Jack Westin MCAT Podcast

Jack Westin
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Dec 10, 2025 • 43min

MCAT CARS Strategy: Beating Dense Passages (Western Colonization Breakdown)

Struggling with dense MCAT CARS passages full of history, old quotes, and abstract ideas? In this CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Jack walk through the Jack Westin daily passage “Western Colonization” sentence by sentence and show you how to stay calm, focused, and accurate even when the passage feels impossible.Using this tough passage, they show you how to:- Tell the subject apart from the author’s argument- Track big ideas like glory, colonization, and commerce without getting lost- Notice when the author does not actually agree with what they just said- Deal with confusing Old English quotes and still pull out what matters- Avoid dangerous assumptions that wreck CARS questions- Find the true main idea, not just the first sentence of each paragraph- Stay confident when a passage feels boring, dense, or way above your comfort zoneWant 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
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4 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 47min

MCAT Biology: Step-by-Step Muscle Contraction (Neuromuscular Junction, Sarcomere & Rigor Mortis)

Dive into the fascinating world of muscle contraction! Discover how signals travel from brain to bicep and the pivotal role calcium plays as the real puppet master. Unpack the differences among skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles. Enjoy a Romeo-and-Juliet analogy for troponin and tropomyosin's dramatic interaction. Learn about the crossbridge cycle and ATP's vital role in muscle action. Finally, uncover the mechanics behind rigor mortis and how it links to ATP absence after death.
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Dec 3, 2025 • 40min

MCAT CARS Passage Breakdown: Microloans, Capitalism and Community Trust

Economic CARS passages feel intimidating or dry? In this MCAT CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Jack and Molly walk through our “Microloans” daily passage sentence by sentence and show you how to actually enjoy an econ passage while still reading with precision.In this episode you will learn how to:- Separate the subject from the argument so you stop missing main idea questions- Track big ideas like capitalism in crisis and community trust without getting lost in the details- Use context clues to handle unfamiliar econ terms like “collateral” and “loan sharking”- Visualize abstract ideas so economic passages feel concrete and human- Apply the same strategy to any dense MCAT CARS passage, not just this oneWhat we cover using the “Microloans” passage:- How microcredit works and why the author thinks it matters- Why the passage spends so much time on capitalism and conventional banks- How microloans create an economy based on community trust- How to spot repeated ideas that signal the true main idea📌 Read the passage first:https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/microloansIf this breakdown helped you see economic passages in a new light, like and subscribe for more MCAT CARS strategy sessions with Jack and Molly.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
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5 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 55min

AAMC Exam 6 Breakdown: How the MCAT Is Changing for 2025–2026

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
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Nov 26, 2025 • 47min

MCAT CARS & Econ Passages: Don’t Let “Financial Gloom” Scare You

Economic CARS passages feel dry or confusing? In this clip from our CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Jack and Molly break down the “Economic Models” daily passage and show you how to:- Use tone words like “financial gloom” to catch the author’s attitude 🎯- Focus on “What is the author trying to convey?” in every paragraph- Stop fearing econ passages and start using them to your advantageRead the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/economic-modelsWant 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
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Nov 25, 2025 • 53min

Stop Treating Full Lengths Like a Report Card | How to Review MCAT Exams

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
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Nov 19, 2025 • 31min

MCAT CARS Breakdown: Making Moral Relativism Easy to Understand

Philosophy passages in CARS can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. In this workshop clip, Jack and Molly walk through the Jack Westin Daily Passage titled “Moral Relativism” and break it down sentence by sentence so you can see exactly how to approach complex arguments without getting lost.You’ll learn:• How to identify the author’s main point even when the passage feels abstract• Why moral relativism vs moral nihilism matters for understanding the argument• How comparisons like motion relativism, football relativism, and legal relativism help you decode the passage• What to prioritize when reading dense, conceptual CARS passages• How to connect ideas across paragraphs so the whole passage finally clicksIf moral philosophy usually makes your head spin, this breakdown will show you how to stay calm, read with purpose, and pull out only what matters.Read the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/moral-relativismWant 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
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Nov 18, 2025 • 57min

Experimental vs Observational Studies: MCAT Psych/Soc MASTERCLASS

Dive into the intriguing world of research methods in psychology! Discover the key differences between experimental and observational studies and learn when causality can be concluded. Explore the nuances of cross-sectional versus longitudinal studies, and grasp the importance of internal and external validity. Classic case studies, from Phineas Gage to Milgram, highlight ethical concerns and provide insights on research design. Plus, get practical tips for identifying study types while tackling MCAT passages!
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Nov 12, 2025 • 42min

MCAT CARS: How to Read “Bach’s Fugue” (Without Knowing Anything About Music!)

Music passages are some of the most intimidating ones on the MCAT CARS section but they don’t have to be.In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Molly and Jack break down the November 12th Daily CARS Passage, “Bach’s Fugue,” sentence by sentence. You’ll learn how to handle abstract, dense topics (like art and music) even when you know nothing about them.What you’ll learn in this episode:🎵 How to approach intimidating CARS passages on unfamiliar topics🧠 Why outside knowledge can hurt you in CARS (and what to do instead)📖 How to find the author’s main idea, fast💡 Why structure and tone matter more than subject matter🔍 Step-by-step reading of “Bach’s Fugue” with expert analysisWhether you’re struggling with abstract art passages or just want to sharpen your CARS instincts, this workshop will help you read smarter, not harder.Read the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/bachs-fugueWant 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
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Nov 11, 2025 • 1h

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 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

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