Podcasts about aamc

Can evolution explain why you love your family? In this Jack Westin CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Usher and Molly break down the daily CARS passage "Family Genes" (March 18th) sentence by sentence. This passage blends biology and philosophy in a way that feels familiar to pre-meds but still requires pure CARS reasoning to navigate.Get started with our resources!

What's the difference between a weak CASPer answer and one that lands in the top quartile? Structure.In this Jack Westin Pre-Med Admissions Podcast episode, Dr. Anita Paschal (MD, double PhD, 35+ years on admissions committees) walks through her exact 6-step framework for answering any CASPer question, then applies it to six real practice scenarios (three typed, three video) so you can see exactly what a strong response looks like.Get started with our resources!

Which brain imaging technique should you pick on the MCAT? In this episode, Mike and Molly break down every major brain imaging method you need to know: EEG, CT, PET, MRI, and fMRI. They cover what each technique actually measures (structural vs. functional), when to use each one, key limitations, and how to answer those tricky "which imaging method is most appropriate?" questions. Includes a rapid-fire quiz to test your understanding.Next episode: Electrostatics and how it connects to brain imaging.Get started with our resources!

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:

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:

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:

Discussing Academic Medicine's and MedEdPORTAL's new policy guiding the use of AI tools in the peer review process are editors-in-chief Laura Roberts, MD, MA, and Lauren Maggio, PhD, MS(LIS), Academic Medicine associate editor Krisztina Fischer, MD, PhD, MMSc, and AAMC director of journals Mary Beth DeVilbiss. They provide an overview of the journals' new policy and use a series of common peer review scenarios to explore what's appropriate, what's not, and what you should think about before using AI as a reviewer. Check out the resources discussed, including the journals' AI policies for reviewers and authors, and access the episode transcript at academicmedicineblog.org.

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:

A brilliant pre-med student. 521 MCAT — 98th percentile. 4.0 GPA. Published research. Primary author. Rejected by ten medical schools. If that résumé isn't good enough, what is?On The Real Story, I examine how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies are reshaping medical school admissions. Across the country, schools describe “holistic review,” equity mandates, and diversity goals as central to their mission. Academic metrics are no longer the primary standard and that merit is being subordinated to ideology.We break down AAMC data, LCME accreditation shifts, pass/fail grading trends, and looming physician shortages. Medicine is not a sociology lab. When you're on an operating table, credentials matter. Excellence is not negotiable. Thank you to our sponsor: Preserve Gold - text "ASK PHIL" to 50505 and go to https://DrPhilGold.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Lee Jones, who is a clinician, medical educator, mentor, and leader. Dr. Jones completed his bachelor of arts in psychology at Dartmouth, his doctorate of medicine at Columbia, and his residency in psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Jones then served as chief resident at UCLA, before completing a fellowship in clinical and research consultation-liaison at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and another research fellowship at UCSD. At Rush Medical College, Dr. Jones is the Vice Dean for Education and Student Experience.Dr. Jones has worked across the full spectrum of health care. His roles have ranged from clinician and educator to chief of multiple services, medical school dean, and national leadership positions with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Throughout his career, he has led efforts in regulatory compliance, accreditation, and conflict resolution within large, multi-specialty medical organizations. Nationally, he has served on the LCME, and in numerous roles at the AAMC. His clinical practice has focused on emergency medicine and consultation-liaison psychiatry.Come along as the conversation ebbs and flows from the technical to the philosophical.Host: Samantha ShihGuest: Lee JonesProduced By: Samantha ShihAlert & Oriented is a medical student-run clinical reasoning podcast dedicated to providing a unique platform for early learners to practice their skills as a team in real time. In each episode of ‘The Doctor's Playbook' series, one medical student host interviews an expert attending clinician or leader in the medical field. Guests are recruited from diverse specialties and backgrounds. Through structured, yet conversational interviews, the host engages the guest to reflect on their clinical journey – giving listeners insight into the guest's career trajectory.Follow the team on X:A&OA fantastic resource, by learners, for learners in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery, Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, and Hospital Medicine.

