Work or Masters program in the year off between college and Vet school?

Question

I'll apologize now for the length, but the situation warrants the extensive details, and I'd really appreciate some second opinions. 

I'm planning to apply to vet school next summer, for admission in Fall 2011. Now, what is the better plan for the time between graduation and starting vet school? The pre-vet advisor at my college (RIT) suggested applying to a Master's program in some animal-related field, such as Animal Behavior or Animal Science. He said that taking a year off to work looks bad and you shouldn't do it unless you really HAVE to or you'll snap...or something of the equally pressing sort. I searched online, and it kinda sounds like grad schools of any sort do understand that you need to be able to at least partially fund your education, so working isn't so bad. But I could be wrong.

Part 1: The master's program is at Cornell, so is it better to get into the university, then "move" the next year to the vet program, or just wait and apply to Cornell for the first time for the Vet program? 
Part 2: If I apply for a Masters program this year (I'd have to for Fall 2010 after I'm graduated), can I back out of it if I want to? I've searched but can't find an answer to this anywhere on the web. (I'd back out if I got accepted to the Vet program and didn't need another year of classes to get my GPA high enough.) 
Part 3: In regards to GPA, if it isn't high enough to get me into vet school when I apply next summer, I'll have to take some classes to get it up. Is it better to take a few as needed at a community college in a different subject like psych or business (because vet school likes well-rounded applicants) or just to do the full Master's program? All grad and undergrad classes are counted towards overall GPA.
Part 5: Cost IS a factor.
-plan 1: Masters program. Means I pay for school and housing for a year, then get married that summer, which it will be tough to plan a Rochester wedding from Ithaca (summer 2011 is a set date zone already), then if I can do vet school in Fall 2011, I'll move in with my then husband.
-plan 2: Work for a year. Means I pay for classes as necessary (at a far lower cost than Cornell), have a full time job, plan a wedding where I'll be living, get married summer 2011, then move to Ithaca with my husband for vet school in the fall.
(Yes, getting married before I move in with him IS MANDATORY. Old school family.)

Thanks in advance for any actual help and opinions.

altaira · Accepted Answer

I took two years off and worked full time in a vet clinic to gain more experience and they accepted me after this when they didn't before.  This is true of several of my classmates as well.  
Masters programs do not like for you to back out of the program if you're accepted to vet school and many won't accept you knowing you're planning to apply to vet school because they think you'll back out.
As for taking classes to bring it up, they mainly look at the required courses and take your entire GPA into much less consideration so taking community college courses to pad your overall GPA isn't a good idea.  A full master's program would be a better idea if you've completed it.  
Try looking into programs that you can complete while in vet school.  My school offers dual DVM/Masters programs and I bet Cornell does as well.  You can start the master's before being accepted and then finish while you're in vet school.  This is more difficult and will mean taking summer school courses.
My suggestion is either take 2 years off to complete a masters, work during that year at a vet clinic, or do a dual DVM/masters program.  I don't recommend taking classes toward a masters just to be taking classes.  This will look bad on you if you decide to pursue a masters or PhD after vet school.  It will also look bad to the vet school when you tell them if you're accepted you're planning to drop the masters program.  They'll be asking themselves what's higher on your list then vet school?  Will you drop out of vet school for something better?  Of course you won't but it will look bad to the admission's committee.

lyda · Answer

You need a bachelors degree with any major and the pre-vet classes, then a vet degree (DVM). You do not need a masters degree.

Anonymous · Answer

It's probably better if we take this to e-mail. There is a risk in revealing to much personal information online. I've added you to my contacts

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Work or Masters program in the year off between college and Vet school?

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