Category: Advice from My Research Experience

What Is an Annotated Bibliography (And Why Every Junior Researcher Should Make One)

Recently, I was fortunate to work with Dr. Sidney Wong on a computational linguistics research project using Twitch data. As a high school student just stepping into research in the field, I learned a lot—not just about the technical side of computational linguistics, but also about how research is actually done.

One of the most valuable lessons I took away was the importance of using a structured research process, especially when it comes to narrowing down a topic and conducting a literature survey. One tool that stood out to me was the annotated bibliography.

Although our project is still ongoing, I wanted to take a moment to introduce annotated bibliographies to other students who are just beginning their own research journeys.

What Is an Annotated Bibliography?

An annotated bibliography is more than just a list of sources. It’s a carefully organized collection of books, research papers, or articles. Each entry includes a short summary and analysis that helps explain what the source is about, how reliable it is, and how it fits into your research.

Each entry usually includes:

  • A full citation in a standard format (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
  • A brief summary of the key points
  • An evaluation of the source’s quality or credibility
  • A reflection on how the source is useful for your project

In other words, it helps you stay organized and think critically while reading. It’s like building your own research map.

Why It Matters (Especially for Beginners)

When you’re new to a field, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the papers and sources out there. Creating an annotated bibliography helps in several important ways:

1. Keeps you organized

Instead of juggling dozens of open tabs and scattered notes, you have everything in one place with clear summaries and citations.

2. Helps you truly understand what you read

Summarizing and reflecting on a source forces you to go beyond skimming. You learn to recognize the core arguments, methods, and relevance.

3. Highlights gaps in the literature

As you build your list, you’ll start to notice which topics are well studied and which ones aren’t. That can help you identify potential research questions.

4. Makes writing much easier later

When it’s time to write your literature review or paper, you’ll already have the core material prepared.

How I Got Started

When I began working with Dr. Wong on our project about Twitch chat data and language variation, he encouraged me to start building an annotated bibliography early. I started collecting articles on sociolinguistics, computational methods, and prior research involving Twitch or similar platforms.

For each article, I wrote down:

  • What the authors studied
  • How they conducted the research
  • What they concluded
  • And how it connects to my own research

Even though I’m still early in the process, having this document has already helped me organize my thoughts and see where our work fits in the broader field.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting out in research, I highly recommend keeping an annotated bibliography from day one. It may seem like extra work at first, but it will pay off in the long run. You’ll read more thoughtfully, remember more of what you read, and write more confidently when it’s time to publish or present.

I’ll share more about our Twitch project once it’s complete. Until then, I hope this helps you take your first step toward building strong research habits.

— Andrew

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How to Connect with Professors for Research: A Practical Guide (That Also Works for High School Students)

Recently, I read an article from XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students (vol. 31, issue 3, 2025). You can find it here. The article is called “Connecting with Your Future Professor: A Practical Guide” by Ph.D. students Swati Rajwal and Avinash Kumar Pandey at Emory University.

Even though the guide is written for students planning to apply for Ph.D. programs, it immediately reminded me of my own experience cold emailing professors to ask about research opportunities as a high school student. Honestly, their advice applies to us too, whether we are looking to join a lab, collaborate on a small project, or simply learn from an expert.

I wanted to share a quick summary of their practical tips for anyone who is thinking about reaching out to professors for research.

1. Engage Deeply with Their Research

Before emailing a professor, make sure you understand their work. This doesn’t mean reading every single paper they’ve ever published, but you should:

  • Look up their Google Scholar or university profile to see what topics they focus on
  • Read their most cited papers to understand their main contributions
  • Explore other outputs like software tools, patents, or public datasets they’ve created

Knowing their research deeply shows that you are serious and respectful of their time.

2. Interact with Their Current Students or Lab Members

If possible, find ways to connect with their current Ph.D. students or research assistants. You can:

  • Learn about the lab environment and expectations
  • Get advice on how to prepare before joining their group
  • Understand the professor’s mentoring style

For high school students like me, this might feel intimidating, but even reading lab websites with student profiles or LinkedIn posts can give hints about the culture.

