The Concord Review 2026: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Admissions, and How to Get In

Updated October 2026

TL;DR

The Concord Review (TCR) is a quarterly journal that publishes history research papers written by high schoolers. You can submit a paper on almost any historical topic, as long as you finish it before high school ends and you are the only author. The Author eBook membership costs $90 and includes your submission and a one-year eBook subscription, and the print options cost $120 in the U.S. and $150 abroad. TCR accepts papers all year, with issue deadlines on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1, and it publishes about 5% of the essays it receives. The next deadline is November 1 for the Spring issue. If you want to write a research paper with a professor or PhD mentor, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.

Academic publishing allows you to explore a subject beyond the classroom, build research skills, and present your findings in writing. If you’re interested in history, The Concord Review allows high school students to submit their research for publication. Understanding the journal’s requirements can help you decide whether your paper is a good fit. You can learn about The Concord Review’s acceptance rate, costs, submission requirements, and how to get your paper considered in this guide. For other places to publish, see our list of research journals for high school students.

What is The Concord Review?

The Concord Review is a quarterly journal that has published the historical research of high schoolers since 1987. You can write about any historical topic, ancient or modern, and about any part of the world. You can even write about a subject TCR has covered before.

You research the topic, judge your sources, make an argument, and support it with evidence. You also learn to cite your sources with Turabian endnotes and a bibliography. TCR calls itself the first and only journal that publishes the academic work of secondary school students.

When are The Concord Review deadlines?

TCR accepts papers on a rolling basis, and each paper is eligible for the next three issues. The submit page lists the deadlines for a specific issue. Issues arrive in September, December, March, and June.

You do not need to wait for one yearly window. You can send a paper when it is ready, and you can send more than one. If TCR publishes your paper, it sends you a letter in the month before the issue comes out.

How much does it cost to submit?

Each Author membership includes your essay submission and a one-year subscription. The submit page lists three options.

You do not need a separate subscription before you submit, since the membership covers it. If you choose print instead of the eBook, it adds $30 plus shipping. Each extra essay costs $70, and TCR’s submission FAQ explains how to add one to your account.

If TCR publishes your paper, you can buy copies of your issue in the bookstore or order TCR Singles, which are reprints of your essay. The minimum order is 12 copies. Paying the fee does not guarantee publication.

Who can submit?

You can submit if you:

• Finished the paper before secondary school ended and have not enrolled in college or university
• Are the sole author
• Write the paper in English
• Have not published it anywhere except in a publication from a secondary school you attended

You can attend a public school, a private school, or a homeschool, and you can live in any country. The submission page lists these rules under Essay Requirements. TCR also warns that if it finds a paper is not your original work, it will tell your school, which could lead to a withdrawal of college admission. Contact the editor if you have questions about TCR’s AI policy.

What does your paper need?

TCR is strict about format, so check each rule before you send your paper.

• Length: 5,000 to 10,000 words, or more. The word count includes your endnotes and bibliography, so an 8,000-word paper with 2,000 words of notes counts as 10,000.
• Citations: Turabian (Chicago) endnotes and a bibliography. TCR does not accept footnotes. Use only Arabic numerals for endnotes, and end each note with a period.
• Sources: List only sources that you cite in your paper.
• Fonts: Use a single font family throughout, except for non-English characters or diacritics.
• Graphics: Remove charts, photos, and graphs, because TCR does not publish them.
• File type: Microsoft Word or RTF only. TCR does not accept Google Docs, PDF, or Apple Pages files.
• File contents: One file, with the endnotes and bibliography at the end.
• File name: Your first and last name, an underscore, and the first three words of your title, such as Marie Jones_The Founding Fathers. Use no commas or other punctuation, and use an underscore in place of a colon.

How do you submit your paper?

