Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Jack Westin

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. 7H AGO

    MCAT Data Interpretation: Stop Guessing and Start Reading Like a Scientist

    Data interpretation might just be the most feared skill on the MCAT, but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly break down how to confidently approach data-heavy passages in Chem/Phys, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc. From confusing graphs to multi-figure experiments, you’ll learn exactly what to look for, what to skip, and how to save time without missing key details. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ The biggest mistakes students make when interpreting MCAT data ✅ Why skipping figures is a trap (and how to avoid it) ✅ How to read complex charts fast without panicking ✅ The “Goldilocks Zone” of data reading, not too shallow, not too deep ✅ What to do when you get stuck on a confusing figure If you’ve ever stared at a research graph thinking, “What am I even looking at?”, this episode will fix that. 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=youtube&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

    1 hr

  2. 6D AGO

    MCAT CARS Workshop: “Student Learning” I Sentence-by-Sentence Walkthrough with Jack Westin

    Join the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast for a CARS Reading Skills Workshop where we dissect the Nov 5 Daily CARS passage, “Student Learning,” line by line. You’ll hear how Jack and the team approach each sentence, track shifts in author attitude, and distill paragraph main ideas—so you’re primed to crush the questions that follow. What you’ll learn How to read CARS passages sentence by sentence without over-annotating Spotting contrast words and knowing what the author cares about most Tracking names & viewpoints efficiently (who said what—and why it matters) Distinguishing preference vs. effectiveness claims Identifying repeating main ideas (e.g., social expectations) and building a hierarchy of importance Applying the read to the 7 associated questions to check comprehension Try the passage & questions Find the Daily CARS passage for Nov 5 here: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/student-learning 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

    38 min

  3. NOV 4

    MCAT Psych/Soc Masterclass: Learning & Conditioning I Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

    Level up your MCAT Psych/Soc with the part 2 of masterclass on learning & conditioning, the way AAMC now tests it. Mike & Molly cover the exact strategies to read passages like CARS, not a terms quiz. What you’ll learn Classical conditioning: US/UR, CS/CR, generalization, discrimination, extinction & spontaneous recovery Operant conditioning: reinforcement vs punishment, positive vs negative (with real-life examples) Reinforcement schedules: fixed/variable × ratio/interval (why VR resists extinction) Observational learning: Bobo doll, mirror neurons, media effects Non-associative learning: habituation, sensitization, dishabituation, desensitization If this helped, subscribe and catch next week’s Data Interpretation Deep Dive. 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 11m

  4. OCT 28

    MCAT Psych/Soc MASTERCLASS: Stop Memorizing & Start Scoring Higher

    Psych/Soc has officially changed… and most students are still studying it the old way. 😬 In this episode, Mike & Molly break down the NEW strategy you need to crush MCAT Psych/Soc, without drowning in flashcards or memorizing the whole Khan Academy doc. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why Psych/Soc now feels like CARS ✅ How to analyze research-style passages (not just terms!) ✅ High-yield psych + soc topics the AAMC LOVES ✅ How to build the Psych/Soc Doc for real mastery ✅ Why memorization collapses on test day when you’re mentally exhausted ✅ How to apply terms to real-world examples (just like the test!) Plus, we preview next week’s Learning & Conditioning deep dive… one of the most tested topics on the whole MCAT. 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

    1 hr

  5. OCT 22

    MCAT CARS Workshop: Mastering a “History & Literature” Passage (Timing, Mapping, Traps)

    Sharpen your CARS instincts with a full walkthrough of an AAMC-style “History & Literature” passage. We’ll map the argument, separate author vs. viewpoint voices, and dismantle common trap answers so you can move faster without sacrificing accuracy. What you’ll learn: Passage mapping for humanities texts (thesis, tone, shifts) Timing & pacing: when to skim vs. slow down Question strategy by type (main idea, author attitude, inference, function) Wrong-answer patterns (extreme, outside scope, flip choices) Read the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/history-and-literature 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

  6. OCT 21

    MCAT DNA Replication Explained: Semi-Conservative Copying, Okazaki Fragments, & Mutation Repair

    In this episode we connect genetics + central dogma to the next big step: how cells copy DNA and what happens when it goes wrong. What you’ll learn (MCAT-high yield): Semi-conservative replication: why each daughter DNA has one old + one new strand Origins of replication & replication bubbles Key enzymes: helicase, SSB proteins, topoisomerase, DNA pol III & I, primase, ligase Leading vs. lagging strands and Okazaki fragments Proofreading & repair: exonuclease activity, mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair (UV/thymine dimers) Mutation types: silent, nonsense, frameshift (+ why location matters) Where this shows up in cell cycle, cancer biology, and classic experimental set-ups (knockouts) Perfect for MCAT Bio/Biochem passages that love replication, mutations, and repair pathways. 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 13m

  7. OCT 15

    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

  8. OCT 15

    “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
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4.7
out of 5
71 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
    244
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jack Westin
  • Show Website
    Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

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