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难忘
2024.6.24我找到工作啦所有的一切都重新开始了兵团电安公司感悟：在你想得到不属于你的东西的时候，你是需要付出一定的代价各种 我遇到的就是（视力下降得到一建）。有时候需要时间的付出，脑力的付出都是必不可少的。
545019993
2024.06.25
继续加油
暑假不要在堕落了哈，按你想好的计划行动起来，找一份实习工作，实现经济独立，想想就好棒呢~继续学习英语，不许偷懒。加油加油，好像决定考研后，和自己说的最多的就是加油了，哈哈哈，以后一直要加油~~~冲啊~~~~~~~
viola
2020.04.01
SNH48选拔
DREAM未来的自己：现在你终于可以参加SNH48的选拔了。虽然你知道SNH48有多累多幸苦，但是依然不要放弃。去报名吧去努力吧。这个梦想，不论如何，都要实现！如果现在还不可以，麻烦给22岁时的你说——继续参加！
SHZ48
2013.04.05
写给未来的你
你好啊小刘同学！今天还在忙着618抢东西吗？但我要提醒你的是今天是我们相恋一周年了！最近过得怎么样了啊也许现在我已经没在你身边了你可能现在已经在马来西亚了我也面临着马上要专升本了我们站一起的日子有吵架也有开心
n7512
2021.11.05
给2022的自己一些话
未来2年后的自己你好，我相信你现在已经读本或者出来工作了，你已经备考CPA的内容了，千万不要忘记，一定要在两三年内通过CPA，加油，我相信一定可以。加油，一定不能放弃不能放弃，坚持下去你就赢了大半辈子。
n5317
2020.11.19
未来
嗯，下周就要月考了，现在要抓紧复习，超级担心自己会不会退步什么的，也害怕自己会被退宿，这周老师有跟我们谈心，希望自己能够克制住自己，加强复习，不要再去想什么吴乙贤了，为了萌德而努力吧！加油
浅晶
2018.11.17
写给未来的…
1、新概念单词4册2、新概念书3，阅读7遍，单词熟练3、数学分析上学习完成4、算法21题5、文字检测论文7篇6、优达学城（机器学习完成）+机器学习（完成）+kaggle项目实践（两个完成）
n2577
2018.01.28
亲爱的自己，明天将是你的转折点
亲爱的自己，明天就要考护士证啦，不知道现在的你已经做好准备没有，要加油知道吗？一定要考上，一定要。不要这样的丢人好么？给自己一个动力、不要让别人看不起。拜托你要强些。哥哥嫂嫂，新婚快乐。
韩_咩咩
2013.03.20
记录独特一早
今早，2020年9月8日09:20:54，早上不到七点被谁开的水龙头声音吵醒，睡不着，甚烦。不知道如果换寝室会不会好点？？保持平和心态。也跟今天下午要考试，略微担心有关。吼吼，冲吧！
talktothesecret
2020.09.08
for future xinky part.26
第二十六天，我始终认为祸福相依，所以最近出现了几件能让我开心的事，那么...祸快点来吧。。。。别等中考再爆发啊，或者先预支点祸可以吗？上帝？我已经疯了3.11 22：37
过去的星奇
2017.03.11
这时的你
现在的你，开始了跑步，看书，练字，坚持做50道题和练习了吗？还有半年多的时间，如果2019年你还不能真正安定下来，走入你所希望的行业中，那么你的人生还要荒废多久，还要怎么继续下去。
n3239
2018.06.08
希望一切如愿
此时走在有意义的路上，一切变得美好，就如同滨医烟台校区那位来自陕西的政治老师说的，不负30至40岁的美好岁月，取得了自己该取得一切，在职研究生顺利毕业，驾照考出来，开始另外的学习
n3625
2018.11.07
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