3. Use Digital Platforms Strategically

The guide suggests checking:

  • Personal websites for updated research, upcoming talks, and recent publications
  • Social media (if they are active) to get a sense of their latest projects, collaborations, and sometimes even their personality

Of course, it’s important to keep boundaries professional, but this context can help you write a more personalized email.

4. Join Open Academic Forums or Reading Groups

Some research groups host open reading groups, seminars, or webinars. Joining these:

  • Exposes you to their research discussions
  • Gives you a chance to ask questions and show your interest
  • Helps you see if their group aligns with your goals and interests

Even if you’re a high school student, you can check if their university department posts public seminar recordings on YouTube or their website.

5. Watch Their Talks or Lectures Online

Many professors have guest lectures or conference presentations recorded online. Watching these helps you:

  • Learn their communication style and main research themes
  • Feel less nervous if you end up meeting them virtually
  • Prepare thoughtful questions when reaching out

6. Attend Academic Conferences

This might be harder for high school students due to cost, but if you get the chance to attend local NLP or AI conferences, take it. These are the best places to:

  • Introduce yourself briefly
  • Ask questions after their talks
  • Follow up later via email referencing your in-person interaction

7. Request Virtual Meetings (Respectfully)

Finally, if you email a professor to ask about research opportunities, consider asking for a short virtual meeting to introduce yourself and learn about their work. The guide emphasizes:

  • Doing your homework beforehand
  • Being concise in your request
  • Understanding that not all professors have time to meet, so be respectful if they decline

Key Caveats They Shared

The authors also noted a few important reminders:

  • Citation counts don’t always reflect research quality, especially for newer professors or niche fields
  • Other students’ experiences in the lab might not fully predict yours, so reflect on your own goals too
  • Digital research is great, but it shouldn’t replace direct communication
  • Always plan ahead for conference interactions or virtual meetings

Final Thoughts

Reading this article made me realize that building connections with professors is not just about sending one perfect cold email. It’s about understanding their work deeply, showing genuine interest, and being respectful of their time.

If you’re a high school student like me hoping to explore research, I think this guide is just as helpful for us. Professors might not always say yes, but thoughtful, well-informed outreach goes a long way.

Let me know if you want me to share a template of how I write my cold emails to professors. I’ve been refining mine and would love to help others start their research journey too.

— Andrew

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How to Read a Research Paper (Without Getting Lost)

Introduction

As a junior researcher, I’ve often wondered: What is the best and most efficient way to read research papers? How can you absorb domain knowledge, identify gaps in the literature, and discover areas you can contribute to, without spending hours getting stuck on every paragraph?

If you’re just starting out in academic research, you’ve probably asked yourself the same thing.

When I began my independent research project a year ago, which eventually became my first solo publication in the National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS), I had no idea how to approach academic papers. I would open a PDF, read the abstract, skim the introduction, and then quickly feel overwhelmed by the methods section.

Luckily, I received helpful advice from a PhD student at UIUC, who recommended a short but incredibly insightful article: How to Read a Paper by S. Keshav (2007). Although it was written more than a decade ago, the “three-pass approach” described in that article remains highly relevant and worked extremely well for me.

I believe every student researcher should be aware of this method. Many experienced researchers already follow a similar pattern, even if they do so without realizing it. What makes this approach so useful is that it breaks the reading process into manageable stages, helping you avoid getting overwhelmed while still engaging deeply with the material.

The Three-Pass Approach: A Smarter Way to Read Research Papers

The method recommended in Keshav’s article is called the three-pass approach, and it’s exactly what it sounds like—you read the paper in three rounds, each with a different goal. Instead of reading linearly from start to finish, this strategy allows you to build your understanding gradually and intentionally.

Pass 1: The Bird’s-Eye View

Time: 5–10 minutes
Goal: Get a general sense of the paper and decide whether it’s worth a deeper read.

What to do:

  • Read the title, abstract, and introduction carefully.
  • Look over section and subsection headings to see how the paper is structured.
  • Read the conclusion to understand the main outcomes.
  • Glance through the references, and note any papers you recognize.

