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 Passage Breakdown: Violence & Music in Tarantino Films | Jack Westin CARS Workshop

    In this Jack Westin CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Usher and Molly walk through a daily CARS passage about Quentin Tarantino's use of pop music in violent film scenes. Together they break down each paragraph in real time, showing you how to identify arguments, separate key ideas from supporting details, and build a passage map that actually helps you answer questions. In this episode, you'll learn: 🎬 How to map a CARS passage about film analysis without getting lost in the details 🎵 How to track a repeated idea (violence + music) across multiple paragraphs without over-mapping ✍️ When to draw arrows back to earlier paragraphs vs. adding new notes 🧠 How to recognize when the author is building on the same argument vs. introducing something new 🔍 How to handle unfamiliar vocabulary in context (like "scoring" and "temporal dislocation") 🎯 How to identify the main idea when it develops gradually across the entire passage 📌 Why outside knowledge (even if you've seen the movie) should never influence your reading This is a great episode for anyone who struggles with film, art, or cultural analysis passages on CARS, or for anyone who tends to over-map and wants to learn how to keep it simple. 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

    34 min

  2. 2D AGO

    CASPer vs. Preview Exam: What Med Schools Actually Look For (With Practice Scenarios)

    Do you actually need to stress about CASPer and Preview? What do admissions committees really do with your scores? And how do you answer these situational judgment questions the right way? In this Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast episode, Molly Kielty (Director of Instruction) hosts Dr. Anita Paschal (MD, double PhD, 35+ years on admissions committees) for a complete breakdown of both the CASPer and Preview exams. Dr. Paschal shares insider committee perspective on how these scores are actually used, walks through real practice scenarios with strong and weak responses, and gives you the exact framework to approach every question. In this episode, you'll learn: 🏥 How admissions committees actually use CASPer and Preview scores (it's not what you think) 📊 Why a low score won't necessarily tank your application, with a real example of a bottom-quartile scorer getting into Harvard, Yale, Cornell, and Duke ✍️ CASPer format breakdown: 11 scenarios (4 video, 7 typed), scoring in quartiles, and the 2024-25 changes 📋 Preview format breakdown: 30 scenarios, 186 questions, multiple choice effectiveness ratings scored 1-9 🧠 The I3P framework for answering any CASPer question: Issues, Impact, Information, Potential Approaches 🎯 Full walkthrough of a CASPer interpersonal/financial conflict scenario with weak vs. strong responses 🎯 Full walkthrough of a CASPer workplace dynamics scenario covering empathy, systems thinking, and collaboration 🎓 Full walkthrough of a Preview guest lecturer scenario rated on a 4-point effectiveness scale 💰 Cost comparison: CASPer ($85 + $18 per school) vs. Preview ($100 flat) 📅 When to register and test (May through July recommended) 🔄 Retake rules: CASPer is once per cycle, Preview allows 4 attempts in a lifetime ⚖️ Side-by-side comparison of format, timing, scoring, score distribution, and which schools require which Whether you're applying this cycle or just starting to plan, this episode gives you the insider knowledge and practical strategy to approach both exams with confidence. 📚 Free CASPer and Preview resources at jackwestin.com 🎧 Full episodes on the Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast Coming up next: Deep dive into CASPer with more practice scenarios, followed by a dedicated Preview episode. 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

  3. 3D AGO

    Sensation vs. Perception on the MCAT: Thresholds, Weber's Law, Signal Detection & Gestalt Principles

    What's the actual difference between sensation and perception? And why does the MCAT test it so heavily? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly break down one of the most commonly confused topics in psych/soc: sensation vs. perception. They walk through the key definitions, thresholds, theories, and perceptual principles you need to know, all with real-world examples, MCAT applications, and even a few optical illusions to prove how easily your brain can be tricked. In this episode, you'll learn: 🧠 The core difference between sensation (raw data from receptors) and perception (how your brain interprets that data) 📊 Absolute threshold: the minimum intensity needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time ⚖️ Difference threshold / just noticeable difference (JND): detecting the difference between two stimuli 🔢 Weber's Law: why the same change feels different depending on the original intensity (with a full calculation walkthrough) 👻 Subliminal stimuli: what they are, how they relate to absolute threshold, and whether subliminal messaging actually works 🎯 Signal detection theory: hits, misses, false alarms, correct rejections, and liberal vs. conservative response biases 🏥 How signal detection applies to medical testing (cancer screenings, COVID tests) 🔼 Bottom-up vs. top-down processing: when your brain builds from raw data vs. when expectations shape your perception 📐 All 7 Gestalt principles: proximity, similarity, common fate, closure, continuity, Pragnanz (law of good figure), and figure-ground 🎈 Perceptual constancies: size, shape, and color constancy explained with everyday examples 🧩 How top-down processing connects directly to improving your MCAT passage strategy 👁️ Optical illusions and the checkerboard shadow illusion as proof of how perception can be tricked Whether you're just starting psych/soc content review or brushing up before test day, this episode gives you everything you need to confidently answer sensation and perception questions on the MCAT. 📚 Free daily CARS practice and resources at jackwestin.com 🎧 Full episodes on the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast Next episode: Brain imaging methods (fMRI, EEG, CT, PET and more) 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

    56 min

  4. MAR 2

    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=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 25

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

    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 "Quitting Smoking" sentence-by-sentence, showing you exactly how to track repeated arguments across multiple paragraphs, avoid getting distracted by science-heavy details in a CARS context, and identify the main idea when it dominates the second half of a passage. In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to stay focused on arguments, not biochemistry, when a CARS passage uses scientific terminology 🧪🧠 ✅ How to track expert names and tie them to specific arguments in your passage map 🗺️👤 ✅ Why the main idea isn't always in the first or last paragraph and how repeated ideas across 5 paragraphs reveal it 🔁🔎 ✅ How to map a vicious cycle (smoking ↔ depression ↔ quitting ↔ relapse) without losing paragraph-level context 🚫🪤 ✅ When to use symbols, arrows, and even drawings to keep your map short and effective ✏️⚡ Practice this passage: jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/quitting-smoking 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

    51 min

  6. FEB 24

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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 "Quitting Smoking" sentence-by-sentence, showing you exactly how to track repeated arguments across multiple paragraphs, avoid getting distracted by science-heavy details in a CARS context, and identify the main idea when it dominates the second half of a passage. In this episode you'll learn:✅ How to stay focused on arguments — not biochemistry — when a CARS passage uses scientific terminology 🧪🧠✅ How to track expert names and tie them to specific arguments in your passage map 🗺️👤✅ Why the main idea isn't always in the first or last paragraph — and how repeated ideas across 5 paragraphs reveal it 🔁🔎✅ How to map a vicious cycle (smoking ↔ depression ↔ quitting ↔ relapse) without losing paragraph-level context 🚫🪤✅ When to use symbols, arrows, and even drawings to keep your map short and effective ✏️⚡ Practice this passage: jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/quitting-smoking 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
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4.7
out of 5
80 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
    283
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jack Westin
  • Show Website
    Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

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