Mike and Molly just dropped a clear, test-focused breakdown of G protein coupled receptors that covers everything the AAMC expects you to know without the textbook overwhelm.Here's what we walk through:

Mike and Molly just dropped a clear, test-focused breakdown of G protein coupled receptors that covers everything the AAMC expects you to know without the textbook overwhelm.Here's what we walk through:

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

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:

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 ❓

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:

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 corneaFovea and why cones drive high-acuity color visionRods vs cones (low light vs color/detail)Myopia vs hyperopia and which lenses correct each (diverging vs converging)The blind spot and why it existsWhy real images are inverted on the retina and how the brain interprets vision

In this throwback episode honoring National Women Physicians Day, host Shikha Jain, MD, with Physicianary's Hansa Bhargava, MD, and Mend the Gap's Dagny Zhu, MD, discuss the evolution of empowering yourself and others and advocacy with a panel of guests. ·       Intro 0:32 ·       What does it mean to empower women in medicine, and what are the ways that we can really empower others to achieve the things that they may not see for themselves?  1:37 ·       What are some ways in which you have empowered or hope to empower women in medicine? Are there tips or skills that have worked well?  4:41 ·       How have you been empowered by others, or have helped others find their voices?  7:37 ·       Do you agree that the conversation is changing toward a cultural shift in empowerment for women in health care? 12:23 ·       What are some challenges facing advocacy and empowerment? […] What do you do when your advocacy work is not being received or it is a struggle to speak up for someone?  17:10 ·       Emphasizing the importance of communication in advocacy work. 22:23 ·       Intro to Physicianary's part 3 on physician burnout and work-life balance. 22:51 ·       Thanks for listening 23:31 Be sure to listen to Part 1 and Part 3 of Healio's Women In Medicine roundtable discussion, streaming everywhere now! Vineet Arora, MD, MAPP (NAM), is a Herbert T. Abelson professor of medicine, vice dean of education in the biological sciences division and dean for medical education at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She is also an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine. She is a founding member of the 501c3 Women of Impact and advisor to the Women in Medicine Summit. Jennifer Bepple, MD, MMCi, is a double board-certified physician in urology and informatics. She is a member of the American Telemedicine Association, American Urologic Association and American Medical Informatics Association and holds a certification from the American Board of Telehealth and the American Board of AI in Medicine. Hansa Bhargava, MD, is Healio's chief clinical strategy and innovation officer. Listen to her Healio podcast, Physicianary. Shikha Jain, MD, FACP, is a board-certified hematology and oncology physician. She is a tenured associate professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology, the director of communication strategies in medicine and the associate director of oncology communication & digital innovation at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago. Mara Schenker, MD, FACS, FAOA, is an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital. She is double board certified in orthopedic surgery and clinical informatics. She serves as the chief of orthopedics and associate chief medical information officer.  She is an associate professor of orthopedics at Emory University School of Medicine. She serves on multiple boards for medical and digital technology advisory and sits on major national committees for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, AAMC, American College of Surgeons and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Dagny Zhu, MD, is a cornea, cataract and refractive surgeon and medical director and partner at NVISION Eye Centers in Rowland Heights, CA. She can be reached on X @DZEyeMD. Listen to her on Healio's Mend The Gap: Equity In Medicine podcast. We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Jain at oncologyoverdrive@healio.com. Follow Healio on X and LinkedIn: @HemOncToday and https://www.linkedin.com/company/hemonctoday/. Follow Dr. Jain on X: @ShikhaJainMD. Disclosures: The hosts and guests report no relevant financial disclosures.

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 paragraphTrack repeating themes across short paragraphsLock in the main idea (without bringing in your own opinions)Build a clean passage map you can use on test dayAvoid the #1 trap: letting your personal experience change your answersWe 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.

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:

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:

(00:00) — Curiosity in the halls of Mass General: Her mom's triple‑negative breast cancer and remission shape an early interest in medicine.(02:54) — Choosing a major without a premed major: From biochemistry to discovering neuroscience and why UMass ultimately fit.(06:04) — Double majoring without burning out: Overlap with prereqs, honest advising on dual degrees, and following interests.(09:13) — Make advising work for you: Meeting early, becoming a peer advisor, and hearing hard feedback you don't want to hear.(12:56) — Rethinking gap years: Fears about money give way to growth, responsibility, and better prep for med school.(17:23) — What went wrong on the first MCAT: Cramming, no plan, and taking it during senior year.(19:33) — The retake that worked: Six months, 3 hours a day, weekly full-lengths, and using AAMC practice tests.(22:52) — Lining up letters after graduation: Staying in touch with advisors and professors, and using undergrad resources.(25:34) — Clinical path: EMT to pediatric ER clinical assistant: Building skills during COVID, behavioral health work, and a role that cemented medicine.(32:05) — The application surprise: Not prewriting secondaries—and why she won't skip that again.(33:43) — First interview jitters and prep: Early invites, mock interviews, and centering fit.(35:52) — Eight interview invites: Why authenticity and geography beat obsessing over stats.(40:33) — Toughest interview prompt: Answering “Tell me about yourself” and a bartender curveball.(44:10) — The first acceptance: A full-circle moment at work and calling mom.(45:40) — Final advice to premeds: Keep an open mind—and be kind to yourself.Today's guest traces a clear, practical path from childhood curiosity in the halls of Mass General—while her mom underwent treatment and later entered remission—to a medical school seat built on consistency, flexibility, and honest self-reflection. She shares how starting at UMass in biochemistry, discovering neuroscience, and building an early relationship with her premed advisor shaped smarter decisions—like delaying the MCAT and embracing gap years she once feared.We dive into the first MCAT attempt that fell flat (no schedule, cramming during senior year, few practice tests) and the 15‑point turnaround that followed: six months post‑graduation, three hours a day, AAMC full‑lengths every Thursday, and a real study plan. She details lining up letters before leaving campus, keeping in touch after graduation, and why not prewriting secondaries became her biggest application headache.Clinically, she moved from EMT certification and campus EMS to behavioral health sitting and a clinical assistant role in a pediatric ER—experiences that cemented her desire to practice. Finally, we cover interviews (including a surprise bartender question), eight invites, the first acceptance at work, and her closing advice: keep an open mind—and be kind to yourself.What You'll Learn:- How to build a productive relationship with your premed advisor- A realistic MCAT retake plan: pacing, practice tests, and scheduling- Why gap years and nonclinical jobs can strengthen your application- Finding schools by fit and mission instead of fixating on stats- Timing letters and prewriting secondaries to avoid bottlenecks