What you’ll get:
By the end of this pass, you should be able to answer the Five Cs:

  • Category: What kind of paper is it (e.g., theoretical, experimental, systems design)?
  • Context: What previous work is it building on?
  • Correctness: Do the assumptions make sense?
  • Contributions: What are the key takeaways?
  • Clarity: Is the paper well written?

This is a good stopping point if the paper isn’t directly relevant to your research. You’ve still learned something, but without investing too much time.

Pass 2: The Skim Read

Time: Up to 1 hour
Goal: Understand the paper’s main arguments and evidence—without getting caught up in the fine details.

What to do:

  • Read the paper more thoroughly, but skip complex proofs or mathematical derivations for now.
  • Pay close attention to figures, charts, and graphs. Check if they are properly labeled and if results are presented clearly.
  • Take margin notes and jot down important ideas.
  • Mark any unfamiliar references to look up later.

What you’ll get:
At this stage, you should be able to summarize the main idea and explain the supporting arguments to someone else. This is especially useful for papers outside your direct research area, where a high-level understanding is enough.

Pass 3: The Deep Dive

Time: 1 to 5 hours (depending on experience and complexity)
Goal: Gain a complete and critical understanding of the paper’s structure, logic, and impact.

What to do:

  • Mentally reconstruct the paper’s process—try to follow the same steps the authors took.
  • Challenge each assumption, evaluate each method, and think about alternative approaches.
  • Consider how you would present the same material differently.
  • Take detailed notes on strengths, weaknesses, and future directions.

What you’ll get:
By the end of the third pass, you should be able to explain the full structure of the paper from memory, identify its most important contributions, and critique its shortcomings. This level of engagement is essential if you’re doing closely related research or writing a paper of your own.

In my own experience, this method has saved me time and frustration. More importantly, it taught me how to read with purpose—whether I’m scanning a paper for background, preparing a literature review, or diving into a technical method I want to apply in my own work.

If you’re just beginning your research journey, I highly recommend giving the three-pass approach a try. It’s a skill that gets better with practice and one that will serve you well throughout your academic career.

— Andrew

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How to Cold Email Professors for Research Opportunities as a High School Student: My Experience and Advice

One question I hear a lot from high school students (including from myself when I first started) is: How can I find a research opportunity if I don’t already have connections in academia? Many of us don’t have family or school networks tied to university research, so it can feel impossible to break in. But one effective way is through cold emailing professors.

In this post, I’d like to share my personal experiences and practical advice on how to approach cold emailing, especially if you’re a high school student aiming to start your research journey.

1. Identify Professors in Your Research Area

Start by thinking about what you’re genuinely interested in researching. For me, it was computational linguistics and NLP. Then, search faculty pages on university department websites to find professors working in that field. Look at their personal websites or lab pages to understand their recent projects and publications.

Here’s what I learned:
Even if a professor’s website only mentions research positions for undergraduates or graduate students, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re closed off to high school students. In many cases, if you are academically ready and motivated, they may be open to mentoring you as well.

2. Craft a Polite and Targeted Introduction Email

Your email should briefly:

  • Introduce yourself (name, grade, school)
  • Share your specific research interests
  • Explain why you are reaching out to them in particular, referencing their recent work
  • Mention any relevant projects you’ve done

When I reached out, I shared my school transcript, certificates (such as those from LinkedIn courses or my University of Washington summer class), and most importantly, my previous research projects and sample work. Demonstrating both preparation and passion makes a difference.

In my emails, I often referenced my nonprofit organization, Student Echo, and my research on analyzing survey data using LLMs. Show that you care about their work and that you want to learn under their guidance while contributing meaningfully to their projects.

3. Clarify Your Intentions and Expectations

Make it clear in your email that:

  • You are volunteering your time to assist with research
  • You do not expect compensation or an official title
  • You are simply seeking experience, mentorship, and an opportunity to contribute

Professors are often busy and have limited budgets. By clarifying that you’re offering help without adding financial or administrative burden, you make it easier for them to say yes.

