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星奇(σ･ω･)σYO♪
第七天，去俊臣家拿了试卷啊[em]e400840[/em]又要填试卷妈的考完了是吧，该想想怎么做了2.20 12:32第六天2.19 21:32
过去的星奇
2017.02.20
致敬 乐观生活的付超
你好，我是付超超。请允许我向你做一个自我介绍。现在我28岁，在特斯拉工作。存款20万，计划拿到本科毕业证，考公。我做到了，你做到了吗？
n7748
2022.02.20
写给100天后的自己
毕业之后，再没有认真学习过英语。平时有听歌或者看电影和电视剧，但是再没有认真学习一本英语书。希望通过这次团体学习的机会，不断提升自己。
n2926
2018.04.25
写给未来的自己
这一次月考怎么样呢 千万不能辜负他人的期望啊 不要总想着下一次 过了这次 不一定有下一次站起来的机会 因为你已经跪了太久
又软又甜
2015.10.12
写给10年后的自己
终于到了这一天，即便没有人给你祝福也还有我哦！希望这10年我能在再长高一点，考研成功，还有说一个可怕的事情，昨天kp三个人退团了……
n8258
2022.11.05
写给未来的自己
你自己觉得考的怎么样？你是不是觉得自己很活该！下一步该怎么办，你知道吗？你醒醒吧！不小了！你耽误的又是一年的时光！自己反省反省吧！
日光倾城beauty
2015.08.13
lxl
你要会考了你有没有把握过关你必须过关，头发长长没应该长了点吧不然浪费钱买了精油努力过关会考，没过你会后悔的赶紧努力学习加油加油
n7911
2022.05.23
写给100后天的自已
现在的自已在为六级考试努力，为成为一个合格的英语老师努力，希望100天后的自已可以成功考过六级，词汇量越来越多，理解越来越强
n3668
2018.11.21
期末flag
你刚刚收到了寄给自己的第一封信除了该做的事情之外，什么都不要做。学习，学习，再学习。期末宁可不拿前十，学年二十不能丢！！！
铁蛋
2016.06.19
未来的自己
未来的自己还好吗，现在也快要考研了吧，准备好了吗？曾经心心念念的未来啊，无论如何也不要被生活压倒啊，珍惜时间珍惜一切啊
浅封
2020.06.25
写给未来的…
finished paperconfident! to take the examCome on !!!!!!!!!
Jelive
2017.10.27
2016注会考试加油，全科通过
恭喜你，经过一年多的刻苦与努力，你的注会梦就要马上实现了！谢谢你自己，谢谢家人，谢谢你的朋友！谢谢所有的汗水与努力。
黄群娴
2015.07.20
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