The Concord Review: A Complete Guide

If you’ve written a strong history research paper, The Concord Review could be your next big step. Founded in 1987, this prestigious journal publishes outstanding essays by high school students worldwide—often the kind recognized by top universities like Harvard and Yale.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about getting published: what the editors look for, how to prepare your paper, key deadlines, and tips from successful contributors. Whether you love history or want to strengthen your college applications, this guide will help you stand out.

• What Is The Concord Review?
• The Concord Review Acceptance Rate
• The Concord Review Submission Guidelines
• How to Get Published in The Concord Review
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is The Concord Review?

The Concord Review is a prestigious academic journal dedicated to publishing substantial history research papers by high-school students. Founded in March 1987, The Concord Review remains the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic history papers of secondary (high school) students. Its mission is to elevate the standard of secondary-school writing and research by giving committed young historians a real academic publishing venue.

Because The Concord Review sets high expectations for publication and has a very selective acceptance rate, being published signals strong scholarly promise.

This prestige matters for academic or professional development because publication in such a unique and highly selective venue adds credibility to a student’s research skills and academic maturity. It strengthens college applications and demonstrates to scholarship committees or early career evaluators that you have engaged in real academic work beyond routine high-school assignments.

What does The Concord Review publish?

The Concord Review publishes in-depth history research papers written by high school students that demonstrate original analysis, strong sourcing, and a formal academic tone. Each paper must include endnotes or footnotes and a full bibliography using the Turabian or Chicago style. Topics range across all historical eras and regions—ancient or modern, domestic or international—allowing students to explore subjects of global or local significance.

The journal expects significant length and depth. However, The Concord Review categorizes entries as either “Short” or “Long” papers based on word count, with the average paper being around 9,000 words, reflecting college-level research and writing. Submissions must be original, written solely by the student, and unpublished elsewhere.

If you want to understand what kind of writing The Concord Review seeks, take a look at some of their published pieces from their Winter 2016 issue:

• “Game of Thrones: President Suharto and The Rise of Indonesian Forestry” by Jun Bin Lee
• “Where Democratization Stops: Judicial Independence in the Progressive Era” by Perri Wilson
• “Protagoras and Athenian Democracy” by Duohao Xu

These examples highlight the range of topics The Concord Review welcomes—from modern political developments to ancient thought—demonstrating that successful papers combine detailed research with clear arguments and thoughtful interpretation.

Writers are expected to use credible sources, maintain an academic tone, and offer original insights that deepen readers’ understanding of history. They must produce essays that connect historical facts to broader political, social, or philosophical ideas.

The Concord Review Acceptance Rate

The Concord Review is highly selective, publishing about 5% of the submissions it receives. This low acceptance rate reflects the high quality bar the journal sets. Factors that influence acceptance include:

• Having a clear and original thesis
• Thorough research with credible sources
• Clarity and polish in writing
• Following all formatting and style rules (such as Turabian/Chicago endnotes and bibliography)
• Fitting well with The Concord Review’s editorial mission of serious history scholarship by high-school students.

Because so few submissions meet all these criteria, the vast majority of entries do not make final publication. However, The Concord Review mentions that if your paper isn’t published in the quarter you initially submitted it in, it may still appear in future issues.

The Concord Review Submission Guidelines

Before sending your paper to The Concord Review, it’s essential to understand what the editors expect. The journal upholds professional academic standards, requiring original, well-researched history essays that meet strict formatting and authorship rules.

Below is a clear breakdown of the key submission guidelines—from eligibility and formatting to deadlines, fees, and the submission process—to help you prepare your work for consideration.

Authorship

The Concord Review accepts submissions from students who completed their papers before finishing secondary school. Each essay must be the author’s original work—no group projects or co-authored papers are allowed. Previously published papers are only eligible if they appeared in a secondary school publication.

While the journal allows multiple submissions by the same student, each paper must be original and distinct. Simultaneous submissions to other journals are not explicitly prohibited, but it’s best to avoid them unless clarified with the editors.