4. Be Patient and Follow Up Politely

Professors receive many emails and have packed schedules. Wait at least two weeks before sending a follow-up email. In my case, some professors responded quickly with a clear “no” but were kind enough to refer me to colleagues. If they don’t, you can politely ask if they know anyone in their department who might accept high school students for research.

If you don’t hear back, don’t be discouraged. I cold emailed five professors at top-tier universities. Four didn’t work out, but one professor replied and became my first research mentor. That one response can change everything.

5. Prepare for Your First Meeting

Once a professor shows interest:

  • Set up a meeting (virtual or in-person, depending on location)
  • Before the meeting, email them your resume, sample research work, and a personal statement outlining your goals and why you’re interested in their lab

During the meeting:

  • Be humble, respectful, and grateful for their time
  • Show confidence and passion about your research interests
  • If they ask technical questions you don’t know, be honest and express your willingness to learn

In my case, after my virtual meeting, the professor invited me to attend his weekly lab meetings with his graduate students. Eventually, he assigned me to collaborate with one of his Ph.D. students. It was such an amazing opportunity, and I’m so grateful for his trust and mentorship.

Final Thoughts

Cold emailing professors can feel intimidating, but remember: every professor was once a student who started somewhere too. If you’re passionate, prepared, and polite, your efforts will eventually pay off. Even one “yes” can open the door to your first professional research experience.

I hope this post helps you take your first step toward finding a research opportunity. Feel free to let me know if you want me to share a sample cold email template in a future post.

Good luck, and keep pushing your curiosity forward!

— Andrew

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Journals and Conferences for High School Students Interested in Computational Linguistics and NLP

As a high school student interested in studying computational linguistics and natural language processing (NLP) in college, I’ve always looked for ways to stay connected to the latest developments in the field. One of the most effective strategies I’ve found is diving into the world of academic activities: reading papers, following conference proceedings, and even working on papers of my own.

In this post, I’ve put together a list of reputable journals and major conferences in computational linguistics and NLP. These are the publications and venues I wish I had known about when I first started. If you’re just getting into the field, I hope this can serve as a useful starting point.

At the end, I’ve also included a quick update on my recent experiences with two conferences: NAACL 2025 and the upcoming SCiL 2025.

Part I: Journals
Here is a list of prominent journals suitable for publishing research in computational linguistics and natural language processing (NLP), based on their reputation, impact, and relevance to the field:

  1. Computational Linguistics
    • Published by MIT Press for the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL) since 1988.
    • The primary archival journal for computational linguistics and NLP research, open access since 2009.
    • Focuses on computational and mathematical properties of language and NLP system design.
  2. Transactions of the Association for Computational Linguistics (TACL)
    • Sponsored by the ACL, open access, and archived in the ACL Anthology.
    • Publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed papers in NLP and computational linguistics.
  3. Journal of Machine Learning Research (JMLR)
    • Covers machine learning with some overlap in NLP, including computational linguistics applications.
    • Open access and highly regarded for theoretical and applied machine learning research.
  4. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research (JAIR)
    • Publishes research in AI, including computational linguistics and NLP topics.
    • Open access with a broad scope in AI-related fields.
  5. Natural Language Engineering
    • Published by Cambridge University Press.
    • Focuses on practical applications of NLP and computational linguistics.
  6. Journal for Language Technology and Computational Linguistics (JLCL)
    • Published by the German Society for Computational Linguistics and Language Technology (GSCL).
    • Covers computational linguistics, language technology, and related topics.
  7. Language Resources and Evaluation
    • Focuses on language resources, evaluation methodologies, and computational linguistics.
    • Published by Springer, often includes papers on corpora and annotation.

