Publishing in a humanities research journal in high school allows students to demonstrate intellectual depth and master academic writing. For incoming university students, this achievement can help them stand out in highly competitive college admissions.
With expert mentorship and structured guidance from programs such as Aralia Education, students can transform their ideas into polished, submission-ready research papers and confidently pursue publication in competitive, globally recognized social science journals.
College admissions are getting increasingly competitive every year. In this evolving landscape, a published research paper demonstrates a student’s proactiveness and their willingness to go beyond passive learning to actively contributing to knowledge production. Humanities research, spanning disciplines such as history, philosophy, political theory, literature, economics, and anthropology, allows students to reflect on and investigate complex questions about the human society, ideas, and human experience.
Aralia Students Are 4x More Likely to Publish a Research Paper
Why Should Students Publish Research in High School?
Research publication as early as the high school level offers students an opportunity to engage with academic work at a professional standard. Unlike typical classroom essays, publishable research requires advanced-level skills. It involves original argumentation, sustained inquiry, structured methodology, and formal citation practices. These competencies will surely remain valuable far beyond high school. Additionally, the entire process, from topic development to peer review and revision, cultivates discipline and resilience, which are essential as students go through their career development.
For students interested in humanities and social sciences, working on a publication demonstrates the following qualities:
Depth of Intellectual Engagement: Colleges seek students who explore their curiosities beyond the classroom. A research paper shows ambition and long-term commitment to a specific subject of interest while demonstrating the ability to handle advanced materials.
Academic Writing Mastery: Publishing requires precise evidence-based argumentation and adherence to academic citation styles. These skills directly translate to success in college-level coursework, especially if you’re planning to apply to writing-heavy majors like the social sciences.
Distinction in College Applications: In highly selective admissions, advanced research and publication stand out to evaluators. It distinguishes students from peers with similar GPAs and test scores. A peer-reviewed publication reflects initiative and scholarly ambition, as well as the potential to contribute meaningfully to a university’s academic community.
Preparation for Future Research: Students who want to pursue a major in the humanities gain early exposure to academic research. This foundation prepares them well for undergraduate theses, capstone projects, and even graduate-level study.
Global Academic Recognition: Many high school research journals are international and peer-reviewed. Publishing provides formal academic validation and, in some cases, connects students with valuable academic networks worldwide.
The publication process also teaches students to receive critique proactively and communicate ideas clearly. In the long run, these experiences shape strong academic habits that remain useful in future studies.
1. The Concord Review
The Concord Review (TCR) is the most prestigious journal for high school students in the social sciences. Many TCR authors have also gone to prestigious universities and colleges across the U.S. and worldwide.
In the spring issue, the quarterly journal published 1,362 research papers by authors from 46 states and 41 countries. If you’re interested in being one of them, Aralia published the Guide to the Concord Review to help students submit to the Concord Review.
Competition Format: All essays should be on a historical topic, covering any period from ancient to modern and any area, domestic or foreign. Essay submissions must be 5,000-9,000 words, with Chicago-style endnotes and a bibliography. The student must be the sole author of the submission, and the research paper may not be published elsewhere except for a publication of the secondary school the student attends. Students can submit more than one research paper.
Eligibility: Secondary students from all countries and schools can participate.
Deadline:
- Summer Issue – February 1
- Fall Issue – May 1
- Winter Issue – August 1
- Spring Issue – November 1
Fee: Ranges from $70 to $150, depending on the membership level students choose. Each author who submits a paper and submission fee receives the next four issues of the journal in eBook (or print for $30).
Membership Details (Annual Fee):
- Author – eBook – $70.00: With your essay submission fee of $70, you will receive a complimentary 1-year subscription to the Electronic (eBook) Edition of The Concord Review. You can choose the Print Edition instead for an additional $30 + shipping and handling.
- Author – Print US – $110.00: Your essay submission fee of $100 + includes a 1-year subscription to the Print Edition of The Concord Review delivered to your US address.
- Author – Print International – $150.00: Your essay submission fee of $100 + includes 1 year subscription to the Print Edition of The Concord Review delivered to your address outside the United States.
Journal Website: https://tcr.org/
2. The Schola
The Schola is a rigorous academic journal of high school scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. It is recognized as a leading publication in its niche, thereby considered a meaningful distinction by top-tier college admissions committees.
Submission Guidelines: The essay must be a maximum of 8,000 words, written in English. The student should be the sole author of the paper. Topics may include philosophy, history, art history, economics, political theory, comparative government, public policy, international relations, or sociology. The review process can take up to 7 months to complete, meaning that once students submit their essays, they will be considered for the next three quarterly issues.
Full details on submission guidelines are available here.
Fee: $180
Eligibility: The Schola accepts submissions from high school students around the world.
Deadline: Essays are accepted year-round.