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

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”

Send us a textFor those of you that don't know, in the modern system of medical school clinical rotations, students typically rotate at their "home institutions" or medical school affiliates.  One of the criticisms of post-graduate Osteopathic Medical education is that at some schools, students need to do a significant number of away rotations especially if they are interested in competitive surgical specialties.  The VSLO is an organization through the AAMC which allows American MD and American DO students to coordinate these rotations with outside hospitals.   This episode is mainly in response to posts on Redit and Youtube commenting on the process for Osteopathic Medical Students.  To shed some light on the topic, In this episode, we will interview Robin Carle, the director of VSLO at the AAMC to shed some light on the VSLO process and the validity of the comments regarding biases within the system against DO's. 

In this episode, Mike and Molly bridge the gap between the physics of waves and the biology of sensation. The MCAT loves the auditory system because it requires you to integrate knowledge from Physics (wave properties), Biology (structure of the ear and nervous system), and Psychology (signal detection).We take a "bird's ear view" of the auditory pathway, breaking it down into three critical stages:Mechanical Transmission: The outer and middle ear.Transduction: Converting movement into electricity in the inner ear.Neural Transmission: Sending the signal to the brain for interpretation.

Struggling to find the main idea under time pressure?

In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike & Molly dive into one of the most tested MCAT Physics topics: Waves

In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Molly is joined by Usher (one of our Jack Westin CARS instructors) for a CARS Reading Skills Workshop using the Jack Westin Daily Passage: “Paul Cezanne”.Together, we go sentence-by-sentence and paragraph-by-paragraph to show you how to:✅ Track contrast words like “yet” (and why the MCAT loves them)✅ Spot the most repeated idea to lock in the main idea✅ Recognize when the passage keeps returning to the same theme✅ Map the passage so questions feel easier and faster✅ Avoid outside knowledge traps (even if you know the topic)✅ Improve elimination by repeating your core ideas before reading answer choicesKey theme in this passage: Cezanne's work feels fresh by blending Impressionist techniques with older “old master” methods (new + old = the MCAT's favorite kind of tension).Want to follow along?

In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly continue their MCAT brain anatomy series by tackling one of the most underrated topics on the exam: how the brain actually makes you move.If you've ever thought “why are there so many brain parts just for movement?” this episode is your roadmap.You'll learn:

Struggling with MCAT CARS, especially when the passage is about something science-y you actually like?

What the medulla oblongata actually does on the MCAT (besides sounding fancy)? In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly kick off a new MCAT brain anatomy series by starting with the structures that literally keep you alive: the brainstem and vital functions.Instead of drowning you in neuroanatomy, they connect what you see in MCAT passages to how the brain actually works in real life.You'll learn:

In this Jack Westin MCAT Podcast episode, Mike and Molly continue the reproductive story, picking up right where the menstrual cycle left off. This time, they walk you through what actually happens after fertilization, from zygote to blastula to the three germ layers, focusing only on what the MCAT really cares about, not med school level detail.Instead of memorizing random diagrams and timelines, you will learn the logic and sequence behind early embryonic development so you can handle any MCAT passage or discrete that touches fertilization, implantation, stem cells, or germ layers.Want to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com!

