MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)

Join us as we detail MCAT exam topics. Each podcast covers several MCAT sections with lessons based on review material put out by the AAMC, such as practice tests and question banks. Sam also interviews MCAT tutors and experts who share tips on how premed students can raise their score to get into medical school.

Renal Physiology 04/23/2024

Renal Physiology This podcast covers renal physiology. I start with a brief introduction to renal anatomy, then discuss in detail renal physiology. Next, I introduce three hormones (ADH, aldosterone, and ANP) that effect the kidneys and discuss their effects on the nephron. Lastly, I talk about measurements of renal function. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9964085

Psychosocial Development and Identity 04/18/2024

Psychosocial Development and Identity This podcast covers identity and psychosocial development. First, I will define a few terms you may see on the MCAT regarding identity. Next, I will breakdown the following theories of identity development: Erickson’s psychosocial development theory, Freud’s theory of psychosexual development, Paiget’s development theory, Kohlberg’s moral development theory, George Herbert Mead’s the I and the me, Cooley’s looking glass self, and Vygotsky’s social development theory. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9821492

Functional Groups: Physical and Chemical Properties 04/16/2024

Functional Groups: Physical and Chemical Properties This podcast covers the main functional groups you will see on the MCAT. First, I will cover different physical properties (boiling point and solubility) of compounds containing the 8 most common functional groups: alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and amides. I then mention the difference in reactivities of different carboxylic acid derivatives. Last, I’ll introduce a few less common functional groups that you may see on the MCAT. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9774956

Electromagnetism 04/11/2024

Electromagnetism This podcast covers topics within electromagnetism. First, I will talk about charge and electric fields. This will include discussions on static charge, the amber effect, and electric potential. Then, I will introduce magnetism. I will discuss the concept of magnetism, force applied by a magnetic field, the right hand rule, and the magnetic characterization of different materials. *Corrections*: Electrostatic force is INVERSELY proportional to the distance between charges squared Amperes = Coulombs/Second I say that magnetic field lines travel in the same direction that Santa goes when he is done delivering presents. This assumes he lives on the South Pole. (i.e. he goes north to south when he is done delivering presents) Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9743447

Psychology and Sociology Theories 04/09/2024

Psychology and Sociology Theories This podcast covers the most important psych/soc theories on the MCAT. First, I will discuss social theories: functionalism, symbolic interactionism, conflict theory, social constructionism. Next, I will talk about theories of emotion: James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer, Lazarus. Last, I will discuss a few different theories of motivation including: Drive-Reduction, Incentive, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and more. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594902

The Reproductive System 04/04/2024

The Reproductive System This podcast covers a few topics within the reproductive system and development. I will discuss the following topics: spermatogenesis/oogenesis, the menstrual cycle, and development (from fertilization to birth). Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594905

Atomic Chemistry 04/02/2024

Atomic Chemistry This lecture covers basic quantum theory, quantum numbers, hybridization, types of bonds, and nuclear decay. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594908

Light and Optics 03/28/2024

Light and Optics This lecture covers light and optics. It is a physics heavy podcast. I talk first about photons. This includes an introduction to the photoelectric effect and the work function. Next, I briefly talk about waves. Last, I discuss some of the physics applications of light: polarization, diffraction/reflection, and lenses. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594911

Learning and Memory 03/26/2024

Learning and Memory This lecture covers learning and memory. I will discuss: the different types of memory (short term, working, and long term), the structures in the brain related to memory, and learning. My discussion on learning will mostly focus on conditioning. I will talk about both operant conditioning and classical conditioning in detail. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594914

The Endocrine System 03/21/2024

The Endocrine System This lecture covers the endocrine system. I go over types of hormones and their function, describe different structures within the endocrine system, and briefly discuss a few endocrine system disorders. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594917

BONUS: HIV Cure? 03/19/2024

BONUS: HIV Cure? This bonus episode covers the recent news regarding the 3rd patient ever cured of HIV - technically considered a sustained remission. I will discuss some background on HIV-1 necessary to understand how the cure works. Then, I will discuss the paper detailing the cure and talk about its implications. CORRECTION: HIV-1 Viruses can be dual tropic. Viruses that are dual tropic can use both coreceptors. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594920

Study Types and Research Design 03/14/2024

Study Types and Research Design This lecture covers study variables and types. I discuss different study variables: independent variable, dependent variable, correlation variable, confounding variable, odds ratio, and more. Next, I talk about different types of studies: experimental, observational, case-control, cross-sectional, cohort, and more. Lastly, I discuss different types of bias that influence the results of an experiment. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594923

Organic Chemistry Mechanisms to Know 03/12/2024

Organic Chemistry Mechanisms to Know This episode briefly covers the highest yield organic chemistry mechanisms and reactions on the MCAT. I will talk about: SN1/SN2, Carbonyl Addition/Substitution, Aldol Condensation, Oxidation/Reduction of Oxygen Containing Species, Fischer Esterification/Saponification, and E1/E2. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594926

Social Groups 03/07/2024

Social Groups This lecture covers social groups. I will discuss the different types of social groups, social networks, organizations, interactions within groups, and cultural groups (assimilation, integration, marginalization, and separation). Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594929

Genetics: Gene Expression 03/05/2024

Genetics: Gene Expression This podcast is the second in a series of lectures that cover genetics. This podcast is mainly focused on gene expression. I also cover patterns of inheritance and genetics laboratory techniques (PCR, qPCR, Blotting, etc.). Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594932

