Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Jack Westin
  • 4.6 (68)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    Central Dogma for the MCAT: Transcription, Translation & Gene Regulation

    DNA doesn’t “do", it instructs. In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly walk through the central dogma, how we go from DNA → RNA → protein—and the regulation that makes different cells, well, different. Perfect for MCAT Bio/Biochem: we hit transcription, RNA processing, translation mechanics (A–P–E sites), start/stop codons, eukaryote vs. prokaryote differences, and multi-layered gene expression regulation (chromatin, transcription factors, miRNA/siRNA, ubiquitin, & more).🔑 What you’ll learnCentral dogma overview (DNA → RNA → protein)Transcription: promoter, template vs. coding strand, initiation/elongation/terminationEukaryotic RNA processing: 5′ cap, splicing (introns vs. exons, alternative splicing), poly-A tailTranslation: AUG start (Met), codons/anticodons, tRNA charging, ribosome A–P–E sites, stop codons (UAA/UAG/UGA)Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes: 40/60/80S vs. 30/50/70S ribosomes, coupled transcription–translation, operons (lac/trp)Regulation: heterochromatin vs. euchromatin, histone acetylation, DNA methylation, transcription factors, miRNA/siRNA silencing, post-translational mods (ubiquitin, phosphorylation)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=youtube&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

    1h 4m

  2. 1D AGO

    “Reflective Art” CARS Passage Breakdown: Distance, Detachment & Bresson

    Join Molly and Jack for a CARS Reading Skills Workshop as they unpack Susan Sontag’s “Reflective Art”. Learn how to spot main ideas, separate concrete from “wishy-washy” lines, and use author tone and repetition to navigate dense prose. We also dive into why Sontag highlights emotional distance, postponed gratification, and filmmaker Robert Bresson and how these themes show up in CARS questions. What you’ll learn: How to find the main idea when the writing is abstract “Concrete vs. wishy-washy” sentence filter (what to cling to vs. skim) Why detachment changes emotional responses in reflective art How labels like “cold” vs “hot” art can be traps Practical CARS habits: stay engaged without importing your own opinions Try the passage & 5 questions: 👉 Reflective Art – Oct 15 Daily Passage: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/reflective-art 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

    41 min

  3. OCT 8

    Urban Species CARS Passage Breakdown | How to Find the Author’s Argument in Science-Heavy Passages

    Science-heavy CARS passages got you zoning out? In this Jack Westin CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Jack unpack the “Urban Species” passage, showing how to track scientific tone, spot the author’s stance, and separate data from argument without overreading. You’ll learn how to:
 ✅ Identify when examples (like species adaptation or ecology studies) support vs. distract from the claim ✅ Stay focused when scientific details feel overwhelming ✅ Build a clear main idea from subtle cues and contrast words 💡 Practice the “Urban Species” passage here: 👉 https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/urban-species 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

    54 min

  4. OCT 7

    MCAT Mendelian Genetics: More Than Punnett Squares

    Most MCAT students waste time memorizing Punnett squares and ratios without really understanding probability. That’s why genetics feels overwhelming. In this episode, Molly and Mike break down Mendelian genetics for the MCAT: the truth about dominant vs. recessive, how to use Punnett squares correctly, the probability errors that cost students points, and how to master classic ratios (3:1, 9:3:3:1) without rote memorization. You’ll also learn how linked genes and independent assortment show up on test day. 📌 Resources Mentioned: Free Trial Session → https://jackwestin.com/sessions Free MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passages 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

    59 min

  5. OCT 1

    CARS Passage: Soccer Fans & Identity — Find the Author’s Stance (Without Your Own Bias)

    Sports fan? Careful, your background knowledge can hurt you in CARS. In this Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Jack walk through the Oct 1 Jack Westin Daily (“Soccer Fans”) and show how to read a familiar topic without injecting assumptions. You’ll learn to spot the author’s claim, track competing themes (losing yourself vs. rationality/good citizenship), and use clear sentences as anchors, fast. What you’ll learn Don’t fill in the blanks: How to stop your outside knowledge from hijacking the passage. Anchor on clarity: If a point is important, there’s usually a clear sentence you can cling to. Author stance vs. trivia: Track how the author uses Critchley (support) and pushes back on Orwell. Two coexisting themes: Fandom can make us lose ourselves / escalate aggression Fandom can foster fairness, rational analysis, and identity When language gets flowery: Keep reading to the next testable, explicit claim Referenced ideas & examples Simon Critchley on phenomenology & soccer experience “Lose yourself” vs. “best selves” (fair play, rationality) Liverpool as a case study (extremes, yet desire for fairness) Orwell’s “war minus the shooting” — why the author says he missed the point Try the passage: Read the Oct 1 “Soccer Fans” then do the questions to stress-test your reasoning: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/soccer-fans 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

