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 lettersfor 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
2017.04.19
给1年后的自己
我不知道现在的我工作怎么样了，也不知道现在的我是后悔当时我的选择。但是就目前而言，我很庆幸自己选择了辞职。我的前方还有补考，重修，4级等着我，不知道此时的我是否搞定一切了？
Gensokyo杰
2018.09.13
一封来自2024年01月20日的信
今天突然收到四年前我写的信，看来是能寄到未来的。现在的我现在正在培训公务员面试，未来的我考上公务员了吗？有男朋友了吗？快乐吗？现在生活怎么样呀？记得多陪伴家人朋友哦～
n6190
2024.01.20
Hope I can Keep learning in this 100days
gogogo Keep Walkingdont give up and develop a habit of reading English everyday！
n2927
2018.04.25
给自己5年时间
已不再年轻，我给自己5年时间，这个研究生虽说目前看来对我确实没啥用，但选了就没后悔一说的。5年之后，现在的同学是否还会联系，我能不能成就一点事，我将走向何方。
零剑01
2019.12.11
未来的郑紫筠
要毕业的郑紫筠你好呀！毕业论文写完了吗，答辩结束了吗，考研考上了吗，有对象了吗，生活愉快吗？两年前的时候有点痛苦，希望可以成为两年后的垫脚石，越来越好呀！
n7557
2021.11.29
写给未来的自己
目前面临很多选择，食品机械，凿岩台车，出庭作证，给自己一年时间，究竟自己走那条路，我希望一年之后能有结果，或者自己做出选择，为了我的家人，也为了自己！加油
n1979
2017.03.29
一建你过了吗
当初计划，2020年把管理和经济过掉，2021年把实务和法规过掉，你做到了吗？现在已经2022年了，你已经33岁了，加油，八戒哥哥！大添添已经8岁了！
八戒哥哥
2020.07.30
psycology study
hard study, insist on, free reading about psycology field. good luck.
n3917
2018.12.22
写给两个月后的铁蛋
今天我和黄主席聊过了她叫我当心边际递减效应叫自己继续努力今天我和大姑刚聊过她告诫我缩小圈子 不要再聊了没错前两年的东西都要复习记住 期末必须进学年前十
铁蛋
2016.04.13
时时安定刻刻清心
一周之后就在冬令营了，希望住的开心吃的开心玩得开心！ 要认识到世界是围着我转的，所有的课程，服务，路演都是因为我的存在，所以经常觉得感谢与安心🥰
n4833
2024.01.12
写给未来的自己
考研这个时候应该考了一天了，加油，希望到时候你依旧有我现在的信心和踌躇满志，时光不负有心人，别再后悔。
H致自己
2020.12.27
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