One of the most common questions I receive from prospective MBA applicants is whether they should go straight from their undergraduate studies into an MBA program or work a few years before returning to earn their degree. Like many topics in the MBA world, the answer is “it depends.”

Working three to five years before returning to school can be advantageous if you plan to use your MBA to change careers. The combination of academic and experiential learning inherent in an MBA program can facilitate a career transition into a related or completely disparate field. Other advantages of waiting include the ability to bring real-world examples to classroom discussions and group projects (faculty love this), increased credibility with recruiters/employers and greater MBA program options as some programs only accept those with work experience.

However, if you’re an undergraduate don’t put your GMAT prep materials in storage just yet. Entering an MBA program immediately upon graduation has some advantages as well. First off, being in academic mode eases the transition to graduate school (imagine taking a rigorous course after being out of school for five years). Also, an MBA can positively differentiate you from your peers. Imagine how much more impressive you will be with an expanded knowledge of business fundamentals, opportunities to refine your leadership skills and extensive experience working on group projects, often on multicultural teams. It can also be easier for an early-career student to focus on the holistic MBA experience because often, older students have to juggle family and other commitments in conjunction with their studies.

Bottom line, an MBA is valuable regardless of whether you decide to pursue it immediately upon graduation or after working a few years. If you know an MBA is in the cards no matter what, it may be best to work a few years. However, if you are close to graduation and want to expand your career options, going right into a quality MBA program can be a great career move.