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宋立飞2016/05/17
是否准备好离开这所学校，开始自己的职业生涯，是否有所感触自己的折三年生活，后悔上研究生吗，觉得自己收获了吗，还是依然有自己的梦想，依然矢志不渝吗，还会向以前一样不敢前进，畏缩不前，没有信心争取自己想要的，还会依旧迁就别人，是否依然有一颗童心。
武威2010
2016.05.17
一个月的挑战
1、单词新概念4+六级单词2、数学分析上下册3、高等代数4、概率论与数理统计5、优达学诚机器学习6、优大学城：神经网路7、优达学城：统计学习网络8、机器学习书本9、统计学习方法10、新概念3、4精度7遍11、12点睡觉， 六点半起床的习惯
n2577
2018.01.28
一年后的自己，研究生生活是不是非常精彩
猜猜看你今天在干嘛，在学编程、在给家里房子装修出图纸，在运动减肥。一年后的自己，是不是已经都完成了今年所有的预想。在好好的学习专业课程，英语六级肯定也考过了吧。用了好久的时间，走了好久的路，才来到这里，要加油呀！大胆的往前走吧，莫回头。
瞳孔i
2023.05.06
现在的你好了吗？
事情已经过去三个半月了，你应该好很多了吧，你会像刚开始那样吗？你说过要考公务员，你要要好好努力！事业才是你的一切，你已经失去了很多了，只要你拥有好事业，你就能挽回曾经的你，忘了她，她不会是你的，有更好在等你，加油！加油！你还有家人。
ZWH1011
2013.04.17
致100天后的我
从大三初期就没怎么碰过英语了，无论是句法语法还是单词的积累都已经消磨殆尽了，口语听力更是惨不忍睹，希望通过此次课程学习能重塑下自己吧。至于100天后的我，不求有多牛，能不用字幕看懂欧美剧就可以，能快速理解剧情的深层次意义就更好了。
n3470
2018.10.20
积懈怠以成深渊
看吧，半个学期马上就要过去了，你已经没有退路了，别再有任何的懈怠，想要有成就可不是嘴上说说就可以的，必须要付出超过寻常人的努力，别想着复读什么的，我想信你可以一次过，我想信你可以考上深大。记住，积懈怠以成深渊，积硅步以成千里
AhhhhhhLin
2018.10.28
写给未来的你
亲爱的，我知道你现在很痛苦很痛苦，但是请你在坚持一下下，它会成为你最宝贵的一段经历，一种财富，在那之前，请继续坚持！我永远在你身后，我会用我所有的运气去祈求你护士资格考试通过，找到工作！请你加油！加油！加油！爱你(^з^)！
n2048
2017.05.07
写给未来的自己
现在，你想要考上专升本。拿一个本科的学历。英语老师也可以，但是工资太低了，更想继续上升。成功了么？只能靠自己了。现在的我，工资多少了?月八千可以么？可能有点难吧。加油，不要放弃，你后面，还有个家，还有个好朋友，都在陪着你。
苍梧
2021.02.16
写给未来的晋哥
亲爱的晋哥：今天是你公务员培训的第三天，你说效果不理想，我心里也犹如打到五味瓶，一心向官场的决心让你每天奋斗，不甘落后于别人，然而资质平平的我怎么办？每天学 ，但不知会怎样？不管那时你我是否在一起，但希望你能淡然看待生活！
傻傻鱼
2016.03.31
写给未来的自己
你好，上一封信没有收到，希望这次信件可以如约而至。不知道这个时候的你，是否考上了研究生，并且顺利毕业？有没有找到女朋友，写的小说有没有成为精品？论文还是否顺利？接下来的路或许很崎岖，但不要放弃啊，加油！活出真正的自己！
云冷袖
2020.07.21
给未来一年定的目标
一、好好奋斗一年，努力一年，考研顺利完成二、教师资格证拿下三、减肥30斤四、去见喜欢的人，看一场演唱会打开自己的格局，不必羡慕别人，不必妄自菲薄，知道自己想要什么，开心，乐观一点，不，要很乐观，勇敢去做自己想做的事。
Silvia_38727
2020.01.03
to the future zoey
当你看到这封信，公考已经结束了。不管结果怎么样，all over.等待成绩的同时，希望你也要思考未来的路要怎么走，考的上怎样，考不上又怎样？每个人都要对自己的人生负责！
zoey15
2013.03.28
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