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写给10年后的机智艺
Dear Geary,when you see this letter,you are in 10 years later,30 years old（i wonder you would hansome as now）I hope you will glad that you would has p
n1501
May 24, 2016 · Traveled 10 years
嗨，四年后的你
北京师范大学心理学学术型硕士的录取通知书到了吗？
冬日的阳光
May 26, 2016 · Traveled 4 years 2 months
写给未来的我
正在考研中的我，在学校复习当中。对未来充满憧憬又有些茫然，时常会想着自己得偿所愿的场景，但也会想象落榜的画面，不敢想象更多，希望自己可以努力，不负我现在的年纪。我以后的计划，学口语，考试，会计，经济，银行从业，司考证以及更加努力的提升自己，然后高中的话，我想利用一到两个月的时间去环游中国。倘若失败，
n1630
Aug 16, 2016 · Traveled 1 year
给一年后的自己
张铭：时光荏苒，如果没有意外，我想现在你已经考上了研究生了吧。考研的这一年是如此地孤独，而你却忍受下来了，其实你肯定可以做到，我从不怀疑，因为你是怎么优秀，而且一定会比现在的我还要优秀。如果你目前遇到了什么困难，请不要灰心放弃，相信任何事情都难不倒你。你能承担责任，比你自己认为的还要多，而且你还有很
阿尔铭
Sep 4, 2016 · Traveled 1 year
祝你心平气和
早上好呀小铃铛(゜▽゜)ﾉ☆我这边2017年1月19号晚上9点，刚刚考完东北师范，22号考吉大，明天去见jo哥（笑就快要过年啦，年后就是北京校考，不知道你有没有拿到心仪的证？我希望是肯定的答案背文常好难喔，懶得背誒，如果你考得不好一定会怪我qaq不过其实也没关系啦，现在的我并没有自己想象中的那么要强
铃铛
Jan 19, 2017 · Traveled 7 months 21 days
写给未来的自己
亲爱的李海平， 也许你后悔当时的决定，考研考人大，或者是搞对象…… 现在你应该知道成绩了，考上了吗？你付出了一年的努力，想要证明自己比别人强，想要证明自己有多大能力，现在呢？你得到你想要的了么？现在是不是你想要的结果，你想要的生活？ 一年前的我就知道你一定不会成功的。你没有超过平常人的智商，没有超过
lihaiping1996
Mar 9, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
你做到了没有？
雅思考试，去参加了没？考试考的怎么样？你一定考到了7分吧。恭喜恭喜哟接下来你就是要准备研究生考试了，数学140+，政治70+，英语70+，专业课130+，你一定可以的，不能再像上次那一样，临阵脱逃。废你妈的什么话。考试而已，你都考过无数片了。考级已经很娴熟了，斗技达到了天阶，不要害怕。你就去四川大学
爱吐血的花栗鼠
Mar 18, 2017 · Traveled 2 months
写给满腔热梦的那个小姑娘
在听秦昊的《青城山下白素贞》他的声音真是好听在读方草心的《愿有趣的灵魂终能相遇》她在“友情”版块儿的某一篇写了到“说一口流利的外语…”还写到“朝九晚五领着白菜价工资的工作…”这些话语对我产生了两种化学情感反应 一是强灌了正能量给我 二是也让我清楚的知道 书里的内容永远都是别人的故事 加上文学笔法晕染
二组的刘小冉
Mar 27, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 4 months
致大学毕业后的你
我大学四年，一共有三个愿望。一愿考上心理学研究生，二愿练好古筝，三愿瘦到100斤，把自己塞进旗袍里！！！！
冬日的阳光
Apr 5, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 1 month
for future xinky part.64
第六十四天，md默写错了三个字，看来没希望了，我可能没救了，背什么忘什么，我记得要回家找什么资料的然后也忘了羡慕某猪直升，QAQ我们这也有就好了4.19 21:25
过去的星奇
Apr 19, 2017 · Traveled 4 months 4 days
写给两年后的自己
两年后的自己，你好，不知道你现在过得怎么样。作为大二时候的你，想对两年后的自己说一些话，有没有过分或者是什么的希望你不要介意，我也不是说心血来潮，而是想对以后的自己负责，希望他不会后悔当初所作的约定。说实话，大二的日子已经接近尾声，马上就要大三了，自己应该知道自己以后想要的是什么，以后要过什么样的生
浅安时光
May 29, 2017 · Traveled 1 year 11 months
你
王先生亲启 王先生： 您好，王先生。不知道两年后你收到这封信的时候，是否还记得深夜12点在电脑旁的豪云壮志。 我知道，你不是一个很有耐心和毅力的人。从小到大，你坚持做完的事少之又少，你总说要减肥，却总有各种各样的理由安慰自己，你总想干这些那些甚至所有事情，但是最终却还是抱着手机傻笑。你总是要发愤图强
王淸
Jun 3, 2017 · Traveled 2 years 5 months
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