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Jack Westin MCAT Podcast
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Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Author: Jack Westin

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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.
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Phil and Azaii discuss why the MCAT Psychology and Sociology section is worth preparing for and the best approach to studying for the section. Phil Hawkins and Azaii Calderon Muniz from Jack Westin discuss anecdotes, advice, and ramblings on the premed years, the MCAT, and life both inside and outside of medicine. Have new episodes and MCAT Strategies delivered to you by subscribing. https://anchor.fm/jack-westin-mcat-podcast Free MCAT Practice https://jackwestin.com/ Study Guide - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/130PNt1Uk5ScRD_nztyXqQDl2PSqbOZ5MMqeodvYsvvA/edit#gid=315267844
You can enjoy the holidays and still make real progress on your MCAT prep. This episode walks through how to balance family time, rest, and intentional studying so you don’t burn out or lose momentum.We talk about:🎄 How to handle MCAT studying during the winter holidays without guilt😴 Why rest is required for score growth, not a “reward”🧱 What a “maintenance phase” looks like if your MCAT is still a few months away🎯 How to study intentionally instead of half-studying all day📅 Why consistency matters more than intensity over the holidays📚 How often you should do CARS passages so you don’t “lose” your skills🃏 Smart ways to use Anki, practice questions, and review without grinding 8+ hours📆 What to do if your MCAT is in January vs later in the year✅ Quality over quantity: doing less, but doing it betterIf you’ve ever felt like the MCAT is hanging over your shoulder when you’re trying to relax with family, this conversation is for you. You deserve focused study time and focused rest.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
Struggling with meiosis, gametogenesis, and all the weird details the MCAT loves to test? 🧬 In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode 🎧, we walk through meiosis step by step and connect it directly to spermatogenesis and oogenesis so you can finally see the full picture.You will learn how to:🧠 Tell the difference between mitosis and meiosis in an MCAT context🔁 Track ploidy changes from 2N to 1N without getting lost🤯 Understand why "everything weird" in meiosis happens in meiosis I🧷 Visualize tetrads, crossing over, independent assortment, and genetic diversity⚠️ Explain nondisjunction, trisomy, and monosomy with real examples🧪 Map out spermatogenesis from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa🥚 Map out oogenesis, timing, and why female gamete production is so uniqueThis episode is perfect if you want a clear and conversational review of:🧬 Meiosis vs mitosis👶 Gametogenesis in humans🎓 High-yield MCAT biology and genetics topicsWant 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
In this episode, Mike and Molly turn one of the most complex MCAT topics, muscle contraction, into a story you’ll actually remember. You’ll follow a single movement from brain to bicep: motor neuron → neuromuscular junction → calcium surge → actin–myosin “love story” → sarcomere changes.We break down skeletal vs cardiac vs smooth muscle, why calcium is the real puppet master, and how ATP can both start and end contraction (and what that has to do with rigor mortis 👀). If sliding filaments, troponin, tropomyosin and band changes all blur together for you right now, this episode will finally make it click.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
Is the MCAT actually getting harder… or just noisier? 👀In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly sit down after taking AAMC Practice Exam 6 themselves and doing a full data-backed breakdown with the JW content team. No spoilers, no specific passages or questions discussed – just trends, strategy, and what this exam tells us about the future of the MCAT in 2025 and 2026.✅ What we cover:- How AAMC Exam 6 compares to Exams 1–4 and the rebranded Free Practice / Exam 5- Why pure recall (P0) questions are decreasing and P1/P2 “content + passage” questions are on the rise- What P0, P1, P2, P3 actually mean for how you should study- The big picture: why content is necessary but not sufficient anymore🧪 Section-by-section trends:Chem/Phys- “Scary-looking, not that deep” questions- Passages that look intimidating but boil down to one core idea- Why a solid passage-reading process can turn “impossible” questions into 20–30 second winsBio/Biochem- Very Section Bank Volume 1–coded energy- Heavy on pathways, relationships, inhibitors/activators, and mapping- Fewer pure content grabs, more questions that truly blend content + passage strategyPsych/Soc- Fewer straight-up vocab questions, more application questions tied to passages- Why people say it’s “becoming like CARS” (and what that actually means)- How to use CARS-style reasoning (“least wrong answer”) to survive tricky psych/soc sets🧠 Key takeaways for your MCAT prep:- The exam isn’t necessarily harder – it’s messier and more data-dense- You cannot rely on memorization aloneYou need:- A real passage-reading system- Deeper conceptual understanding (not just flashcards)- Consistent practice blending content + passage reasoningDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with:- Your AAMC Exam 6 experience- What section scares you the most right now- Topics you want us to break down next on the podcastWant 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
Most students treat full length exams like a score check and move on. High scorers do the opposite. In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly share how they both sat for the new AAMC Exam 6, what they noticed, and why your review, not your raw score, is what actually moves your MCAT score long term.They walk through the mindset and step-by-step process for turning every exam into a roadmap for improvement instead of just a painful seven and a half hour report card.In this episode, you will learn:- Why full length exams are not a report card but a roadmap for what to do next- The biggest misconceptions about reviewing exams and practice questions- How to tell the difference between content gaps and strategy problems- Why “I just need more content” is often holding you back- How to use your passages and figures as your primary clues instead of your memory- What to do if you are stuck at the same score for weeks or months- How to handle timing, fatigue, and stress more intentionally- How to know if you are actually ready to take another full length- The four main “buckets” your mistakes tend to fall into and how to respond to each- Why specific, targeted review beats trying to fix everything at onceMike and Molly also tease next week’s episode, where they will share data they are crunching on AAMC Exam 6 to answer the big question: Has the MCAT really changed, or does it just feel that way?If you have ever finished a full length, glanced at your score, and thought “Now what?”, this episode is your playbook.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
