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写给未来的自己
现在的你应该已经放暑假在家里了吧，大二已经结束了，在开学就是大三了，不知道一年的时间你变了多少，也可能什么都没变，还是那个什么都不在意，喜欢一个人待着的你，没有学会如何自如的与人交流，如何在好多人面前讲话，如何与异性相处，但是没关系，做你自己喜欢的就好了，那些东西也没有那么的重要，重要的是选择好然后
正能量坚定
Jul 7, 2017 · Traveled 1 year
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
Jan 28, 2018 · Traveled 11 days
写给一个月后的自己
我是4月7日的段宇。昨天刚跟王向辉分手。现在在考研的旅途上还是有迷途。我不知道未来的你会怎么样。现在的我，很缺钱，没敢告诉爸妈。《鲨鱼记账》app里的账单很清晰。现在只剩3000多块钱了。想去找兼职工作，又想好好学习（自己又不好好学习）我现在的计划是，4月考科目二，5月考科目三希望你现在已经过了科目
dy2015678
Apr 7, 2018 · Traveled 1 month
写给未来的…
怎么说呢 如果坚持下来就好好犒劳自己 没坚持下来就好好反思自己 毕竟花了钱 还是为了更好的学好英语 一百天 加油(ง •̀_•́)ง 就算为了考研为了以后
n2808
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 9 days
Photo letter
寄给100天后的沅熙
英语学了16年了……感觉至今的人生中一大半都有接触英语,在明明觉得自己英语能力还可以的时候,四级确考了N次也不过,误打误撞的又找到了经常需要与外国人沟通的职业,更是希望自己可以考上国际经济与贸易的研究生。时间的魔力就是可以把任何一件平淡无奇的小事累积出奇迹,希望100天后的你,可以收获奇迹,相信奇迹
n2840
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 9 days
写给未来的邵熙熙
亲爱的邵: 毕业在即，你开始迷茫，开始慌乱，开始横冲直撞，想一出是一出。学习呢，你静不下心，工作呢，你又不能完全上心。怎么就莫名其妙的把自己的感情寄托在一个没有见过面的人身上呢？想想你要做的事，招教，CPA，考研，哪一个都得剥掉你一层皮啊，就现在这个状态是完全不行的。所以希望你能改变，撩不到的人是因
熙熙
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months
写给100天后的壮壮
希望一百天后的自己能坚持每天读英语，锻炼、习字。确定好考研目标并已开始进行一轮复习。
n2923
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 3 months 8 days
写给100后的自己
原来最害怕用英语交流，希望通过这次学习，能实现流利表达，为今年MBA的考取打下坚实的基础，期待自己的又一次蜕变
n3030
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 2 months 15 days
写给12月份的自己
现在的我应该已经考完研了～但愿如愿以偿吧 那个时候还会记得现在四月末声刚刚起步的我嚒 开始的迷茫到现在的慢慢适应 每天的每天都在学习 找到了志同道合的小伙伴，因为和室友闹矛盾搞的也很不愉快 12月份的我回想起现在的烦心事儿不知道是何种心情呢
n3085
Apr 25, 2018 · Traveled 8 months 6 days
12月后的自己
嗨～12月的自己～现在的我应该考完研了 希望能得偿所愿吧
n3085
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 8 months 5 days
致12月的自己
嗨～现在的你应该考完研啦，希望自己得偿所愿吧 现在是四月末了呢 天气超级好自己也开始从开始的迷茫慢慢的步入正轨～每天都在学习哇哇。找到了志同道合的伙伴，吃饭学习聊天分享就很开心，现在的你呢？虽然和室友闹了矛盾，不过不知道12月份的我回想起来还会不会为这些事情烦心～每个人都有自己的个性，磨合得来的是缘
n3085
Apr 26, 2018 · Traveled 8 months 5 days
写给未来的自己
回复上一封信：1.你好，我刚才收到了来自4.7的信科目二已经考过了，科目三还没有开始学习2.然后考研这个4-5月准备的不怎么好。3.报了无印良品的兼职，也不知过没过。4.现在更缺钱了，只剩400左右，还重新开通了花呗，急需兼职提问下个月：1.兼职找到了没有，不知道你去的是无印良品还是食堂，又赚了多少
dy2015678
May 7, 2018 · Traveled 1 month
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