Whenever we think of published researchers, we typically picture someone in their 40s wearing glasses and tied to their laptop or pen and paper. This preconception is really being challenged today as more and more young people, particularly in high school, successfully publish their work. However, in general, many students are confused and unsure of what publication is and how to approach it.

Essentially, getting your research paper published entails that a research project has undergone reviews and criticisms and has been determined to be reputable enough to be published by a journal. If a research article is not accepted for publication by a journal, it has not yet undergone a thorough external review of the study.

A procedure known as “peer review” is used in publications, which implies that experts in the same area have evaluated the work and its contribution and provided the authors with criticism. This procedure is frequently double-blind, which means neither the reviewer nor the author is aware of the identity of the other to avoid any biased judgment.

So now that you have been briefed into the procedure of becoming a published researcher and believe you see yourself going through this milestone at a young age, explore the Q&A thread below and get a step closer to reaching your ambition!

Q&A: Everything you need to know about becoming a published researcher in your teenage years:

Q: You’re probably wondering from the start: why the rush? What if the stereotypical figure that came to our minds existed for a reason? Is the title “published researcher” truly meant for grown adults? 

A: As young potential authors, we fear that we will be wasting valuable time attempting to persuade people that we can research and write effectively. This is because it may take 1.5 to 2 years for an article to get published in reputed journals because of the extensive peer review procedure. However, we become so preoccupied with our shortcomings that we lose sight of our advantages. In reality, we could do much more if we focused on leveraging our advantages rather than lamenting our drawbacks. For example, although we frequently forget this, one of our biggest assets is our familiarity with contemporary technologies.  In a nutshell, we are tech-savvy: can easily employ and understand technology to our advantage when it comes to browsing. Because of this, we can easily keep up with the latest sources that would boost our research experience and aid us in reaching our end goal: pursuing publication. 

Q: What kinds of findings can be published?

A: Most research disciplines can be published. For a literature review to be accepted by most journals, the paper must be quite solid meaning that it describes groundbreaking scientific discoveries and has a conclusion that is intriguing to readers from other disciplines. Usually, the standard for rigor in student publications is often somewhat lower if you conduct fresh data analysis or any other sort of data collecting since these tasks are more challenging. In general, it’s a good idea to do some research on the best publication to submit your article to because certain journals are well-known for particular subjects.

 Q: What are the obstacles you may face throughout the process? Can they be overcome?

A: The main struggle most people go through is the research process itself. It’s so difficult in an open-source world to find the right research to use in your essay. This can be overcome by firstly filtering out non-scholarly resources and secondly indicating which ones match the argument you wish to make on your paper.  As for the content itself, this might serve as an obstacle as well since some journals demand that the way of writing adheres to a certain style manual. This can be overcome by doing your homework beforehand and grasping the writing style of the journal in which you desire to have your work published.

Q: Now that you have key insights, there is a pretty good chance you are contemplating one dilemma: is it worth the hassle? I mean, let’s face it, it is not something you can do overnight. So, is it worth all the time and effort you will exert? What would you be gaining, exactly?

A: Besides receiving authority from the prominent title “published researcher”, a major benefit of this achievement is that it can facilitate your admission process to your dream university. Now I’m not saying that admissions authorities anticipate high school applicants to have scholarly journal publications, but rather, they would be impressed by them given that even for college students, having research published is uncommon. This notion is gradually being grasped as the brightest high school students are increasingly using academic research publications to set themselves apart from the competition when applying to colleges. So, if you are aiming for IVY schools or other top-notch universities, this will undoubtedly give you an edge and raise your chances of being accepted. Do you think the benefits stop here? Beyond that, having your work published at a young age puts you on a fantastic professional path that can help you for years to come. Imagine having on your CV “published a research piece at high school” think of the number of doors that would open for you, inviting you to further advance in your chosen field. Amazing, isn’t it?

Now back to the main question: Is it possible to publish in high school?

Yes, it’s truly all about the mindset; how willing you are to accept the challenge, how confident you are in your abilities to stand out, and how much time and effort you are willing to spare to create a research masterpiece that is worthy of publication. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone; you can always seek help from experts and educators who can guide you throughout the journey.