Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Jack Westin
  • 4.7 (78)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Mike and Molly from Jack Westin discusses anecdotes, advice, and ramblings on the premed years, the MCAT, and life beyond. Have new episodes delivered to you by subscribing.

  1. 14H AGO

    Smell & Taste on the MCAT: Olfaction, GPCRs, Flavor vs. Taste & Clinical Connections

    How does your brain actually detect smell and taste? And why does the MCAT care so much about the difference between flavor and taste? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down everything you need to know about olfaction and gustation for the MCAT. Building on our previous episode about GPCR signaling, we walk through how smell and taste both rely on chemoreceptors, why they use different signaling pathways, and how they combine to create your perception of flavor. In this episode, you'll learn: 👃 How odorants bind to olfactory receptor neurons and trigger a Gs/cAMP signaling cascade 🧬 Why olfactory neurons are unique (they're actual neurons AND they regenerate throughout life) 🧠 Why smell bypasses the thalamus and goes directly to the limbic system (and why certain smells trigger strong emotional memories) 🦠 How COVID causes anosmia (loss of smell) through inflammation of the olfactory epithelium 🧪 The connection between anosmia and early Parkinson's diagnosis 👅 The 5 basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami ⚡ Why salty and sour use direct ion channels while sweet, bitter, and umami use a Gq/calcium GPCR pathway 🍕 Why hot food smells (and tastes) better than cold food 🫒 Why cilantro tastes like soap to some people (it's about receptor variants) 🍽️ The difference between taste and flavor, and a simple at-home experiment to prove it 📌 Sensation vs. perception: a preview of our next episode This episode wraps up our full series on the senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste) and sets the stage for our next deep dive into sensation vs. perception. Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Success Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast #MCAT #MCATPrep #JackWestin #Olfaction #Gustation #ChemicalSenses #MCATBiology #PreMed #MCATPodcast #MedSchool

    40 min

  2. 5D AGO

    MCAT CARS Strategy: How to Find the Main Idea & Map Passages "Quitting Smoking" Passage

    Mike and Molly just dropped a clear, test-focused breakdown of G protein coupled receptors that covers everything the AAMC expects you to know without the textbook overwhelm.Here's what we walk through:🔬 The full signaling cascade: signal → receptor → transduction → amplification → response → termination🧬 GPCR structure and how G proteins actually get activated (GDP → GTP swap)🚀 Gs pathway: adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → PKA → phosphorylation🛑 Gi pathway: how it inhibits the same cascade🧩 Gq pathway: PLC, calcium signaling, and second messengers📈 Why amplification is the whole point — small signal, massive cellular response⏱️ How your cells know when to shut it all off👁️ Plus a vision callback showing GPCRs in phototransductionWe even hit a classic passage-style example (cholera toxin) to show you how the AAMC actually tests cause-and-effect in these pathways.Next episode: smell & taste and how these senses are built on GPCR signaling 👃Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📌 Success Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    51 min

  3. 5D AGO

    MCAT CARS Strategy: How to Find the Main Idea & Map Passages "Quitting Smoking" Passage

    Mike and Molly just dropped a clear, test-focused breakdown of G protein coupled receptors that covers everything the AAMC expects you to know without the textbook overwhelm. Here's what we walk through: 🔬 The full signaling cascade: signal → receptor → transduction → amplification → response → termination 🧬 GPCR structure and how G proteins actually get activated (GDP → GTP swap) 🚀 Gs pathway: adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → PKA → phosphorylation 🛑 Gi pathway: how it inhibits the same cascade 🧩 Gq pathway: PLC, calcium signaling, and second messengers 📈 Why amplification is the whole point — small signal, massive cellular response ⏱️ How your cells know when to shut it all off 👁️ Plus a vision callback showing GPCRs in phototransduction We even hit a classic passage-style example (cholera toxin) to show you how the AAMC actually tests cause-and-effect in these pathways. Next episode: smell & taste and how these senses are built on GPCR signaling 👃 Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Success Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    51 min

  4. 6D AGO

    Med School Admissions: The “CLASS” Framework (Clinical, Leadership, Academic, Service, Social)

    What do med school admissions committees actually look for after the GPA/MCAT screen? In this Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast episode, Molly Kilty (Director of Instruction) hosts Dr. Anita Paschal (MD, double PhD, 30+ years on admissions committees) as she breaks down the CLASS framework for building a well-rounded application: Clinical, Leadership, Academic enrichment, Service, and Social. Dr. Paschal explains why acceptance rates hover around 40–44%, why many applicants with strong stats still get rejected, and how committees review your application through categories, hours, time commitment, and evidence of core competencies. In this episode, you’ll learn: - How med schools screen applications and what happens after GPA/MCAT ✅ - The CLASS framework to assess your readiness for med school 🎓 - What “enough” clinical experience looks like (shadowing + hands-on care) 🩺 - How to diversify shadowing (primary, specialty, underserved, international) 🌍 - What strong leadership actually means beyond titles 👥 - How research + teaching/tutoring signal academic readiness 🔬📚 - What service should look like (clinical + nonclinical) and why it matters 🤝 - How hobbies/social interests can strengthen rapport and relatability 🎻🏃 🎧 More admissions episodes: AMCAS timelines, personal statements, experiences, and what adcoms really prioritize. Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Success Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    46 min

