Curious about the realities of graduate school? When deciding whether or not to pursue a graduate degree, prospective grad students are often overwhelmed with unanswered questions about what graduate school is actually like and how to best prepare themselves for the demands of a graduate program. How does one prepare financially for grad school? What kind of guidance can students expect from their adviser? Can you call your adviser by their first name? How much reading is expected from week to week? How does the social scene differ compared undergrad? How can students effectively balance teaching assistant responsibilities and their studies to avoid burnout? This panel brings together history PhD and MA students in different stages of their graduate careers to share their experiences, discuss professional and academic challenges they’ve faced, and answer questions about their transition into graduate school. This roundtable will provide insight into different graduate programs and what to expect during the initial transition. We encourage attendees to bring questions for the discussion.