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.

Ideas to get you started

  • 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

145 public letters
Arrived 简体中文

去年的你

玉哥你好 我是23岁的你 今天的你应该已经考完研究生了 我不问你结果如果 只想问一下 在路途中你有没有偷懒 有没有像以前做事情一样半途而废了 今天的你挺累的 但是很帅很爽! 身体虽然有点累 但你的心情一直都很好 要一直开心下去 不要忘记对你好的人 你是最棒的 不管考成哪个狗样 都不忘忘记你是最棒的!

1797956634

May 10, 2024 · Traveled 1 year

Arrived 简体中文

加油呀,陌生人

好久不见! 这封信来自2024年6月2日,是你开始学习的第二天。对于不太爱学习的你来说,这也许是一生中最漫长的一次征途,也许你一直对自己都不太自信,但是这次我对你充满了期待。 以往面对任何考试,你总是”临时抱佛脚“,总觉得还早,觉得不急,直到觉得反正来不及了。中考是这样,高考也是这样,专升本考试也是

664582605

Jun 2, 2024 · Traveled 6 months 28 days

Arrived 简体中文

写给小兰

hi, 小兰 你好呀,现在的你肯定已经考完你的研究生考试了吧,我不确定你是21还是22号考完,所以就安全起见,在23号的凌晨给你发送这封邮件啦:)现在是2024年的10月25日下午5点34分,我正坐在电脑前给你写这封信。我刚刚从党课培训回来,经历了一个情绪的起伏,突然想到你在图书馆肯定在努力学习了,

liiove_7

Oct 25, 2024 · Traveled 1 month 28 days

Arrived 简体中文

给小兰2

hi 亲爱的小兰, 你好呀!现在是2024年12月18日晚上10点32分,距离你考研结束还有四天啦,现在我坐在电脑前给你写这封邮件。距离上次给你写好像已经过去2个月了,这两个月我过得怎么样呢?简单来说就是人际关系一坨一坨,但是现在很和平。我每次人际关系一出事就有人给我介绍工作哈哈哈,我也很惊奇啊,所

liiove_7

Dec 18, 2024 · Traveled 5 days

Arrived 简体中文

来自2025年1月15号的信

哈喽呀!现在是2025年2月15号吗?你已经在忙着工作了吧,或者是毕设要准备着了。现在工作上手怎么样呢?公司的人认齐了吗?周会能听懂了吗?哈哈,大多问题了,其实就是想知道这一个月里有哪些进步了呢~说说我现在,我是来自一个月前的你,今天是入职第二个星期,一开始确实想象不到公司是什么样,公司的人好相处吗

赞赞1005

Jan 15, 2025 · Traveled 1 month

Arrived 简体中文

给100 天后自己的信

今天是 2025 年 2 月 19 日,距离考研出分还有 5 天,此时收到信的你已经知道最终的结果,也许正在等待着毕业吧,不知是不是已经有了下一步的打算呢,是考研成功上岸,还是成绩不尽如人意,准备二战?至少现在的我是不知道,我知道无论如何结果会怎样,你都是非常坚强,非常有韧性的一个人,生命之中不如意

shzegeng

Feb 19, 2025 · Traveled 3 months 11 days

Arrived 简体中文

一年前的问候

考研上岸了吗?现在的你在哪里?不要害怕困难,相信你永远有面对挫折的勇气。

找不到昵称的chia

Jul 15, 2025 · Traveled 1 year

Arrived 简体中文

对于删除信封留下的“数据不存在,请检查参数”的反思与接纳

公务员考试、考研复习策略调整以及关于如何优化发布在脑图社区的内容所进行的思考送给8月1日的自己:最近报了很多类似公务员的考试,需要记住很多东西,但是自己强记硬背根本就记不到脑子里面,还是多读下吧。这半年的考研备考主要就是专注于政治和英语了,408的侧重点还算比较高一些,接下来要做出重大调整,要多去做

lishige

Oct 14, 2025 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

教资面试前

教资面试怎么样?此刻的我是怀着紧张但是笃定的心态写下这封信的。不知道我是否成功的通过了这场准备一年之久的考试,下一个难关就是教招了吧,有点高兴,我不怕路很难,我怕看不清未来的方向。尽管我一直对未来没有什么特定的规划,但是好像一切都走上了我曾经无意间写下的那条路,相信自己吧,这就是我命中注定的未来

13227143072

Nov 19, 2025 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

“你要有个自己的家了,好好的谈恋爱,然后成家吧。”

写下这些,纯粹是垃圾情绪。处理自己情绪的方式是忽视它,慢慢搁置,慢慢化解,越说越渲染越难受。只作倒垃圾,不要翻看、咀嚼!切记! ···1月14日,公安部。成绩出来了60.55,去年62.28分。申论提高了,但专业课骤降8分。24年11月份不到一个月的时间,悠哉悠哉,公安专业科目71分,期间亳州求职也

猪猪侠

Jan 15, 2026 · Traveled 1 month

Arrived 简体中文

202602261030

未来的我,你好。真该死,这个邮件画面打字太糟糕了。但是也无所谓了。这段时间我在准备公考,搜集小说素材。梦想呢在考完试以后就得拼命的去写自己的小说了,感觉如果不写小说,人生就真的没有什么意义了。我不知道未来会发生什么样的事儿,也不知道以后会是什么结果。但是我想还是要努力,一点一点的往前走,朝着梦想的走

苜蓿

Feb 26, 2026 · Traveled 1 day

Arrived 简体中文

hey,你还好吗?

我的研究生成绩昨天出来了,381分,是个很厉害的分数。我希望你一直在学习,更希望你有了个很好的前程

15273707289

Mar 1, 2026 · Traveled 1 day

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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