Part II: Conferences
The following are the top-tier conferences in computational linguistics and NLP, known for their competitive acceptance rates (often around 25%) and high impact in the field:

  1. Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL)
    • The flagship conference of the ACL, held annually in summer.
    • Covers all aspects of computational linguistics and NLP, highly prestigious.
  2. Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP)
    • One of the top NLP conferences, focusing on empirical and data-driven NLP research.
    • Held annually.
  3. International Conference on Computational Linguistics (COLING)
    • A major international conference held biennially, covering a broad range of computational linguistics topics.
  4. North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (NAACL)
    • The ACL’s North American chapter conference, held annually or biennially.
  5. European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL)
    • The ACL’s European chapter conference, focusing on NLP research in Europe and beyond.
  6. Conference on Computational Natural Language Learning (CoNLL)
    • Focuses on computational learning approaches to NLP, sponsored by ACL SIGDAT.
    • Known for innovative research in natural language learning.
  7. Lexical and Computational Semantics and Semantic Evaluation (SemEval)
    • A workshop series under ACL, focusing on lexical semantics and evaluation tasks.
    • Highly regarded for shared tasks in NLP.
  8. International Joint Conference on Natural Language Processing (IJCNLP)
    • Held in Asia, often in collaboration with ACL or other organizations.
    • Covers a wide range of NLP topics with a regional focus.
  9. The Society for Computation in Linguistics (SCiL) conference
    • A newer and more specialized event compared to the well-established, top-tier conferences like ACL, EMNLP, COLING, NAACL, and EACL.
    • Began in 2018.
    • Narrower focus on mathematical and computational modeling within linguistics.
    • Frequently held as a sister society meeting alongside the LSA Annual Meeting
  10. Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS)
    • A premier venue for machine learning research
    • Publish NLP-related papers, however, it is not a dedicated computational linguistics or NLP conference.

Part III: My Experience

NAACL 2025 took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from April 29 to May 4, 2025. As you might already know from my previous blog post, one of my co-authored papers was accepted to the Fifth Workshop on Speech, Vision, and Language Technologies for Dravidian Languages, part of NAACL 2025. Due to a scheduling conflict with school, I wasn’t able to attend in person—but I still participated remotely and followed the sessions virtually. It was an incredible opportunity to see the latest research and learn how experts in the field present and defend their work.

SCiL 2025 will be held from July 18 to July 20 at the University of Oregon, co-located with the LSA Summer Institute. I’ve already registered and am especially excited to meet some of the researchers whose work I’ve been reading. In particular, I’m hoping to connect with Prof. Jonathan Dunn, whose book Natural Language Processing for Corpus Linguistics I mentioned in a previous post. I’ll be sure to share a detailed reflection on the conference once I’m back.

If you’re interested in computational linguistics or NLP—even as a high school student—it’s never too early to start engaging with the academic community. Reading real papers, attending conferences, and publishing your own work can be a great way to learn, connect, and grow.

— Andrew

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Summer Programs and Activities in Computational Linguistics: My Personal Experiences and Recommendations

If you’re a high school student interested in computational linguistics, you might be wondering: What are some ways to dive deeper into this field over the summer? As someone who loves language, AI, and everything in between, I’ve spent the past year researching programs and activities, and I wanted to share what I’ve learned (along with some of my personal experiences).

1. Summer Linguistic Institute for Youth Scholars (SLIYS)

What it is:
SLIYS is a two-week summer program run by The Ohio State University’s Department of Linguistics. It focuses on introducing high school students to language analysis and linguistic theory in a fun and rigorous way. Students get to explore syntax, morphology, phonetics, language universals, and even some computational topics.

My experience:
I’m super excited to share that I’ll be participating in SLIYS this summer (July 14 – 25, 2025). I was so happy to be accepted, and I’m looking forward to learning from real linguistics professors and meeting other students who are passionate about language. I’ll definitely share a reflection post after I finish the program, so stay tuned if you want an inside look!

Learn more about SLIYS here.

2. Summer Youth Camp for Computational Linguistics (SYCCL)

What it is:
SYCCL is a summer camp hosted by the Department of Linguistics and the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University. It introduces high school students to computational linguistics and language technology, covering topics like language data, NLP tools, and coding for language analysis.

My experience:
I had planned to apply for SYCCL this year as well, but unfortunately, its schedule (July 6 – 18, 2025) conflicted with SLIYS, which I had already accepted. Another challenge I faced was that SYCCL’s website wasn’t updated until late April 2025, which is quite late compared to other summer programs. I had actually contacted the university earlier this year and they confirmed it would run again, but I didn’t see the application open until April. My advice is to check their website frequently starting early spring, and plan for potential conflicts with other summer programs.

