Peer-reviewed research for pre-collegiate scholars
A journal for rigorous pre-collegiate scholars across science, society, policy, humanities, and the arts.
Fall 2026 submissions are openMeaningful intellectual contribution should not require a university enrollment.
The Journal of Advanced Pre-Collegiate Research (JAPCR) is a peer-reviewed, open-access, multidisciplinary academic journal dedicated to publishing original research, critical analysis, and scholarly work by students ages 14 to 18. The journal provides a rigorous editorial platform where pre-collegiate scholars develop advanced research skills, engage in authentic academic discourse, and share their work with a global readership.
The journal publishes across three threads, Natural Sciences and Engineering, Global Society and Policy, and Humanities and Creative Arts, reflecting our conviction that important ideas can emerge from every discipline, and that pre-collegiate researchers deserve the same editorial standards, peer review processes, and publication opportunities available to university researchers.
Every submission undergoes single-blind peer review by a panel of qualified reviewers. The journal maintains transparent editorial practices, a published acceptance rate, and a commitment to substantive feedback that supports revision regardless of whether a paper is accepted. JAPCR is published three times each year in September, December, and June and is freely accessible to readers worldwide.
Important ideas emerge from every discipline. JAPCR publishes across three distinct threads, each held to the same standard of rigor.
Authors select the thread most appropriate to their submission. The editorial team may reassign a paper to a more suitable thread where needed. Authors may submit to only one thread per submission cycle, and a separate paper may be submitted to a different thread in a later cycle.
Disciplines. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Environmental Science.
Accepted formats. Original experimental research, data-driven analysis, computational studies, systematic literature reviews, replication studies.
Disciplines. Economics, Law, History, Sociology, Political Science, International Relations, Psychology.
Accepted formats. Argumentative research essays, case studies, policy analyses, comparative studies, survey-based research.
Disciplines. Literature, Philosophy, Art History, Music, Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Religious Studies.
Accepted formats. Critical analysis, theoretical essays, textual interpretation, comparative literary studies, interdisciplinary cultural criticism.
Authors must be between 14 and 18 years of age at the time of submission, and may be enrolled in any educational setting, including public, private, charter, international, or homeschool. Collaborative submissions of up to five co-authors are permitted, and every submission must name a Faculty Advisor, a teacher, mentor, or qualified adult who has reviewed the work and can confirm its originality.
| Issue | Submission Deadline | Publication Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Issue | July 15 | September 15 |
| Winter Issue | October 15 | December 15 |
| Summer Issue | April 15 | June 15 |
All submissions are made through the online submission portal. Work must be original, not published or under review elsewhere, and any use of AI tools must be disclosed within the manuscript. Authors are notified of a decision within four to six weeks of the deadline, and every author receives reviewer feedback regardless of outcome.
JAPCR operates a two-tier editorial structure that combines academic credibility with operational efficiency.
The Leadership Tier sets the journal's intellectual standards, oversees peer review, and makes final editorial decisions. The Operations Tier manages daily workflow, author communications, and production, ensuring each issue publishes on schedule.
| Editor in Chief | K.S. Park | Professor, Ph.D. in History of Science, Chungbuk National University, South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Section Editor, Thread A | Jiyoun Song, Ph.D. | Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania |
| Section Editor, Thread B | To be appointed | Global Society and Policy |
| Section Editor, Thread C | Thomas Layman, Ph.D. | Humanities and Creative Arts |
The Managing Editor coordinates submissions, communications, and the editorial calendar, and the Associate Editor leads copy editing and production. A standing Peer Review Panel of 10 to 15 reviewers across the three threads evaluates every submission. An Advisory Board of university professors and published academics provides strategic guidance and institutional credibility.
JAPCR publishes three issues each year in September, December, and June.
The inaugural issue is in preparation and will be published on September 15, 2026. Submissions remain open through the July 15 deadline. Pre-collegiate scholars worldwide may submit work for consideration in JAPCR's founding volume.
Once published, each issue will be permanently archived on this page. Every article will be available as a full-text web version and a downloadable PDF, with a complete citation and a Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Issues are organized by volume and date, and articles may be browsed by thread A, B, or C so readers can move directly to the relevant disciplinary areas.
Every article published in JAPCR is open access and released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. Readers may read, share, and build upon the work worldwide, with proper attribution to the original authors and no paywall.
Before the inaugural issue is released, prospective authors may review the journal's mission and submission guidelines, then submit research for the founding volume.