Publishing original research in the humanities and social sciences as a high school student is a powerful way to stand out academically, develop scholarly communication skills, and contribute meaningfully to public discourse. These fields—ranging from history and literature to political theory, sociology, and philosophy—offer students the opportunity to explore complex human questions, engage in rigorous analysis, and articulate thoughtful perspectives on cultural, ethical, and societal issues.
While many students are familiar with science fairs and STEM competitions, fewer realize that there are prestigious journals dedicated to publishing outstanding student work in the humanities and social sciences. Yet these fields are equally rich in research potential and critical thinking. Writing in the humanities allows students to wrestle with moral dilemmas, reinterpret historical narratives, or offer new readings of literature and cultural movements. In the social sciences, students can design surveys, conduct interviews, analyze policy, or explore the interplay between technology and society.
For students applying to competitive colleges, publishing research in these disciplines sends a strong message: you are intellectually curious, self-motivated, and capable of contributing to high-level academic conversations. More importantly, the process itself builds skills in writing, revision, argumentation, and evidence-based reasoning that will serve students throughout their academic and professional careers.
This article explores three well-regarded journals that actively encourage submissions from high school students. We will outline what each journal looks for, what kinds of papers are accepted, how the submission process works, and why publication in these venues can be a transformative experience for young scholars. Whether you’re preparing for college, applying to research programs, or simply passionate about your topic, these journals offer an excellent gateway into the world of academic scholarship.
1. The Concord Review
Focus: History and Social Studies
Ideal For: Students with a strong background in historical research, writing, and analytical thinking
Established: 1987
Submission Window: Year-round
Word Count: 4,000 to 6,000 words
Fee: Submission fee applies
Overview:
The Concord Review (TCR) is widely regarded as the most prestigious academic journal for high school students writing in the field of history. Founded in 1987 by educator Will Fitzhugh, TCR was created to fill a gap in recognition for high-level scholarly writing in history at the secondary level. Since its inception, the journal has published more than 1,300 essays by students from over 40 countries, showcasing a global standard of excellence in historical scholarship.
Unlike contests or competitions, The Concord Review is a true academic journal. It is peer-reviewed, published quarterly, and known for its uncompromising standards. Essays selected for publication must demonstrate original thought, a clearly articulated thesis, and a strong command of primary and secondary sources. While the subject matter can span any time period or region, the journal prioritizes essays that go beyond narrative summary to make an argumentative contribution to a historical question or debate.
Publication in TCR is frequently cited on applications to top universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale, and it is often regarded by admissions officers as an indication of exceptional academic maturity and scholarly potential. Alumni of the journal have gone on to careers in academia, law, government, and policy.
Why Submit Here?
- Academic Distinction: The Concord Review is recognized globally as the highest standard in high school historical scholarship. Publication here sends a strong signal to colleges and scholarship committees about a student’s academic excellence.
- Intellectual Development: Preparing a paper for TCR requires revision, research depth, and structural sophistication, giving students a genuine experience of what it’s like to write for a scholarly audience.
- Scholarly Network: Published authors join an international cohort of motivated student historians and may be invited to present their work or attend symposiums hosted by the journal and its partners.
- College Admissions Impact: TCR is often cited in successful applications to top-tier universities, and being published can be a differentiator in competitive admissions environments.
Submission Guidelines:
To be considered for publication, students must submit an original, argument-driven research essay on a historical topic. The paper must demonstrate:
- A clear and well-supported thesis
- Sophisticated use of primary and secondary sources
- Original analysis and synthesis of historical scholarship
- Formal academic writing in English
Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by the editorial board. Essays should range between 4,000 to 6,000 words, and while there is a submission fee, it supports the editorial and administrative work required for thorough evaluation.
Students are welcome to revise and expand upon work completed in AP, IB, or independent research settings. However, all work must be independently authored and unpublished elsewhere at the time of submission.