  5. FEB 23

    GPCR Signaling on the MCAT: Gs/Gi, Gq, and Signal Amplification

    In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down MCAT signaling cascades with a clear, test-focused walkthrough of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). You’ll learn the core GPCR structure, how GDP → GTP activation works , why signaling pathways create amplification, and how cells shut signals off with built-in termination steps. We cover the high-yield cAMP pathway in detail, including Gs vs Gi, adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → protein kinase A (PKA), plus the key ideas behind the Gq pathway (PLC and calcium signaling). We also connect GPCR signaling to common MCAT contexts like hormones, fast cellular responses, and a classic passage-style example (cholera toxin) to show how the AAMC tests cause-and-effect in pathways. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🌊 What a signaling cascade is: signal → receptor → transduction → amplification → response → termination 🧬 GPCR basics (membrane receptor + G protein alpha/beta/gamma) 🔄 How GPCRs activate G proteins (GDP swapped for GTP, then subunits dissociate) 🚀 The Gs pathway: adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → PKA → phosphorylation 🛑 The Gi pathway: inhibiting adenylyl cyclase and lowering cAMP 🧩 The Gq pathway: PLC, second messengers, and calcium 📈 Why amplification matters (small signal, big cellular response) ⏱️ How signaling is shut off (GTP hydrolysis + cleanup of second messengers) 👁️ Vision callback: how GPCR-style signaling shows up in phototransduction Next up: Smell & taste and how these senses rely heavily on GPCR signaling Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Success Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    44 min

  6. FEB 18

    MCAT CARS Strategy Workshop: Hamburger University Passage Breakdown (Main Idea Mapping)

    MCAT CARS Reading Skills Workshop: Struggling to find the main idea on MCAT CARS passages? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Molly and Usher break down the Jack Westin Daily CARS Passage "Hamburger University" sentence-by-sentence, showing you exactly how to track competing ideas, understand arguments efficiently, and identify the most-supported argument even when the author buries it mid-passage. In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to read actively and ask "why?" at every step ❓🧐 ✅ How to track a dichotomy (old 🏛️ vs. new 🆕) across multiple paragraphs ✅ Why the main idea isn’t always the broadest topic — and how to avoid that trap 🚫🪤 ✅ How to map repeated ideas 🗺️ without losing passage context 🔎 Practice this passage: jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/hamburger-university Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Free Academic Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    45 min

  7. FEB 17

    AMCAS Work & Activities: How to Write 15 Experiences + 3 Most Meaningful (MD/PhD Admissions Advice)

    Struggling with the AMCAS Work & Activities (Experiences) section and the Most Meaningful entries? In this episode of the Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast, Dr. Anita Paschal (MD, double PhD, 30+ years on medical school admissions committees) breaks down exactly how admissions committees evaluate your 15 AMCAS experiences, your 700-character descriptions, and your 3 Most Meaningful (1,325 characters) sections. You’ll learn: 🧑‍⚕️📋 How adcoms use Work & Activities after GPA/MCAT screening ✍️✅ What to include in the 700 characters (role, impact, outcomes, growth) 🏆🧠 How to choose the 3 Most Meaningful experiences (what schools want to see) 🚫💥 Common mistakes that cause applicants to “crash and burn” in this section ⏳📌 How to handle anticipated vs completed hours (and what you cannot anticipate) 🔤📝 Why formatting like bullets/bold/italics won’t display in AMCAS (plain text only) 🧩📖 A practical framework to write Most Meaningful entries with a strong narrative and reflection Dr. Paschal also shares real examples and a simple structure you can follow to make your experiences read like a compelling, high-impact application. 🎧 More Pre-Med Admissions episodes: personal statement strategy, AMCAS timelines, and what adcoms actually look for. Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Free Academic Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    49 min

  8. FEB 17

    How Vision Works for the MCAT: Optics, Retina Transduction, Optic Chiasm, Visual Cortex

    In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down how vision works from start to finish, tying together physics (optics) and biology (retina + neural pathway) in the exact way the MCAT can test it across Chem/Phys, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc. You’ll learn how light refracts through the cornea and lens, why the cornea does most of the refraction, and how the eye focuses images onto the retina. Then we walk through transduction in the retina (rods and cones → bipolar cells → ganglion cells), how signals travel through the optic nerve, cross at the optic chiasm (by visual field, not by eye), relay through the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), and arrive at the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe for perception. We also cover high-yield MCAT optics and vision topics, including: Cornea vs lens refraction and why LASIK reshapes the cornea Fovea and why cones drive high-acuity color vision Rods vs cones (low light vs color/detail) Myopia vs hyperopia and which lenses correct each (diverging vs converging) The blind spot and why it exists Why real images are inverted on the retina and how the brain interprets vision 🎧 Listen, take notes, and use this as a clear, connected review for any MCAT passage that mixes optics + anatomy + perception. Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱 📌 Free Academic Advising: https://calendly.com/academic-advising-4/jack-westin-academic-advising?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 💻 Try our Chrome Extension (video solutions to every AAMC passage) https://tinyurl.com/4jw5pad8 📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast 👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast

    44 min
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4.7
out of 5
78 Ratings

About

Mike and Molly from Jack Westin discusses anecdotes, advice, and ramblings on the premed years, the MCAT, and life beyond. Have new episodes delivered to you by subscribing.

Information

  • Creator
    Jack Westin
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    281
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jack Westin
  • Show Website
    Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

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