I actually didn't wait. I went straight to grad school after I graduated from undergrad and I have one semester left until I get my masters. Other classmates did the same thing that I did. Other people took a year off. Other people took 2 years off. I know some older folks who took YEARS off, started a family, had children, and decided they wanted to come back to school. There really is no set time frame. Do what feels right to you. I just decided to go straight on to grad school because it was hard getting a job with a BA in my field. It's all personal preferences. I really like what DesigningWoman said: "the programs will still be there".