TL;DR

• The Interstitial Journal publishes peer-reviewed work by high school students.

• Submissions must be original, unpublished research in any academic discipline.

• Formatting follows standard academic conventions: double-spaced, 12pt font, APA or MLA.

• Peer review at student journals typically takes four to twelve weeks.

• Simultaneous submission to another journal while under review is not permitted.

Most high school students who finish a research paper face the same wall. The paper is done. The question is what to do with it. Posting it online feels informal. Submitting it to a university journal feels out of reach. The middle ground is a peer-reviewed student journal, and The Interstitial Journal is one of the more credible options in that space.

The Interstitial Journal accepts original research from high school and early undergraduate students across disciplines. It runs a genuine peer review process, meaning your work is evaluated by reviewers before it is accepted. That distinction matters. A published credit in a peer-reviewed outlet carries weight that a school project or blog post does not.

If you have a completed paper and you are trying to understand exactly how to submit to The Interstitial Journal, this guide walks through every stage of the process. Start at the beginning and work forward.

What The Interstitial Journal publishes

The Interstitial Journal accepts original, unpublished academic research written by high school students. It is interdisciplinary, meaning it welcomes work from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and STEM fields. The journal does not restrict submissions to a single subject area, which makes it accessible to researchers working across very different topics.

To be considered, your paper must not be under review at another journal at the same time. This is a standard rule in academic publishing, not specific to this journal. Submitting the same paper to two journals simultaneously is a form of duplicate submission that most peer-reviewed outlets explicitly prohibit. If you want to understand why this rule exists and how it works in practice, the guide on submitting the same paper to two journals covers the reasoning in detail.

Your research should present an original argument or finding. A summary of existing literature is not sufficient on its own. Reviewers look for a clear research question, a defined methodology, evidence-based analysis, and a conclusion that follows from the evidence. These are the same standards applied at professional journals, scaled to the context of student research.

How to prepare your manuscript before you submit to The Interstitial Journal

Before you submit to The Interstitial Journal, your manuscript needs to meet basic formatting standards. Most student journals, including The Interstitial Journal, expect submissions that are double-spaced, written in a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, and formatted with one-inch margins. Citations should follow a consistent style throughout, either APA (American Psychological Association) or MLA (Modern Language Association), applied correctly from the first reference to the last.

Work through this preparation sequence before uploading anything:

1. Confirm your paper presents an original research question, not a review or summary alone.

2. Check that all sources are cited correctly and consistently in your chosen citation style.

3. Remove your name and any identifying information from the manuscript document itself. Many journals use blind review, where reviewers do not know who wrote the paper.

4. Write an abstract of 150 to 250 words that accurately summarises your research question, method, findings, and conclusion.

5. Read the journal's submission guidelines on their official website one final time before uploading, since requirements can be updated between publishing cycles.

If your paper is not yet at this stage, the full walkthrough on how to submit a research paper to a peer-reviewed journal covers the preparation process from draft to final manuscript in more depth.

If you want structured feedback on your manuscript before you submit, Publication Compass is a platform built for exactly this: it reviews your draft, identifies gaps, and helps you match your paper to the right journal before you commit to a submission. You can join the waitlist at publicationcompass.ai.

The submission process for The Interstitial Journal, step by step

Submitting to The Interstitial Journal follows the same sequence used by most peer-reviewed student publications. You locate the submission portal on the journal's official website, create an account if required, complete the submission form, upload your manuscript, and confirm. The process itself takes under an hour if your paper is already prepared.

Here is the full sequence:

1. Go to the official Interstitial Journal website and find the submissions page.

2. Read the current submission guidelines in full. Pay attention to any word count limits, formatting requirements, or discipline-specific instructions that may have changed.

3. Create an account on the submission portal if the journal requires one. Most student journals use a form-based system or an email submission process.

4. Complete the submission form. This typically includes your paper title, abstract, discipline or subject area, and author contact details. Do not include your name inside the manuscript document if the journal uses blind review.