    50 min

  6. SEP 30

    How to Master MCAT BioBiochem Passages (Without Memorizing Everything)

    The BioBiochem section has the hardest passages on the MCAT, packed with experiments, pathways, and overwhelming detail. But with the right strategies, you can decode them and gain confidence. In this episode, Molly and Mike break down why BioBiochem is so difficult, the 4 main passage personalities, and strategies to stay engaged, use scratch paper, and avoid common mistakes. You’ll also learn the most high-yield topics, like amino acids, enzymes, metabolism, and cell signaling, that show up again and again on test day. 📌 Resources Mentioned: Free Trial Session → https://jackwestin.com/sessions Free MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passages 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

    1h 18m

  7. SEP 24

    CARS Breakdown: “Late Turner” How to Read Dense Art Passages (Find the Clear Sentence!)

    Art-history CARS passage got you spiraling? In this Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Jack break down the Sept 24 Jack Westin Daily, “Late Turner,” and show you how to read dense, abstract prose without panicking. What you’ll learn: - Anchor on clear sentences: If it’s important, there’s a clear line you can cling to. - Track the author’s stance: The passage sets up “Turner = abstract” and then challenges it. - Main idea: Turner’s late work isn’t free-form abstraction; it’s formal reinterpretation of classical myths. - Follow the structure: Evidence → counterpoint → author’s claim → examples. - Use examples as support, not trivia: Apollo & Daphne, Regulus, Mercury, Bacchus & Ariadne all illustrate reinterpretation. - Stay focused in dense writing: When sentences get murky, keep reading for the next clear, testable claim. Before you watch: Read the Sept 24 “Late Turner” daily passage: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/late-turner Want more guided practice? Join our free weekly sessions (CARS, science strategy, 516 planning, admissions) and tap into our free CARS QBank, practice exams, and CARS textbook: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 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

    47 min

  8. SEP 23

    Why You’re Overstudying OChem for the MCAT (and What to Do Instead)

    Terrified of Organic Chemistry on the MCAT? Most students bring their undergrad trauma into MCAT prep, memorizing endless mechanisms and drowning in arrow pushing. That’s the wrong approach. In this episode, Molly and Mike reframe OChem for the MCAT: small footprint, high-yield focus, and strategy over memorization. You’ll learn why OChem is only 10–12 questions, how to master stereochemistry, functional groups, and core reactions, and how to avoid overstudying. We’ll also cover spectroscopy, chromatography, and the most common mistakes students make. ⏱️ Timestamps 02:09 – How Much OChem Really Appears (10–12 Questions) 05:20 – OChem Isn’t All Mechanisms (Reality Check) 08:36 – High-Yield Topic #1: Stereochemistry 13:30 – High-Yield Topic #2: Nucleophiles & Electrophiles 18:23 – Why You Shouldn’t Memorize Mechanisms 19:35 – High-Yield Topic #3: Functional Groups 23:30 – High-Yield Topic #4: SN1 vs. SN2 25:40 – High-Yield Topic #5: Redox in Organic Chemistry 30:40 – Why Functional Groups vs. Reaction Memorization 33:19 – High-Yield Topic #6: Spectroscopy & Chromatography 41:05 – How OChem Shows Up in Passages 50:30 – Key OChem Study Tips & Pitfalls to Avoid 55:10 – Connections Across Subjects (Bio + Biochem) 57:43 – Final Takeaways: OChem is Only Scary if You Over-Memorize 📌 Resources Mentioned: Free Trial Session → https://jackwestin.com/sessions Free MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passages 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

    1h 2m
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4.6
out of 5
68 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    238
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jack Westin
  • Show Website
    Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

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