Genetics: Chromosomes, Meiosis and Mitosis, and Inheritance Patterns 02/29/2024

Genetics: Chromosomes, Meiosis and Mitosis, and Inheritance Patterns This podcast is the first in a series of lectures covering genetics. I cover the following topics: brief history of basic genetic principals, evolution, chromosomal theory (including mutations), mitosis and meiosis, and inheritance patterns. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594938

Enzyme Kinetics, Inhibition, and Categorization 02/27/2024

Enzyme Kinetics, Inhibition, and Categorization This podcast covers enzyme kinetics, inhibition, and categorization. I will cover the different types of enzymes that are likely to show up on the MCAT. This includes a review of international categorization (oxioreductase, hydrolase, lyase, etc.) and biologically categorization (phosphorylase, synthase, synthetase, etc.) of enzymes. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594941

Biomolecule Structure, Naming, and Function 02/22/2024

Biomolecule Structure, Naming, and Function This lesson covers biomolecule structure, naming, and function. I talk about steroids, nucleotides and nucleosides, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and more. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594944

Metabolism: Gluconeogenesis, Pentose Phosphate Pathway, and More 02/20/2024

Metabolism: Gluconeogenesis, Pentose Phosphate Pathway, and More This lesson takes a further look into metabolism. It covers Gluconeogenesis, Glucose Homeostasis, the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, and Ketosis. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594947

Metabolism: Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain 02/15/2024

Metabolism: Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain This podcast covers glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. I cover each process in detail and cover what you should memorize. This is a very information-dense podcast. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594950

Acids and Bases 02/13/2024

Acids and Bases This episode covers acids and bases. The following topics are covered: definitions, pH calculations, quick logarithm calculations, titrations, buffers, and the blood buffer system. Some of the material is very basic, but it is all-important for the MCAT. Correction: A lewis acid is an electrophile - accepts e pair A lewis base is a nucleophile - donates an e pair (Thanks for the correction, David) Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594953

The Nervous System 02/08/2024

The Nervous System /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594956

Amino Acids 02/06/2024

Amino Acids In this episode, Sam Smith covers the broad topic of amino acids. Sam covers the following topics within the podcast: charge and net charge, substrate pocket binding, structure, hydrophobic hydrophilic, abbreviations, protein folding and protein stability, mutational notation. Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/9594962

Gluconeogenesis 02/01/2024

Gluconeogenesis The MCAT Basics Podcast continues the series on Metabolism, and in today's episode, Alex Starks talks about gluconeogenesis. This episode covers the processes of gluconeogenesis, why it's important, the sources of noncarbohydrate precursors, and the amount of ATP used during gluconeogenesis. [01:38] The Process of Gluconeogenesis [04:10] Sources of Noncarbohydrate Material [07:55] The Key Steps in Gluconeogenesis [15:24] Hormonal Control of Gluconeogenesis [16:30] Gluconeogenesis and the Amount of ATP Used [18:02] Quiz and Important Takeaways Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/21991271

Highlight# 20 - Stereotype Threat 01/30/2024

Highlight# 20 - Stereotype Threat This clip is from the social stratification podcast and covers stereotype threat. Enjoy! Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/18010847

Highlight #19 - SDS Page 01/25/2024

Highlight #19 - SDS Page This clip is from the Separation and Purification Techniques podcast. Enjoy! Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/17737667

Highlight #18 - Sleep Stages 01/23/2024

Highlight #18 - Sleep Stages This clip comes from the Sleep and Circadian Rhythms podcast and covers the sleep stages. Enjoy! Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/17559869

Highlight #17 - Experimental Validity, Specificity, & Sensitivity 01/18/2024

Highlight #17 - Experimental Validity, Specificity, & Sensitivity This clip is from the Study Types and Research Design podcast. It covers validity, specificity, and sensitivity. Enjoy! Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/17246378

Electron Transport Chain 01/16/2024

Electron Transport Chain This MCAT Basics Podcast continues its series on metabolism, and in today's episode, Alex Starks talks about the Electron Transport Chain and ATP synthesis. The story continues with a look at how electrons flow through complexes I,II,III, and IV, as well as how it is coupled to the synthesis of ATP. Everything you need to know about this stage of metabolism is made clear and easy to understand so you can ace any metabolism question on the AAMC MCAT Exam. [03:10] The Purpose of the Electron Transport Chain [07:24] What is NADH Dehydrogenase [11:32] Coenzyme Q in the Electron Transport Chain [18:31] Why Oxygen is Called the Terminal Electron Acceptor [20:33] The Proton Motive Force [27:10] The Effects of Breaking the Electron Transport Chain [30:14] DNP: The "Miracle Weight-Loss Drug" [34:30] Fatty Acid Metabolism [34:58] Quiz and Important Takeaways Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/20737016

The Krebs Cycle 01/11/2024

The Krebs Cycle The MCAT Basics Podcast continues its series on Metabolism, and in today's episode, Alex Starks talks about the Krebs cycle, also known as the TCA cycle and Citric Acid cycle. This episode examines the chemistry, biochemistry, and biology of pyruvate metabolism and details how this high-yield MCAT topic will be tested on the AAMC MCAT Exam. [01:30] Aerobic fate of Pyruvate [03:45] Acetyl-coa in the mitochondrial matrix [04:22] Visualizing the molecules and structure [06:10] The Krebs Cycle [23:56] ATP and The Electron Transport Chain [26:07] Quiz and Important Takeaways Please email me if you have any comments or concerns: To learn more about how MedSchoolCoach can help you along your medical school journey, visit us at . Thanks for listening! /episode/index/show/mcatbasics/id/20691953

MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)

TOPICS