2. The Journal of Student Research (JSR)
Focus: Interdisciplinary – includes STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Ideal For: Students working with a mentor or academic advisor
Established: 2012
Submission Window: Rolling submissions accepted year-round
Word Count: Varies by discipline and topic
Fees: $50 submission fee; $250 publication fee (if accepted)
Overview:
The Journal of Student Research (JSR) is a peer-reviewed, international academic journal designed to showcase original research by high school, undergraduate, and early graduate students. While its origins are rooted in STEM publication, JSR now serves as a significant outlet for high-quality research in the humanities and social sciences, including fields like political science, sociology, anthropology, history, economics, literature, and philosophy.
JSR stands out for its structured, professional review process and its requirement that all student submissions be endorsed by a qualified mentor—typically a teacher, research advisor, or academic supervisor. This mentorship model fosters both academic rigor and developmental support, ensuring that students not only meet scholarly expectations but also benefit from feedback and guidance throughout the research and submission journey.
Students published in JSR have gone on to prestigious summer programs, competitive university admissions, and further publication opportunities. The journal’s format and expectations align closely with undergraduate-level academic standards, offering an early introduction to professional scholarly communication.
Why Submit Here?
- Peer-Reviewed Rigor: JSR offers students a true peer-reviewed experience, with detailed editorial feedback and a multistage revision process, helping them understand how academic publishing works in professional environments.
- Interdisciplinary Flexibility: While many high school publication outlets focus solely on STEM, JSR actively encourages submissions in humanities and social sciences, recognizing the importance of cross-disciplinary thinking and original inquiry.
- Academic Recognition: JSR is indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, and other citation databases. This gives accepted student papers meaningful visibility in academic spaces.
- Strong Fit for Nova Scholar Students: For students involved in programs like Nova Research or Nova Patent, which emphasize guided mentorship and academic depth, JSR offers an ideal venue to showcase their polished, advisor-supported work.
Submission Guidelines:
JSR accepts both individual and group-authored papers. Submissions should be original, clearly structured, and written in formal academic style. Humanities and social science research must demonstrate:
- A clearly articulated research question or hypothesis
- Solid grounding in scholarly literature and theory
- Strong use of primary and/or secondary sources
- Well-reasoned analysis and interpretation
- Appropriate citation using MLA, APA, or Chicago style (depending on field)
Students must include a mentor endorsement form during submission, verifying the originality and academic quality of the work. JSR also provides helpful templates for formatting your paper professionally, including title page guidelines, abstract formatting, and figure/table presentation.
Once accepted, papers are professionally copyedited and typeset for publication in both online and print formats. Each article is assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), making it citable in future academic work, college applications, and scholarship portfolios.
Types of Humanities and Social Science Projects Accepted:
While JSR is open to a wide range of topics, recent high school submissions in the humanities and social sciences have explored:
- Political polarization and media framing
- Representations of gender in literature
- The impact of social media on youth mental health
- Historical case studies using primary archives
- Philosophical arguments about ethics in technology
- Educational theory and curriculum analysis
These examples illustrate the diversity of approaches JSR welcomes, from theoretical papers to empirical research and interpretive essays.
3. The Young Researcher Journal (TYR)
Focus: Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Humanities
Ideal For: Students conducting original empirical or theoretical research with a societal or cultural lens
Established: 2017 (Canada-based)
Submission Window: Annual
Word Count: Typically 3,000–6,000 words
Fees: None
Overview:
The Young Researcher Journal (TYR) is a peer-reviewed academic journal based in Canada that showcases high school student research in the social sciences and interdisciplinary humanities. Established in 2017, TYR was created to support student-led scholarship that engages with real-world issues—whether through data-driven inquiry, theoretical analysis, or qualitative exploration.
TYR welcomes submissions in a wide array of fields, including psychology, political science, economics, education, sociology, cultural studies, and media analysis. Its editors seek papers that are thoughtful, well-structured, and grounded in scholarly methods—even when those methods are qualitative or interpretive.
While TYR maintains high academic standards, it is known for being particularly student-friendly, making it an excellent entry point for students with limited publication experience. The editorial team includes educators who are committed to supporting students through the sometimes-daunting process of peer review, and authors receive detailed feedback designed to improve their writing, argumentation, and methodology.
Why Submit Here?
