How adcoms see low upper level BCPM gpa?

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I have an cGPA of 3.76 and an sGPA of 3.65. However, I'm not exactly sure how these numbers bear on my application's competitiveness. I'm graduating this summer from a state school.

Year 1 (2014-2015) : 3.77 overall GPA, 3.69 sGPA. Finished all lower levels, organic I & II, and some upper level BCPM.
Year 2: 3.75 overall GPA, 3.57 sGPA, graduating with a BS degree (came in with lots of AP/IB credits).
Year 3/4: will be enrolling in Master's of Public Policy program
Upper level in person BCPM includes: genetics (B+), microbiology (B+) & lab (A), eukaryotic biology (B) & lab (B), intermediate inorganic chemistry (B+), comparative vertebrate anatomy & lab (both B+)
Organic grades: Organic I (A-) & lab (A), Organic II (B) & lab (A)

• Is the fact that I performed more poorly on upper level BCPM courses a big deal (upper level BCPM GPA is 3.42; upper level in person sGPA = 3.3)? Or is this quite normal among admitted MD students? And are my two years sufficient for med schools to speculate on a declining trend in my BCPM performance?
• My second year's BCPM GPA was bumped up a little with lower level online anatomy & physiology courses, where I received A grades for nearly all of them. I've not take any other unnecessary lower level courses. I took an upper level vertebrate anatomy course and received a B+. Will med schools think the lower level A&P courses were taken to boost my GPA, and thus frown upon my application?
• My school is ranked at ~150ish. For personal reasons, I took an upper level biochemistry course (grade: A) as a non-degree online student at a top 50 school (our state flagship). Will med schools think that I'm attempting to dodge difficult curriculum by taking that biochemistry course at another school, despite that other school's ranking?

 

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[aldol16]

Is the fact that I performed more poorly on upper level BCPM courses a big deal (upper level BCPM GPA is 3.42; upper level in person sGPA = 3.3)? Or is this quite normal among admitted MD students? And are my two years sufficient for med schools to speculate on a declining trend in my BCPM performance?

A downward trend is generally not looked upon favorably although there are extenuating circumstances. Adcoms will see a GPA matrix that shows your cGPA and BCPM GPA by year.

 

[Crayola227]

eh, I was told if you get A's in the *required* science prereqs like gen chem, o chem, physics, that B's in what would be recognized as much more difficult upper division science like p chem it won't hurt you

upper division bio courses are generally seen as easier than some other science courses
so the B in inorganic chemistry doesn't really read like a B in upper division genetics course for example

not sure about your other points

nothing you can do about it now, you look so far like an average-ish matriculant so apply smart and good luck

seemed like box-checking off that I was asked at interviews about the points you made, and your explanations are good
("why this online course? why these credits at this CC? why these B's?" that sort of thing)

 

[Catalystik]

I have an cGPA of 3.76 and an sGPA of 3.65.

• Is the fact that I performed more poorly on upper level BCPM courses a big deal?
• And are my two years sufficient for med schools to speculate on a declining trend in my BCPM performance?
• Will med schools think the lower level A&P courses were taken to boost my GPA, and thus frown upon my application?
• Will med schools think that I'm attempting to dodge difficult curriculum by taking that biochemistry course at another school, despite that other school's ranking?

Any of the above is possible. If you're really lucky, your decent (slightly above average for MD acceptees) uGPAs will keep adcomms from micro-analyzing your transcript. Unfortunately, regardless of gGPA earned, a Master's of Public Policy program will do nothing to allay any concerns that might arise.

 

[Ismet]

eh, I was told if you get A's in the *required* science prereqs like gen chem, o chem, physics, that B's in what would be recognized as much more difficult upper division science like p chem it won't hurt you

No... Med school difficulty will be more like those more difficult upper level courses so adcoms want to see that you can continue to do well. You don't want a downward trend. OP will likely still be fine since his overall GPA is still quite competitive.

 

[Crayola227]

I hate to reveal too much but I was a hard science major and there was a "downtrend" in my science grades,
and in fact, during an interview one interviewer noted this, was going to ask me about it, and then said "oh, you're a __ major. I can't believe you took ___ classes!"

Some classes, like P Chem, I don't think adcoms get too concerned that your chem grades go from A's to B's.
LOL, med school is nothing like P Chem. Nothing is like P Chem.

I was straight A's in math until I got to multivariable calculus and diffy Q, where I got B's. Again, I don't think that was held against me.

I agree upper division bio, like genetics, or upper division chem, like ochem & biochem, they want to see those A's continue. I think that of any bio course.

I mean, you all are right, downtrend is bad, A's are best.

Just saying if you get a B in Chem 400 Instrumental Analysis your med school dreams aren't crushed. Don't stress it too much if the rest of your app is spot on.