In this MCAT CARS Reading Skills Workshop episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Jack and Molly break down the Jack Westin Daily CARS passage “Old Folks Homes” (January 7) sentence by sentence and show you how to lock onto the author's argument when the passage feels straightforward, but still testable.This passage is a great example of how clear tone and repeated contrasts point directly to the main idea if you know what to track. We treat this like a live CARS tutoring session, reading carefully, flagging tone shifts, and mapping how the author builds a case against institutionalized elderly housing in favor of residential, community-focused design.In this episode, you'll learn how to:

Start the new year by finally making peace with MCAT CARS. In this CARS Reading Skills Workshop episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, we walk through a full Jack Westin Daily CARS passage called “Standardized Tests” (posted on December 31) and show you exactly how to think while you read.We treat this like a live CARS tutoring session: reading sentence by sentence, talking through confusion, and mapping the author's argument so main idea questions feel way less mysterious.In this MCAT CARS episode, you'll learn how to:

In this episode of the Jack Westin MCAT Podcast, Mike and Molly break down one of the most confusing and heavily tested topics in MCAT Biology: the menstrual cycle.Instead of memorizing hormone charts and phase names, we focus on understanding the story behind the cycle so you can answer any MCAT question, even when it's asked in an unfamiliar way.We cover:

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:

In this MCAT CARS episode, we walk through a full Jack Westin Daily CARS Passage called “Nativity Ode” (originally posted on December 24) and show you exactly how to read, interpret, and track the author's ideas for tougher humanities passages.You'll see us go sentence by sentence and break down:

Art passages making your MCAT CARS practice feel extra confusing? In this Jack Westin CARS Reading Skills Workshop, Molly and Jack break down a Rembrandt passage sentence by sentence and show you how to separate tone from main idea without getting lost in the details.Using this Daily CARS Passage, they walk through:How to spot tone words vs argument/content wordsWhy “always,” “never,” and other extreme phrases matter so much on CARSHow religion, nature, and spirituality are used to build the author's main ideaWhen to ignore overly dense sentences and focus on clear, direct claimsHow to track support (like pupil conversations and biblical references) without memorizing detailsBy the end, you'll see how to read CARS passages like arguments, not puzzles, and how to turn vague “CARS anxiety” into specific, fixable skills.Read the passage first: https://jackwestin.com/daily/mcat-practice-passages/cars-practice-passages/rembrandtWant to learn more? Shoot us a text at 415-855-4435 or email us at podcast@jackwestin.com!

Struggling with meiosis, gametogenesis, and all the weird details the MCAT loves to test?

Do certain majors actually have higher acceptance rates—or is that just a premed myth? In this episode, we break down medical school acceptances by major according to AAMC data. If you're choosing a major (or worried you picked the "wrong" one), this episode will help you build a smarter strategy—and a stronger application.   Like the podcast? Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with our team: https://bemo.ac/podbr-BeMoFreeConsult   Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more great tips and other useful information!   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BeMoAcademicConsultingInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bemoacademicconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemo_academic_consulting/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeMo_AC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bemoacademicconsulting

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!

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

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Accepted Admissions Consultant Alicia Nimonkar, an expert writing coach with a background in composition and rhetoric, to unpack one of the most important – and often most intimidating – parts of the medical school application: the personal statement. Alicia explains how applicants can use the AAMC's premed competencies as a framework to craft authentic, focused narratives that highlight their strengths. From creating a timeline of formative experiences to developing an outline that connects recurring themes, she shares how to identify what makes your story uniquely yours – and how to make it resonate with admissions committees.Alicia also offers practical insight into the writing process itself: how many drafts it really takes, when to stop editing, and how to avoid the “too many cooks in the kitchen” trap of excessive feedback. She and Dr. Wherley discuss the power of resilience, effort, and voice – exploring how applicants can address challenges without sounding apologetic and how to write from a place of strength and advocacy. Whether you're starting your first draft or polishing your final version, this episode will help you approach your personal statement with clarity, confidence, and purpose.Related ResourcesAAMC The Premed Competencies for Entering Medical StudentsMindsets: A View From Two ErasThe Obstacle Is the WayAlicia Nimonkar bio and contact informationRelated Admissions Straight Talk EpisodesThe Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]How to Overcome the Biggest Weaknesses in Med School Applications [Episode 605]Rejection and Reapplication: How to Respond [Episode 523] Follow UsYouTubeFacebookLinkedInContact Uswww.accepted.comsupport@accepted.com+1 (310) 815-9553

Is the MCAT actually getting harder… or just noisier?

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

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

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!

Don't just say you are ready to be a doctor. Show that you already live like one.  In today's episode, one of our BeMo experts breaks down the AAMC Core Competencies, and how you can align yourself to them in every aspect of your application.    Like the podcast? Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with our team: https://bemo.ac/podbr-BeMoFreeConsult   Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more great tips and other useful information!   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BeMoAcademicConsultingInc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bemoacademicconsulting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemo_academic_consulting/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeMo_AC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bemoacademicconsulting  

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!