- Methodological Emphasis: TYR encourages students to include a clear methodology section, even for non-STEM or theoretical work. This approach gives students valuable practice in justifying their research design, whether it involves surveys, interviews, case studies, textual analysis, or data coding.
- Supportive Editorial Process: Unlike many professional journals where peer feedback can be terse or technical, TYR is committed to providing constructive, developmental feedback that helps young authors grow as researchers and writers.
- Accessibility and Equity: TYR charges no submission or publication fees, making it one of the most accessible options for students regardless of financial background. This commitment to equity broadens participation in academic publishing—especially for students working outside of formal research programs.
- Visibility and Impact: Accepted papers are published in print and online formats, and are organized into thematic issues, providing context and visibility for each contribution. This adds professional polish to students' research portfolios and allows for easier sharing with admissions committees, scholarship panels, or competition judges.
Submission Guidelines:
TYR accepts submissions once per year—typically in the spring or early summer. The call for papers is announced on their website and through school and research program networks.
Students interested in submitting should prepare the following:
- A research paper of 3,000 to 6,000 words
- A concise abstract (150–250 words) summarizing the research question, methods, and findings
- A structured methodology section, even for non-quantitative papers
- Proper citations and bibliography, following APA, MLA, or Chicago style
- A cover page with author name, school affiliation, and project background
TYR welcomes submissions from students working independently or through structured mentorship, including those in programs like Nova Research or Nova Scholar's Supernova Publication Program, which support student development of publishable research. Co-authored papers are also allowed, provided all authors are in high school at the time of submission.
Notably, papers should demonstrate original analysis or perspective, even when the topic is widely studied. Students might, for example, conduct a content analysis of media portrayals of protest movements, design a small-scale survey on youth political participation, or compare philosophical theories across cultures.
Examples of Recent Topics Published in TYR:
- The role of student voice in shaping school policy
- Gender representation in young adult literature
- Media coverage and political bias in local news outlets
- Cultural assimilation and identity in immigrant communities
- The psychological effects of standardized testing on high school students
These examples illustrate the journal’s openness to both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as its emphasis on research that explores social relevance and cultural depth.
How to Prepare a Strong Submission
No matter which journal you choose—whether it’s The Concord Review, The Journal of Student Research, or The Young Researcher Journal—a successful submission begins with thoughtful planning, rigorous writing, and careful revision. Humanities and social science papers require a blend of research, argumentation, and clarity. Here are five essential components to help you prepare a submission that meets scholarly standards and showcases your intellectual maturity:
1. Craft a Focused and Compelling Research Question
Your research question should serve as the anchor of your paper. It’s not enough to explore a broad topic—you need to ask a specific question that allows for meaningful investigation and original analysis.
Strong research questions:
- Invite critical exploration (e.g., “How did Enlightenment ideals influence women’s participation in the French Revolution?”)
- Avoid being overly descriptive or yes/no in nature
- Encourage analytical depth, interpretation, or debate
Take time to refine your question through preliminary reading and discussion with a mentor. A strong question not only guides your writing but also signals to reviewers that your work is purposeful and inquiry-driven.
2. Develop an Original, Argument-Driven Thesis
In humanities and social sciences, research is about more than gathering facts—it’s about interpretation. Your paper should present a clear thesis: a debatable claim that reflects your unique perspective on the topic.
A strong thesis:
- Goes beyond summarizing existing scholarship
- Offers an argument that can be supported with evidence
- Evolves through engagement with primary and secondary sources
For example, rather than stating, “Social media influences climate activism,” a stronger thesis might be, “Social media platforms have transformed climate activism by amplifying youth-led movements, yet they risk undermining long-term engagement through performative participation.”
Remember: your thesis is not the end of the paper—it’s the beginning of a conversation.
3. Use High-Quality Sources and Document Them Accurately
The strength of your argument depends on the quality of your evidence. Humanities and social science research typically relies on a mix of primary sources (e.g., speeches, diaries, legislation, literary texts) and secondary sources (e.g., scholarly articles, books, critical analyses).