1. Finish and polish your paper. TCR suggests lots of reading and at least one full draft before you proofread.
2. Format your file. Use the rules above, and name it correctly.
3. Create or update your account. If you already have a TCR account from History Camp or the newsletter, log in and change your membership level to Author. Do not make a second account.
4. Fill out the online submission form. Choose an Author membership option and click Confirm.
5. Pay the fee. After you pay, you get full account access and a Member Activation email.
6. Upload your paper. You upload the essay file after payment, and you can check your profile to confirm it arrived.
7. Wait for a decision. TCR does not list a fixed set of selection rules. It suggests you focus on a topic that teaches readers something, clear and engaging writing, and a substantial bibliography with real use of sources in your endnotes.

For questions about the form or file formats, email [email protected]. For questions about the content of your essay, email the editor, listed on the submit page.

What is The Concord Review acceptance rate?

TCR publishes about 5% of the essays it receives. That is roughly one paper out of every 20, though it changes with the number and quality of submissions. Think of it as a publication rate for a journal, not an admission rate for a program.

TCR publishes four regular issues a year, with about 11 essays in each, so space is limited. Meeting every rule does not guarantee a place, and TCR’s own advice is “When in doubt, send it in.” Its Sample Essays page and the issue index let you see what it has published.

Is The Concord Review prestigious?

Yes. It has published more than 1,500 high school history papers since 1987, and its authors come from across the U.S. and from dozens of other countries. A paper that reaches print has gone through a selective process, and the journal has a long track record that many admissions readers know.

TCR also keeps a page of reviews and letters about its work. If your paper does not get published, the effort still counts, because the research and writing build skills you can use in any class.

What skills will you build?

• Research: You find, sort, and use primary and secondary sources.
• Source judgment: You check who made a source, when, why, and from what point of view.
• Argument: You write a thesis and organize evidence to support it.
• Explanation: You connect evidence to your claims in clear writing.
• Citation: You use Turabian endnotes and a bibliography.
• Project management: You keep track of notes, sources, and references over a long paper.
• Revision: You cut repetition, tighten your argument, and fix grammar and citations.

These skills carry over to history classes, other research projects, and college writing.

How can you make your paper stronger?

• Narrow your topic. “How the Battle of Midway changed Japan’s naval strategy” works better than “World War II.” For ideas, see our list of history research topics for high school students.
• Explain, do not retell. Say why something happened, how it changed, or why it mattered.
• Start with an argument. Make each section support your main claim.
• Use many reliable sources. Mix academic books, articles, government records, newspapers, letters, and other primary sources.
• Judge your sources. Ask who wrote each one, when, and why, and compare sources that disagree.
• Include other views. If historians disagree, say so and explain which interpretation you find stronger.
• Check your citations. Review every endnote for style before you submit.
• Read published essays. The Sample Essays page and the journal’s past issues show the tone and level of detail TCR expects.
• Revise at least once. Your first draft does not have to be your last.

For more ways to find a topic, see our list of humanities research topics for high school students.

What do authors say?

TCR posts letters from authors on its reviews and letters page. One author, whose paper on Scottish nationalism ran in the Fall 2020 issue, called the project one of her hardest academic experiences, since it took more time and research than school work.

Another author said his published paper was his first academic publication and helped shape his later work, and that the essay writing skills helped him in university.

The pattern is clear: the paper takes real time, and people say the effort pays off in skills and confidence.

What other TCR programs can help?

If you are not ready to submit, TCR offers other ways to build your skills:

• TCR History Camp: History writing seminars, online or in person, for middle and high schoolers.
• National Writing Board: A separate evaluation service with its own submission process.
• TCR Academic Coaches: Coaches who help with research and writing before you submit.

Joining one of these does not guarantee publication in the journal.

One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program

If you want a mentor to guide you through a research paper, the Horizon Academic Research Program pairs you with a professor or PhD researcher from a top university. You choose a subject such as history, and you work from your first question to a finished paper. You can compare more options in our lists of online history research programs and history research opportunities. For help building your profile, read our guide on how to get into a top high school research program.

Questions to ask before you submit to The Concord Review

Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program