The Grad-School Exam Year: Write to the You Who Made It Through

Preparing for the graduate entrance exam is a different kind of hard. In high school, the whole class suffered together; this time it's usually just you — claiming the same library seat at dawn, reciting until closing time, wondering at midnight whether any of it is worth it. From summer through December, exam takers come here to write: to the self who'll see the scores in February, to the self walking out of the final interview, or — for those on their second or third attempt — to a self they simply hope is doing okay, whatever happened. One line shows up in these letters again and again: "I don't know if I'll make it, but I want future-me to remember that I really tried." If you're deep in prep right now, or just walked out of the exam hall, write this moment down. The letters below come from people who walked the same road and chose to share. Read a few, then write yours — the you who already knows the result will be grateful to the you who didn't quit.

How to write this letter

  • Record where you are right now: which chapter you're on, how many practice sets you've done, what time you got up today. Those numbers become the most solid keepsake.
  • Say something to the you who didn't pass, too. What should that person do next? A backup plan written in advance is the kindest safety net.
  • Write down why you chose this school and this field. Whether or not you end up there, that reason deserves to be remembered.
  • Schedule delivery for results day or the first day of grad school — one more reason to see this through.

Real letters from the vault

421 public letters
11mo 简体中文

给2027年的joyce

嗨!我来给你回信啦!很抱歉,跨年那天的信现在才打开,但是很巧妙的是,和今天的我的经历完全对上了,没有睡好,朋友圈打开了,但依旧有社交焦虑,睡觉有障碍,直接没睡觉去参加的第一场考试,确实在学习,此刻在图书馆5楼自习室,中午会给你点奶茶奖励的!那么此刻的你在干嘛呢,此刻你已经毕业半年

2603044878 2026.01.06
2022第三封信
Delivered
简体中文

2022第三封信

备战了足足一年半的战役,终于胜利结束了。虽然遗憾没有考公安,但能上岸,不用再在海里飘,就值得庆幸了。最辛苦的…其实都没有那么辛苦,也没有那么不辛苦。笔试前一个月是最累的,备考时间突然缩短,那时很喜欢的柳爽突然看不了,白天边上班边刷题,晚上听课,周末模考,成绩不稳定,正式考试时,行

R_Moku 2022.07.19
Delivered 简体中文

To myself of the 99th day

Every morning in the bathroom or in the kitchen, a man's voice can be heard reading English.Finishing the study is a important and necessar

n3556 2018.10.23
Don't forget...
Delivered
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Don't forget...

   就知道今天的你还在纠结。虽然不知道如今面对的究竟是什么样艰难的抉择,但我相信你一定有足够的勇气和能力去面对、去解决。因为你其实一直都知道自己想要的是什么,只是经常会忘记,偶尔才想起,虽然这听来有些可笑,可事实如此。大部分的人也都如此。   大学接近尾声,在校园里的日子为数不

我和我的101 2013.05.01
Delivered 简体中文

给未来的自己

      你好呀,我又来了,不知道你现在是什么状态,考研有没有考上,工作有没有找到.给你写这封信的目的其实是安慰一下你,或者是安慰一下现在的我,因为我没有学习动力,在家里根本学不进去.      今天已经是五月6号了.然而我才开始复习.学的东西很难,加上今年疫情,四六级也考不

雨滴_爱冬叔 2020.05.06
Delivered 简体中文

来自过去

是不是感觉很亲切啊?未来的我,一直很想给自己写一封信,从过去到未来。虽然只有两年的时间但是你肯定忘了吧我也希望你忘记这样会更有意义,今天是一个考研究生的日子,看着这他们忙绿的身影,在食堂里都是看着笔记,我有很大的触动真的,不禁让我想到了几年后的你,至少现在的我就得你肯定经历了“充

n1811 2016.12.26
致你的一封信
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致你的一封信

今日突然想写封信比你,不过我宜家感冒,有d辛苦,个脑可能唔系咁使~~~~~好快就考试啦,哩个学期放假放得比较迟,不过无乜所谓啦,反正翻到去都系咁过。大二哩个暑假我想去做暑期工,不过唔知做乜好,而且智焕话去唱K,其实我唱歌真系唔得,好紧张,加上利振彬又有可能约出去见面,其实我自己系

ufo8222tyj 2014.06.18
Delivered 简体中文

我正在错误的方向越走越远

  今天,自己又输了很多。输的越多越想捞回来,这是赌博让人陷得越来越深的原因,而我在这条不归路上越走越远,一个月后看看自己到底会怎么样,每个月两百。 只有两百的火车票我没有钱买  多可悲啊 自己的学习状态也非常不好 每天的计划都完不成  拖沓 玩  只能用自己的大量时间  每次学

朱大傻 2013.04.15
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你是不是未来的高某人

我忘记了你的所有联系方式,我是故意的,也是被迫的;也许你明白这种感觉,就像我喜欢你,又知道我们不合适那么矛盾。所以我也不知道,收到这封邮件的人会是谁,但我知道应该不是你。现在夜深人静,我想跟人说说话,因为我一整天都没出门,虽然天气好得出奇,朋友圈里桃花开得很旺盛。昨晚同学聚会,在

n2741 2018.03.25
Delivered 简体中文

2020年6月22日晚21:55

今天偶然发现了这个网站,所以想给未来的自己写一封信,想学的内容有好多,但是主要分为两点吧,一是研究生的生活相关,另一个是跟xb有关的事情 相信再看到这封信已经是20年末了,这个时候我应该经历了半学期的研究生生活,也应该跟xb见面了吧 不知道这半学期的研究生生活我表现的怎么样,有没

n5023 2020.06.22
给未来小璇的一封信
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给未来小璇的一封信

亲爱的小璇姐姐:       你好!       首先祝你生日快乐!祝22岁你的平安喜乐,万事胜意!       近来可好?       最近翻自己空间的时候,发现我少删了一条说说:       你还记得这张照片吗?那是2021年运动会的时候我们在操场看台下的照片,还记得当时可喜

j0hnny 2024.12.18
Delivered 简体中文

2022年的考研人—杨天雨

现在是2021.1.20,杨天雨距离考研还有330天,专业是新闻与传播专硕,学校是辽宁工业大学。现在的你,过着每天都重复的生活,你坚信考研会让一切都好起来,可以摆脱现在的环境,去做自己想做的事情。嗨,一年后的自己,现在的你,已经复试完成了,拿到录取通知书了吧,身边陪着你的,会是她

瞳孔i 2021.01.20

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I write it, and when should it arrive?

Most people write mid-prep or right after the written exam, and schedule delivery for results day (late February) or the start of grad school (September). Even in the busiest stretch, a letter only takes fifteen minutes.

What if I don't pass — won't the letter hurt to read?

Repeat test-takers often say the opposite: seeing how hard past-you fought brings closure, not pain. You can also write a few lines specifically for the you who didn't make it — comfort only present-you can give.

Isn't writing a letter a distraction from studying?

Treat it as a check-in with yourself: put your goal, your progress, and your fears on paper, and most people come away steadier. Delivery within a year is completely free.

The Grad-School Exam Year: Write to the You Who Made It Through

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