5. Upload your manuscript in the file format specified, usually a Word document (.docx) or a PDF.

6. Submit and save the confirmation email or reference number. This is your proof of submission and your point of contact if you need to follow up.

After submission, you wait. Peer review at student journals typically takes between four and twelve weeks, though timelines vary. Do not follow up before the journal's stated response window has passed.

What happens during peer review at The Interstitial Journal

After you submit to The Interstitial Journal, your manuscript enters a peer review process. Editors first assess whether the paper meets basic submission requirements. If it does, it is sent to reviewers who evaluate the quality of the research question, the methodology, the evidence, and the writing. Reviewers typically return one of three decisions: accept, revise and resubmit, or reject.

A revise and resubmit decision is not a rejection. It means the journal sees potential in your work but wants specific changes before it can be accepted. Reviewers will provide written comments explaining what needs to change. Take those comments seriously. Respond to each point directly in a revision letter and update the manuscript accordingly. This back-and-forth is a normal part of academic publishing at every level.

If your paper is rejected, read the reviewer comments carefully. Rejection from one journal does not mean the paper is not publishable. It may mean the paper needs revision, or that a different journal is a better fit. Journals like the Journal of Student Research and the STEM Fellowship Journal accept work across a range of disciplines and may be worth considering depending on your subject area.

Should you upload a preprint before submitting to The Interstitial Journal?

A preprint is a version of your paper posted to a public repository before formal peer review. Uploading a preprint before submitting to The Interstitial Journal is generally permitted by most journals, but you should confirm this in the journal's current submission policy before doing so. Some journals treat a publicly posted preprint as prior publication and will not consider the paper.

Preprints have real advantages. They establish a timestamp for your research, allow you to receive informal feedback before submission, and make your work visible to a wider audience. The trade-off is that once a paper is posted publicly, some journals consider it ineligible. The full breakdown of this decision is covered in the guide on whether to upload a preprint before submitting.

If you are unsure, contact the journal's editorial team directly and ask. A one-line email asking about their preprint policy takes two minutes and removes any ambiguity.

Frequently asked questions about submitting to The Interstitial Journal

Does The Interstitial Journal charge a submission fee?

The Interstitial Journal does not charge submission fees as of its current published guidelines. Student journals in this space are generally free to submit to, though you should confirm this on the journal's official website before submitting, as policies can change between publishing cycles.

Can I submit to The Interstitial Journal if I am a high school student with no prior publications?

Yes. The Interstitial Journal is designed for student researchers, including those with no prior publication record. What matters is the quality of the research itself: a clear question, sound methodology, and evidence-based conclusions. Prior publications are not a requirement for submission.

How long does The Interstitial Journal take to respond to submissions?

Response times at student peer-reviewed journals typically range from four to twelve weeks. The Interstitial Journal's current timeline will be listed on their submissions page. If no timeline is stated, it is reasonable to follow up politely after eight weeks if you have not received any communication.

What disciplines does The Interstitial Journal accept?

The Interstitial Journal is interdisciplinary and accepts research from across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and STEM fields. There is no single subject restriction. If your research presents an original question and follows academic conventions, it is worth reviewing the journal's scope statement to confirm fit before submitting.

What should I do if my paper is rejected?

Read the reviewer comments in full. Identify whether the feedback points to a problem with the research itself or a mismatch between your paper and this journal's scope. Revise accordingly, then consider other peer-reviewed student journals that match your discipline and research type. Rejection is a normal stage in the publication process, not a final verdict on your work.

Where to go from here

Submitting to The Interstitial Journal is a straightforward process once your manuscript is properly prepared. The steps are consistent: read the guidelines, format the paper correctly, remove identifying information, write a strong abstract, and submit through the official portal. After that, peer review takes time, and patience is part of the process.

The harder part is usually getting the paper to a standard where submission makes sense. That means a clear research question, evidence that supports your argument, and writing that communicates both without unnecessary complexity. If your paper is not there yet, keep working on it. A well-prepared submission has a better chance than a rushed one, every time. For more guidance on the research and writing process, visit the Publication Compass blog.