Formatting

Essays should follow Turabian (Chicago) style with endnotes (not footnotes) and a complete bibliography. The typical word range is 5,000 to 10,000+ words, including citations and bibliography, though some published papers exceed 15,000 words. Use one consistent font family (e.g., Times New Roman), include no images or charts, and save the document as an MS Word (.doc/.docx) or RTF file.

The filename should follow this format: FirstName_LastName_FirstThreeWordsOfTitle.docx. Papers must include all endnotes and the bibliography within the same file.

Deadline

The Concord Review accepts essays on a rolling basis, meaning submissions are reviewed year-round. However, to be considered for a specific quarterly issue, papers should be submitted by August 1 (Winter), November 1 (Spring), February 1 (Summer), or May 1 (Fall).

Authors selected for publication are typically notified about a month before their issue’s release, and publication occurs quarterly—in September, December, March, and June.

How to submit

Students must complete The Concord Review’s online submission form on their official website and upload their essay as a single file. After submission, the author must pay the corresponding fee. All notes and bibliography must be included in the same file. The Concord Review does not accept attachments, images, or figures.

Fees

A submission fee is required for all entries. The Author eBook Membership costs $70 and includes submission and a one-year subscription to the electronic edition. Authors may choose the Print Edition ($110 for U.S., $150 for international), which includes shipping and four quarterly issues.

Authors do not receive monetary compensation. Instead, they receive journal access and can purchase print copies or reprints of their published essays. This fee helps fund The Concord Review’s operations as a nonprofit journal dedicated to publishing high-quality history research by high school students.

How to Get Published in The Concord Review

Getting published in The Concord Review is an impressive academic achievement—but it requires more than just a good essay. The editors look for original research, a clear thesis, and strong historical analysis supported by credible sources.

In this section, you’ll learn how to craft a paper that meets The Concord Review’s high standards, follow its submission rules, and present your work with the scholarly rigor that sets successful essays apart.

1. Choose a topic you can explore in-depth.

The Concord Review publishes high-school history research papers that rise above classroom essays. The topic you choose must allow for original analysis and scholarly engagement, not just description.

Pick a topic that is specific enough to explore in depth—for example, a particular reform, a lesser-known figure, or an event from an unusual perspective. The Concord Review accepts essays on any historical period or geography, whether ancient or modern, domestic or international.

Ensure there is sufficient primary and secondary source material available so you can conduct thorough research. This is critical for scholarly work. Define a clear research question or thesis early on (e.g., “This paper argues that … because …”), so you are writing with a purpose and not just recounting events.

Excellent papers present a focused thesis and contribute something new even at the high-school level rather than merely summarizing known facts. Avoid broad or vague topics (like “World War II in Europe”) that cannot be handled with depth in a student paper. Don’t choose a topic just for novelty; the source base must support rigorous research.

2. Research thoroughly.

A hallmark of papers published in The Concord Review is their rigorous use of both primary and secondary sources and their ability to engage with them in dialogue. The submission guidelines require Turabian/Chicago style endnotes and bibliography.

Conduct a preliminary search to identify key primary documents (like letters, diaries, official records, and archival materials) and reputable secondary scholarship (like books, peer-reviewed articles, and monographs). Take detailed notes and track bibliographic details carefully since this will aid citation and avoid errors later.

Organize sources by theme or argument thread so you can integrate them into your thesis. For example, you could separate them as sources that support your claim, sources that present a counter-argument, and sources that fill in background.

An excellent paper will demonstrate that you have found sources and used them analytically: you interpret what the sources say, compare them, place them in context, and draw implications.

3. Write like a historian.

The Concord Review expects formal academic structure and tone—this is one of the things that separates publishable work from a typical high-school essay. The word-count range typically starts around 5,000 words, and the average accepted essay is over 8,000 words.