Learn more about SYCCL here.

3. North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition (NACLO)

What it is:
NACLO is an annual computational linguistics competition for high school students across North America. It challenges students with problems in linguistics and language data analysis, testing their ability to decipher patterns in unfamiliar languages.

My experience:
I’ve tried twice to participate in NACLO at my local test center. Unfortunately, both times the test dates were weekdays that conflicted with my school final exams, so I had to miss them. If you’re planning to participate, I strongly recommend checking the schedule early to make sure it doesn’t overlap with finals or other major commitments. Despite missing it, I still find their practice problems online really fun and useful for thinking like a computational linguist.

Learn more about NACLO here.

4. LSA Summer Institute

What it is:
The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) Summer Institute is an intensive four-week program held every two years at different universities. It offers courses and workshops taught by top linguists and is known as one of the best ways to explore advanced topics in linguistics, including computational linguistics.

My experience:
I was planning to apply for the LSA Summer Institute this year. However, I found out that it is only open to individuals aged 18 and older. I contacted the LSA Institute Registration Office to ask if there could be any exceptions or special considerations for underage participants, but it was disappointing to receive their response: “Unfortunately, the age limit is firm and the organizers will not be considering any exceptions.” So if you’re thinking about applying, my advice is to check the age qualifications early before starting the application process.

Learn more about LSA Summer Institute here.

5. Local University Outreach Events and Courses

Another great way to explore linguistics and computational linguistics is by checking out courses or outreach events at local universities. For example, last summer I took LING 234 (Language and Diversity) at the University of Washington (Seattle). It was an eye-opening experience to study language variation, identity, and society from a college-level perspective. I wrote a reflection about it in my blog post from November 29, 2024. If your local universities offer summer courses for high school students, I highly recommend checking them out.

6. University-Affiliated AI4ALL Summer Programs for High School Students

What it is:
AI4ALL partners with universities to offer summer programs introducing high school students to AI research, ethics, and applications, often including NLP and language technology projects. While these programs are not focused solely on computational linguistics, they provide a great entry point into AI and machine learning, which are essential tools for language technology research.

About AI4ALL:
AI4ALL is a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence (AI) education, research, development, and policy, particularly for historically underrepresented groups such as Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous, women, non-binary, low-income, and first-generation college students. Their mission is to make sure the next generation of AI researchers and developers reflects the diversity of the world.

Examples:

  • Stanford AI4ALL
  • Princeton AI4ALL
  • Carnegie Mellon AI4ALL

These programs are competitive and have different focus areas, but all aim to broaden participation in AI by empowering future researchers early.

Final Thoughts

I feel grateful to have these opportunities to grow my passion for computational linguistics, and I hope this list helps you plan your own summer learning journey. Whether you’re solving NACLO problems in your free time or spending two weeks at SLIYS like I will this summer, every step brings you closer to understanding how language and AI connect.

Let me know if you want a future post reviewing SLIYS after I complete it in July!

— Andrew

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How I Published My STEM Research in High School (and Where You Can Too)

Publishing as a high school student can be an exciting step toward academic growth and recognition. But if you’re anything like me when I started out, you’re probably wondering: Where do I even submit my work? And maybe more importantly, how do I avoid falling into the trap of predatory or low-quality journals?

In this post, I’ll walk through a curated list of reputable STEM journals that accept high school submissions—along with some honest thoughts from my own publishing journey. Whether you’re writing your first paper or looking for your next outlet, I hope this helps.

📚 10 Reputable Journals for High School Research (Especially STEM)

These are ranked loosely by selectiveness, peer-review rigor, and overall reputation. I’ve included each journal’s website, review cycle, and key details so you can compare.

