal. The Concord Review, for example, accepts approximately 45 student research papers out of an estimated 900 submissions each year. Similarly, the Columbia Junior Science Journal publishes between 10 and 20 papers per year. The majority of these journals will require original research or data collection.
High School Publications that are rigorous and peer-reviewed
Journals at the next level are rigorous, peer-reviewed publications. These journals have a peer-review process, such as the Journal of Emerging Investigators or the Journal of Student Research. These journals have guidelines for the types of papers that can be submitted (e.g., some will accept new data analyses, some will accept literature reviews). These journals do not have a set number of slots, but they do set a standard for the type of research they will accept.
Students will submit their paper to these journals, and the journal will assign (or ask you to identify) a potential set of reviewers for the paper. These reviewers will be PhD-level researchers in the field. The reviewers will then provide feedback. Among these journals, the Journal of Emerging Investigators stands out as one of the most rigorous and provides the most in-depth, critical feedback to students.
Journals of Pay to Play Research (AVOID THESE)
Finally, some journals are essentially “pay-to-play,” which means that any paper can be accepted as long as a fee is paid. These journals are not only unethical academically, but they can also be a red flag in the admissions process.
A fraudulent journal will have a high submission fee (some journals will charge a nominal fee to recoup their costs). That is acceptable, particularly if they have a financial aid waiver). If you submit a paper and it is accepted without any revisions or feedback, this is a sign that the publication is not rigorous.
PhD Publications in a Subject
Finally, there are publications that PhD students or professors aim for with their research. These journals are extremely selective, and it can take years of back and forth for a paper to be accepted. We do not recommend that high school students working on independent projects target these journals because of the difficulty and time required. The most common way to target these journals is to work as a research assistant for an existing project and be credited as a supporting author.
Alternative Publication Methods
Conferences on Research
Research conferences are another venue for showcasing your work. In some fields, such as computer science, conferences are actually more common than journals for publishing work. One advantage of research conferences is that they frequently accept research abstracts rather than full-length research articles, reducing the amount of effort required to be accepted. In addition, many conferences want more researchers to attend, which makes the admissions process easier. Examples of conferences to consider for high school students include the Harvard Science Research Conference and the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting. There are also field-specific conferences to look into based on your research paper.
Competitions
Finally, a student competition is a common way to showcase your research. ISEF Regeneron, for example, is a popular venue for students to display their work. There are, however, dozens more, such as the Genius Olympiad (Environmental Issues), the John Locke Essay Competition, and the STEM Fellowship Competition.
If you can win a competition with hundreds of entrants, being able to write about it in your application demonstrates your exceptional talent. Furthermore, competitions can frequently be submitted in parallel with other research publications.
Finally, publication can have a significant impact
If you have already completed a research paper, we strongly advise you to consider submitting it to high school or college-level publications. The majority of your time has been spent on the research paper. So, if you can devote an extra 10-20 hours to showcasing your research, it will be extremely beneficial to you.
Publications Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to publish my research in order for it to have an impact?
No, but it does send a positive impact. Conducting research on one’s own is a rare and impressive way for students to demonstrate their academic depth. If you are able to publish your research, it will gain external legitimacy.
2. Can I publish a study that is a review of the literature?
Yes, but you’ll need to consider which target journals accept that. The Journal of Student Research and the STEM Fellowship Journal, for example, both accept literature reviews, whereas the Journal of Emerging Investigators does not. In general, the more original research you conduct (e.g., data analysis, data collection, etc.), the more publications you can target. However, some fields (for example, astrophysics) can be particularly difficult to collect new data as a high school student, so for those fields, a rigorous literature review is usually the best choice.
3. Is every publication the same?
No. Publications are similar to universities. Some are highly regarded, selective, and stringent, while others are not. The key is to find a journal that is as selective/respected as possible and that you can join. Pay-to-play journals should be avoided because they can send out negative signals about you and your application.