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 figureIf 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
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 learnClassical conditioning: US/UR, CS/CR, generalization, discrimination, extinction & spontaneous recoveryOperant 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 effectsNon-associative learning: habituation, sensitization, dishabituation, desensitizationIf 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
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
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 strandOrigins of replication & replication bubblesKey enzymes: helicase, SSB proteins, topoisomerase, DNA pol III & I, primase, ligaseLeading vs. lagging strands and Okazaki fragmentsProofreading & 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
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
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/sessionsFree MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passagesWant 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
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/sessionsFree MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passagesWant 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
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.⏱️ Timestamps02:09 – How Much OChem Really Appears (10–12 Questions)05:20 – OChem Isn’t All Mechanisms (Reality Check)08:36 – High-Yield Topic #1: Stereochemistry13:30 – High-Yield Topic #2: Nucleophiles & Electrophiles18:23 – Why You Shouldn’t Memorize Mechanisms19:35 – High-Yield Topic #3: Functional Groups23:30 – High-Yield Topic #4: SN1 vs. SN225:40 – High-Yield Topic #5: Redox in Organic Chemistry30:40 – Why Functional Groups vs. Reaction Memorization33:19 – High-Yield Topic #6: Spectroscopy & Chromatography41:05 – How OChem Shows Up in Passages50:30 – Key OChem Study Tips & Pitfalls to Avoid55:10 – 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/sessionsFree MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passagesWant 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
Struggling with Chemistry & Physics on the MCAT? You’re not alone. Most students panic at ChemPhys passages, skip data figures, and waste time on equations. This episode breaks it all down: passage personalities, the TAUT method, and how to avoid the most common mistakesthat cost you points.Molly and Mike walk you through physics setups, titrations, spectroscopy, biochem-heavy passages, and even why OChem doesn’t need to be scary. You’ll also learn how to prioritize what to study, when to trust the passage over your memory, and why “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” for ChemPhys.📌 Resources Mentioned:Free Trial Session → https://jackwestin.com/sessionsFree MCAT Question Bank → https://jackwestin.com/#daily-passagesWant 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
Struggling with MCAT math without a calculator? In this episode, Mike and Molly break down the most common math mistakes students make on the MCAT and share their decade of expertise to help save you time and improve your accuracy for test day.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
Struggling with MCAT questions? In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly break down the most overlooked skill in test prep: building a consistent, intentional MCAT question strategy. 👉 Practice what you learn with our Free Live Sessions: jackwestin.com/sessionsWant 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
Stop brute-forcing science passages. In this 520+ strategy guide, we show you how top scorers read slower, map smarter, and mine “testable info” then fly through questions. You’ll learn the TAUT framework for figures (Title, Axes, Units, Trends), what not to do (over-highlighting, skipping figures), and a repeatable plan you can use on every Bio/Biochem, Chem/Phys, and Psych/Soc passage.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
In Episode 27, we wrap up our Metabolism series by diving into one of the most testable—and often misunderstood—topics on the MCAT: The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) and Oxidative Phosphorylation.We cover everything you need to know for MCAT success:🔬 What You’ll Learn:Where ETC happens: The inner mitochondrial membraneComplex I vs. Complex II: NADH vs. FADH₂The secret identity of SDH (succinate dehydrogenase)How proton gradients drive ATP productionWhy uncouplers like 2,4-DNP are dangerousWhy cyanide is lethal (hint: Complex IV)Final ATP yields from NADH and FADH₂ (30–36 total!)📚 Pro Tip: Make sure to review Redox and Thermodynamics before watching this episode.Next up: We'll break down alternative fuel sources—like proteins, fats, and ketones—in our upcoming non-glucose metabolism episode!Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep
Ready to move beyond glycolysis? In Episode 26 of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly guide you through the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) and the Citric Acid (TCA) Cycle—two of the highest‑yield pathways the MCAT loves to test.What we cover- Where it all happens – cytoplasm vs. mitochondrial matrix- PDC outputs & regulation – 2 Acetyl‑CoA, 2 NADH, 2 CO₂ and the key activators/inhibitors that flip the complex on or off- Real‑world connections – how arsenic poisoning and Wernicke‑Korsakoff syndrome derail PDC function- TCA Cycle essentials – step‑by‑step walk‑through, enzyme mnemonics (“Can I Keep Selling Shells…”) and the must‑know Big 3 regulators- High‑yield nuggets – why Succinate Dehydrogenase pulls double duty as ETC Complex II, Ca²⁺ activation during muscle contraction, plus glucogenic vs. ketogenic amino acid entry pointsBy the end, you’ll know the exact products (NADH, FADH₂, GTP, CO₂), how to spot test‑maker tricks, and which regulatory enzymes to memorize for test day.👉 Next up: Electron Transport Chain & Oxidative Phosphorylation—subscribe so you don’t miss Part 3 of our Metabolism series!Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com! 📱📚 Free Resources: https://jackwestin.com 🎓 Live Education Sessions: https://jackwestin.com/sessions 👨🏻‍🏫 Courses: https://jackwestin.com/courses 🙋 Tutoring: https://jackwestin.com/services/live-online-mcat-tutoring📸 Follow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwestinmcat👥 Join our Facebook Study Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/freemcatprep
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Comments (1)

Patrick Lauer

If you’re following along with this podcast to prepare for med school, it’s also worth checking out the details of the MCAT retake policy https://boosterprep.com/cars/study-guide/can-you-retake-the-mcat-when-how-often-and-what-to-consider . It explains how often you can sit for the exam, the limits within a testing year, and what to consider before scheduling another attempt.

Oct 9th
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