Begin with an introduction that sets the stage: background context, the gap in existing scholarship or the question your paper addresses, and your thesis statement.
Organize body sections around distinct sub-arguments or themes that advance your overall thesis. Each section should link back to the main argument rather than being a stand-alone summary.
Use endnotes (not footnotes) and a separate bibliography in Turabian/Chicago style. Make sure each citation is formatted correctly and consistently.

Write a conclusion that recaps your findings, reflects on their significance, and suggests further implications or questions.

4. Revise and refine your paper.

The Concord Review reviews submissions very critically, publishing only around 5% of essays received. The revision process is where you transform a strong draft into one worthy of submission.

After completing a full draft, step away for a short time, then return with fresh eyes. Look for clarity of argument, coherence of sections, logic gaps, and source integration. Ask yourself:

• Is the thesis clear?
• Do sources support the argument?
• Are there paragraphs that go off-topic?

Seek peer or teacher feedback—especially someone familiar with academic writing or history research.

Check formatting meticulously: word count (including endnotes/bibliography), double spacing, font size, page numbers, only Arabic numerals for endnotes, endnotes end in a period, etc.

Proofread carefully for grammar, punctuation, style, and ensure academic tone—meaning avoid casual language, contractions, and unsupported generalizations.

5. Submission process

Even the best paper must be submitted in accordance with the publisher’s guidelines—failure to follow them can disqualify otherwise excellent work. The Concord Review publishes quarterly and uses rolling admissions, so papers are eligible for the next four issues.

Confirm your paper meets the word-count/format guidelines (TCR suggests 5,000–10,000 words or more; the average published is over 8,000 words). Submit electronically in the accepted format (Word doc or RTF, following any naming and file-format rules). Pay any required submission or membership fee if applicable.

After submission, patience is required—if accepted, you will be notified about a month before publication; if not selected, your paper remains eligible for future issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What works are featured in The Concord Review?

The Concord Review publishes history research papers written by high-school students. These are formally structured essays with endnotes (in Turabian/Chicago style) and a bibliography, typically ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 words or more. 

The topics may span any historical period or any geographic region—ancient or modern, domestic (U.S.) or international. The journal also categorises submissions into “Short” and “Long” essays (approximately 5,000 words vs. more than 10,000 words) with high expectations for depth.

2. Is The Concord Review prestigious?

Yes, The Concord Review is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious journals for high-school history research. It is the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic research papers of secondary students.

The Concord Review publishes only about 5% of the essays submitted. Because of this high selectivity and the scholarly standard it maintains, having a paper accepted by this journal is a notable academic achievement.

3. Can international students submit to The Concord Review?

Yes, students from around the world are eligible to submit. The requirements specify that the paper must be in English and completed before the student finishes secondary school; the student must be the sole author. The historical topic may be foreign or domestic.

4. Does The Concord Review charge fees or provide compensation to authors?

Yes. The Concord Review requires a submission fee when you send in your paper. Students can choose between different membership options: $70 for eBook access, $110 for print copies in the U.S., or $150 for international print copies, which include a one-year subscription to the journal. This fee covers the review and publication process.

The journal does not offer financial compensation to authors whose work is published. Instead, published students receive digital access to upcoming issues and can purchase printed copies or reprints of their work for personal or academic use.

5. Does The Concord Review accept simultaneous submissions?

Yes. However, whether simultaneous submissions (to other journals at exactly the same time) are explicitly permitted is not clearly specified in the public guidelines. Check with TCR directly about simultaneous submission policy if you are submitting to multiple journals at once.

Takeaways

• Getting published in The Concord Review is a mark of true scholarship. With its rigorous standards, global reach, and reputation for excellence, the journal recognizes young historians who approach research with originality, discipline, and depth.
• Whether you’re aiming to strengthen your college applications or simply wish to contribute meaningful work to the field of history, preparing for The Concord Review pushes you to think, write, and research like a professional scholar.
• Being published in The Concord Review is a prestigious achievement that adds strong academic value to your college application. Our personalized coaching program helps students craft high-quality research papers and present their accomplishments effectively to stand out in competitive admissions.