  1. Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ)
    Selection Rate: ~10-15% (very selective)
    Subjects: Natural sciences, engineering, social sciences
    Peer Review: Professional (Columbia faculty/editors)
    Cycle: Annual (6–9 months)
    🔗 cjsj.org
  2. Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
    Selection Rate: ~70-75%
    Subjects: Biological/physical sciences (hypothesis-driven only)
    Peer Review: Graduate students and researchers
    Cycle: Rolling (7–8 months)
    🔗 emerginginvestigators.org
  3. STEM Fellowship Journal (SFJ)
    Selection Rate: ~15-20%
    Subjects: All STEM fields
    Peer Review: Canadian Science Publishing reviewers
    Cycle: Biannual (4–5 months)
    🔗 journal.stemfellowship.org
  4. International Journal of High School Research (IJHSR)
    Selection Rate: ~20–30%
    Subjects: STEM, behavioral, and social sciences
    Peer Review: Author-secured (3 academic reviewers)
    Cycle: Rolling (3–6 months)
    🔗 ijhsr.terrajournals.org
  5. The Young Researcher
    Selection Rate: ~20–25%
    Subjects: STEM, social sciences, humanities
    Peer Review: Faculty and researchers
    Cycle: Biannual (4–6 months)
    🔗 theyoungresearcher.com
  6. Journal of Student Research (JSR)
    Selection Rate: ~70–80%
    Subjects: All disciplines
    Peer Review: Faculty reviewers
    Cycle: Quarterly (6–7 months)
    🔗 jsr.org
  7. National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS)
    Selection Rate: ~20%
    Subjects: STEM and social sciences
    Peer Review: Student-led with academic oversight
    Cycle: Rolling (3–5 months)
    🔗 nhsjs.com
  8. Journal of High School Science (JHSS)
    Selection Rate: ~18%
    Subjects: STEM, arts (STEAM focus, quantitative research)
    Peer Review: Academic reviewers
    Cycle: Quarterly (4–6 months)
    🔗 jhss.scholasticahq.com
  9. Curieux Academic Journal
    Selection Rate: ~30–40%
    Subjects: STEM, humanities, social sciences
    Peer Review: Student-led with professional oversight
    Cycle: Monthly (fast-track: 2–5 weeks; standard: 1–3 months)
    🔗 curieuxacademicjournal.com
  10. Young Scientists Journal
    Selection Rate: ~40–50%
    Subjects: STEM (research, reviews, blogs)
    Peer Review: Student-led with expert input
    Cycle: Biannual (3–6 months)
    🔗 ysjournal.com

🧠 My Experience with JHSS, JSR, and NHSJS

1. Journal of High School Science (JHSS)
This was the first journal I submitted to on November 13, 2024. The submission process was straightforward, and the portal clearly tracked every stage of the review. I received feedback on December 29, but unfortunately, the reviewer seemed unfamiliar with the field of large language models. The decision was based on two Likert-scale questions:

  • “The paper makes a significant contribution to scholarship.”
  • “The literature review was thorough given the objectives and content.”

The first was marked low, and the second was marked neutral. I shared the feedback with LLM researchers from top-tier universities, and they agreed the review wasn’t well-grounded. So heads up: JHSS does have a formal structure, but you may run into an occasional reviewer mismatch.

2. Journal of Student Research (JSR)
Originally, I was going to submit my second paper here. But I ended up choosing NHSJS because JSR’s review timeline was too long for my goals (6–7 months vs. NHSJS’s 3–5 months). That said, JSR has one of the clearest submission guides I’ve come across:
👉 JSR Submission Info
If you’re not in a rush and want a polished process, it’s a solid option.

3. National High School Journal of Science (NHSJS)
This is where I published my first solo-authored research paper (see my earlier post). What stood out to me:

  • Quick response times
  • Detailed and constructive reviewer feedback

My reviewers gave me 19 major and 6 minor suggestions, each with specific guidance. It was incredibly helpful as a student navigating scientific writing for the first time.

That said, the journal’s submission format was a bit confusing (e.g., its citation style is non-standard), and the guidelines weren’t always followed by other authors. I had to clarify formatting details directly with the editor. So: highly recommend NHSJS—just make sure you confirm your formatting expectations early.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about publishing your research, take time to explore your options. The review process can be slow and sometimes frustrating, but it’s one of the best ways to grow as a thinker and writer.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to share more from my experience.

— Andrew

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