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
146 public letters你又活了一个月，珍蚌
现在写信的我实在是焦虑到没办法了。我脑袋要炸了，任何一点风吹草动都让我头痛欲裂。未来的你能救救我吗？救救我吧。考研也太痛苦了。你坚持下来了吗。没关系，没关系，我没有责怪你。活下来已经很不错了，我现在真的想找一个合理的方式轻生，找不到也做不了。具体的我也不想说，我害怕未来。现在你应该又遇到了新的问题了
yanren23752
Mar 6, 2026 · Traveled 26 days
我自己
从很早开始就有考北邮的想法了，虽然那时候还什么也不懂，可能觉得有了决心之后也不是那么难。去年第一次去北邮，可能不是那么好但是还是深深的吸引了我，我留恋那里的麦麦，健身房，金谷园，等等，可能是去了本部，即使后面想要考沙河校区了，虽然还没去过可是就是觉得不一样，全方位来说就是最适合我的学校了。不过我现在
要饭恒
Jun 24, 2026 · Traveled 2 months 17 days
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
Write yours