3. Oxford Journal of Student Scholarship (OJSS)
The Oxford Journal of Student Scholarship (OJSS) is a selective, peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes high-quality research from secondary school and undergraduate students. It welcomes original work across a wide range of disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, medicine, social sciences, humanities, business, and law, with a strong emphasis on rigorous argumentation and original scholarship. By embracing such a broad scope, OJSS seeks to highlight the diversity and depth of student research while encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue.
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstract: 150–300 words summarizing purpose, methods, and conclusions
- Length: 2,000–8,000 words (exceptions possible)
- Citations: Any standard academic style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.), used consistently
Accepted types of papers:
- Original Research Articles (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion structure)
- Literature Reviews (critical synthesis of existing research)
Fees & Timelines:
- Standard APC: $200 (due after acceptance; 8–12 week review)
- Fast Track Review: $125 (2-week initial review; non-refundable; does not guarantee acceptance)
More details here: https://www.oxfordjss.org/
4. Ephebeia: A Youth Classics Journal
Ephebeia: A Youth Classics Journal is a new online academic journal launched by the Paideia Institute to showcase outstanding Classics written by high school students. It is a sister publication of In Medias Res, and it offers a new venue to celebrate the wide range of original and interesting work being produced by high schools about Classical Antiquity.
Journal issues are released twice per year (Fall and Spring), with the inaugural publication being in Fall 2025. Essays on Greco-Roman and broader Mediterranean antiquity are welcomed, including literature, history, art, and modern works influenced by the ancient world. Knowledge of Latin or Ancient Greek is encouraged but not required.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12.
For more information, visit: https://www.paideiainstitute.org/ephebeia_announcement.
5. American Journal of Student Research
The American Journal of Student Research (AJSR) is an online, open-access academic journal that publishes scholarly work by high school and undergraduate students across a wide range of disciplines, including STEM fields, business, politics, and the social sciences. Its benefits include the following:
- Once your manuscript is accepted, it moves quickly through an accelerated publication process.
- Every article gets its own DOI, so it’s easy to find and access anytime.
- You keep full copyright of your work—because it’s yours.
- Your article is published open access, meaning anyone can read and download it for free.
- With indexing through Crossref and often Google Scholar, your research gets wider visibility and a better chance of being cited.
Accepted Manuscripts:
- Original Research – Reports new findings using experiments, surveys, or systematic methods.
- Narrative Review – Thematic overview of existing literature.
- Systematic Review – Structured, reproducible literature review addressing a defined research question.
- Meta-Analysis – Quantitative synthesis of data from multiple studies.
- Opinion/Perspective – Commentary or interpretation without new data.
Simultaneous submissions or previously published work are not allowed.
Review & Publication Timeline
The review process takes 3–6 weeks, and rejection decisions are usually received within 3–4 weeks. Publication is typically within one week after final acceptance.
Fee:
- The APC is $496, payable only after acceptance.
- Fast-Track Review (Optional): $286 per manuscript (speed up review and publication timeline to approximately 2 weeks)
Visit their website to learn more: https://ajosr.org/
7. Curieux Academic Journal
Curieux Academic Journals is a youth-led nonprofit founded in 2017 to publish research by high school and middle school students. They are based in California, but have editors from all over the country. They publish an issue once per month, and authors are expected to hear back within 2 to 5 weeks. With over 500 articles published, they are open to submissions from any academic subject including the sciences and humanities.
Eligibility: Middle, high school and undergraduate students
Categories: STEM or Humanities & Social Sciences
Publishing Fee: $250
Deadline: Rolling admissions
Publication Pathways:
- Fast-Track Review: Decision within three weeks; $250 publication fee upon acceptance.
- Seasonal Review: Notification upon next issue release; $200 publication fee upon acceptance.
Visit their website to know more: https://www.curieuxreview.com/
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8. The Journal of Research High School
The Journal of Research High School (JRHS) is an open-access online research journal that seeks to offer a representation of the future scientific community mainly for high school students. The editors are volunteers with backgrounds as professional scientists, researchers, teachers, and professors in various disciplines. Approximately 30% of submitted papers have been published.
Eligibility: High school students
Accepted research topics: Engineering, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Social Sciences.
Manuscript types: Original Research and Review Articles
Fee: $350 per manuscript
Deadline: Rolling admissions
The general timeline is approximately 3-6 months.
For students who are interested in summer programs, we have also published an article 7 Humanities Summer Programs for High School Students.
Publish Your Humanities Research Paper With Aralia
At Aralia Education, students work with experienced instructors, including former faculty from leading schools and universities, to develop original research papers ready for submission to journals such as The Concord Review, The Schola, and other highly selective publications.
Ready to turn your research into a publishable paper? Join Aralia today and take the next step toward sharing your voice with a wider academic audience.
