I recently uploaded a research paper as a preprint (non–peer reviewed), and since then I’ve been contacted by multiple journal editors offering to publish it. The issue is, most of these journals are fairly new, not well–indexed, and don’t have much visibility or impact. Also my paper isn’t novel enough for Q1/Q2 journals.
I’m planning to apply for graduate school (research–based thesis), but I don’t currently have any other publications. Would it be better to:
Keep it listed as a preprint on my CV, or
Publish it in one of these lower–visibility journals just to have a “publication”?
I’d love some advice from people who’ve gone through this, what would be viewed more favorably by grad school committees?