Best practices for sourcing:
- Use academic databases (like JSTOR, Project MUSE, or Google Scholar) for secondary research
- Seek out primary documents through archives, libraries, and curated online collections
- Evaluate sources for credibility, relevance, and bias
- Cite consistently using a recognized academic format—MLA, APA, or Chicago, depending on your discipline or journal guidelines
Proper citation not only avoids plagiarism but also demonstrates that you’re engaging ethically and rigorously with the scholarly community.
4. Prioritize Clarity, Organization, and Flow
Even the most compelling ideas can be lost in a disorganized paper. Structure your work logically and guide your reader through your analysis step by step.
Structural elements to include:
- A clear introduction that frames the research question and states the thesis
- Body paragraphs that each explore a specific point of evidence or dimension of your argument
- Topic sentences and transitions that maintain coherence across sections
- A strong conclusion that reflects on the implications of your findings and reinforces your thesis
Avoid overly complex or technical language. In humanities and social science writing, clarity is more persuasive than jargon. Aim for precision, varied sentence structure, and a tone that reflects thoughtful scholarship.
5. Revise Thoughtfully and Seek Constructive Feedback
Revision is not just about correcting typos—it’s about strengthening your thinking, refining your argument, and improving your presentation. The best papers often go through multiple drafts before submission.
Tips for effective revision:
- Set your paper aside for a few days, then revisit it with fresh eyes
- Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing or logical gaps
- Use a revision checklist to assess clarity, structure, citations, and flow
- Ask for feedback from teachers, mentors, or trusted peers who can offer thoughtful critique—not just praise
The Role of Mentorship in Student Publishing
For many high school students, the research and publication process can feel daunting—especially in disciplines like history, philosophy, or sociology, where academic expectations around argumentation, methodology, and citation are often unfamiliar. This is where mentorship becomes not just helpful, but transformative.
Working with a mentor provides more than just editorial support. It offers students access to expert guidance, academic modeling, and structured feedback, all of which are essential to developing a polished, publication-ready research paper. Mentors can help students:
- Refine broad interests into focused, researchable questions
- Identify and interpret relevant primary and secondary sources
- Structure arguments in a way that aligns with academic standards
- Navigate the often-complex peer review and submission process
At Nova Scholar Education, mentorship is central to the student experience. Through programs like Nova Research and Nova Patent, students are paired one-on-one with mentors from top-tier institutions including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Princeton. These mentors are not only content experts—they are educators who understand how to guide students through every phase of scholarly inquiry, from the early stages of topic development to the final submission of a journal-ready manuscript.
Mentorship also helps students build academic resilience and confidence. By engaging in authentic dialogue with experienced scholars, students learn how to defend their arguments, revise their work with purpose, and see themselves as contributors—not just consumers—of knowledge. This experience can lead to powerful outcomes, including:
- Publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Presentations at youth research conferences
- Recognition in college applications, honors programs, and scholarships
Ultimately, the mentorship model transforms academic potential into tangible achievement, empowering students to take ownership of their learning and join conversations traditionally reserved for advanced undergraduates or graduate students.
Why Student Voices Matter in Academic Publishing
Publishing research in the humanities and social sciences as a high school student is not just achievable—it’s profoundly rewarding. It affirms that young people can think critically about the world, engage in meaningful scholarship, and contribute to disciplines that shape society, culture, and public discourse.
Whether you choose to submit to The Concord Review, The Journal of Student Research, or The Young Researcher Journal, the act of preparing a paper for publication will stretch your mind, strengthen your writing, and deepen your understanding of the academic process. More importantly, it allows your voice to be heard in scholarly communities that benefit from fresh perspectives and new ideas.
With the right combination of curiosity, commitment, and support, high school students are more than capable of producing research that is not only impressive—but impactful. Programs like those at Nova Scholar help unlock that potential by offering the structure, mentorship, and editorial insight needed to bring your work to life.
So start with a question that excites you. Follow it with intellectual courage. Pursue it with scholarly rigor. And let your research reflect not only what you’ve learned—but who you’re becoming as a thinker, writer, and changemaker.
Remember: high school is not too early to make a meaningful contribution. In fact, it might be the most powerful time to begin.
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