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. 2D AGO

    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

  2. 3D AGO

    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

  3. 3D AGO

    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

  4. FEB 11

    CARS Reading Skills Workshop: “Sibling Relationships”

    In this episode, we break down the Jack Westin daily CARS passage “Sibling Relationships” (Feb 11) sentence-by-sentence to train you how to: Identify key ideas in each sentence and paragraph Track repeating themes across short paragraphs Lock in the main idea (without bringing in your own opinions) Build a clean passage map you can use on test day Avoid the #1 trap: letting your personal experience change your answers We also unpack the passage’s biggest throughline: how sibling competition, family roles, and birth order connect to personality traits (first-born vs last-born vs middle child), plus terms like de-identification and finding a “niche” in the family environment. ✅ Try the passage before you listen (recommended): pause here, attempt it, then come back and follow along with the walkthrough. 📌 Daily Passage Link: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/sibling-relationships 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

    40 min

  5. FEB 10

    Personal Statement Secrets: The 10 Mistakes That Get Applicants Rejected

    Med school admissions is not just GPA and MCAT. In this Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast episode, Mark White sits down with Dr. Anita Paschal (35+ years on admissions boards) to break down how admissions committees actually read your application and what separates “qualified” from “accepted.” In this episode, you’ll learn: 🧠 Why more applicants get denied than accepted (and what that means for your strategy) 📊 The seat math: ~52–58K applicants vs ~20–22K seats (about 40–44% acceptance) 🎯 What your personal statement must do in 5,300 characters (AMCAS) 🎬 How to write a 2–3 sentence hook that makes reviewers keep reading (think: trailer) 🧩 The recommended structure: 3–5 body paragraphs + a reflective conclusion 🚫 The most common clichés that make essays blur together (“help and serve,” “in that moment,” etc.) 👀 “Show, don’t tell”: how to prove empathy without saying “I’m empathetic” ✍️ The “I, I, I” problem and how to fix repetitive, self-focused sentence structure 🧱 Clear transitions: how to stop your essay from reading like a resume 🔁 The rewrite rule: why your personal statement should be developed over 5–6 months 🧯 Addressing weaknesses: when to acknowledge gaps (and where it actually belongs) ✅ What makes a strong opening (with a real example breakdown) Mentioned in the episode: ✅ AMCAS personal statement limit: 5,300 characters (including spaces) ✅ A simple framework: Write → Rewrite → Review → Write again ✅ Tip: Have someone who doesn’t know you read it to spot clarity gaps 🎧 This episode is part of an ongoing series. Next up: experiences / work & activities and how to maximize impact. 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

  6. FEB 10

    Light & Optics on the MCAT: Snell’s Law, Total Internal Reflection, Thin Lens Equation

    Light and optics show up everywhere on the MCAT, especially when physics meets biology (vision). In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down the must-know foundations of light as a wave and how it behaves in optical systems so you can stop memorizing and start solving. You’ll learn: 🌈 Light as a transverse wave and why it can travel in a vacuum 🧮 The wave equation v = fλ and what actually changes when the medium changes 🪞 Reflection basics: the law of reflection and the “angle is measured from the normal” trap 💧 Refraction and why light “bends” when its speed changes 📐 Snell’s Law (n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂) and how to reason through relationship questions 🔁 Total internal reflection + the critical angle (and real-world examples) 🔍 Lenses vs mirrors, concave vs convex, and what “converging vs diverging” means 👀 Real vs virtual images, and the high-yield patterns (SUV for diverging systems) 🧾 The thin lens equation and magnification (and how to use them on test day) Watch next: Vision and the Eye (how optics becomes biology) in the next episode. 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

    58 min

  7. FEB 4

    MCAT CARS Strategy Workshop: Cuban Missile Crisis Passage Breakdown (Main Idea + Mapping)

    In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Usher break down the Jack Westin Daily Passage “Cuban Crisis” (Feb 4) sentence-by-sentence to help you read faster under time pressure, map smarter, and avoid common CARS traps 🧠📚 You’ll learn how to: ✅ Spot what the author is really asking in a “question-heavy” opening 🗺️ Map each paragraph with just a few words (without over-noting) 🎯 Lock in the main idea through repetition and structure ⚖️ Track the passage’s key distinction: political vs military confrontation 📌 Handle dense historical context without getting lost Try the passage first, then listen and compare your map to ours 👀✍️ 🔗 Daily Passage Link: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/cuban-crisis 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

    32 min

  8. FEB 4

    How Med Schools Screen Applicants: GPA + MCAT, “Applicant Branding” with Dr. Anita Paschal

    Med school admissions is not just GPA and MCAT. In this Jack Westin Admissions episode, Mark White (Academic Advisor) sits down with Dr. Anita Paschal (35+ years on admissions committees) to break down how medical schools actually screen applicants and what separates “qualified” from “accepted” 🎯 You’ll learn: ✅ The real screening order (and why your personal statement is not screen #2) 📊 What the applicant pool looks like and why acceptance rates hover around 40–42% 🧠 MCAT benchmarks: what 512, 515, 518, 521+ signal to schools 📌 Why 50% of denials can happen even with “good” MCAT/GPA 🏥 Experiences that matter most, plus target hours for clinical exposure 🧾 How to build a smarter school list with in-state vs out-of-state strategy 🗓️ A realistic timeline for MCAT, primary apps, secondaries, letters, transcripts 🔥 The big differentiator: your brand creation (your 5–6 selling points) Dr. Anita also introduces a simple way to remember experience categories: CLASS Clinical, Leadership, Academic (non-GPA/test), Service, Social 💡 If you’re applying this cycle or planning ahead, this is the framework you want before you chase checkboxes. 🎧 More JW Admissions + MCAT content: subscribe for new episodes 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

    48 min
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4.7
out of 5
77 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
    276
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jack Westin
  • Show Website
    Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

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