Quick facts:1) Westwood is Berkeley Review's biggest center (where their master teachers teach)2) Berkeley Review is the only company with an MCAT-only study center in the Los Angeles area3) Todd and Dale (the founders) both teach in Westwood

Location: 1074 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025Center includes a waiting area where students may study, a spacious classroom that comfortably seats 28 students, has two additional study tables, a snack table, four whiteboards, and state of the art audio-visual equipment, and a laptop computer area for computer prep work. There is no other center in California designed 100% for premedical students preparing for the MCAT.

(Outstanding) Instructors/Tutors: Out team consists of eight experienced teachers delivering high-quality lectures that are painstakingly developed and redeveloped several times per year.

Our teaching philosophy is simple. Help students learn to do better on multiple-choice questions on the MCAT. This entails building a science vocabulary, understanding many concepts, thinking logically, becoming fast at integrating multiple concepts, avoiding careless errors, and mastering test-taking skills. Our teachers are selected for their ability to teach these skills. Many teachers are hired to teach just one to three of our lecture topics (we have forty-four total topic lectures as well as five skills lectures), to ensure that every class has excellent instruction at those specific subjects. Our teachers are experts at what they teach.

We have been fortunate enough to once again keep our Westwood teaching team intact including a Pepperdine professor and our founders are once again teaching. We have added two new tutors to the team for this year. Listed below are the members of our teaching and tutoring team.

ChemistryTodd Bennett, FIVE-time OUTSTANDING TEACHING ASSISTANT Award Winner (at UCSD, UCB, and UCI), Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award (IVC), Primary Developer of Hyperlearning MCAT Course, co-Founder of Berkeley Review, 22 years of MCAT teaching experience, Author of Berkeley Review Chemistry Books, 6.89 Student Evaluation Rating (1-7 scale) Teaches six of the ten general chemistry lectures and four of the seven organic chemistry lectures

Rey Henry, Amazing UCLA Tutor, Two Sessions of MCAT experience, Excellent Tutor in Office Hours, no Student Evaluation Rating at this timeTeaches three of the ten general chemistry lectures

PhysicsTodd Bennett, Winner of Coveted Faculty Teaching Award (Hartnell College), co-Author of Berkeley Review Physics Book, 13 years of MCAT physics teaching experience, 6.89 Student Evaluation Rating

BiologyAndrew Eads, UCI Medical Student, Tutor/Instructor for six years at UCLA , Fifteen Sessions of MCAT experience, 6.50 Student Evaluation Rating

Roland Palvolgyi, UCLA Medical Student, Tutor/Instructor for three years at UCLA , Three Sessions of MCAT experience, 6.33 Student Evaluation Rating

Naomi Serling-Boyd, Amazing Biology Tutor at UCLA, Two Sessions of MCAT experience, no Student Evaluation Rating at this time

Dale Schmidt, co-Founder Berkeley Review, Author of Berkeley Review Biology Book, 19 years of MCAT teaching experience, 6.59 Student Evaluation Rating

Verbal ReasoningSean Batson, Top of the chart on MCAT Verbal exam, Verbal Reasoning Expert, 6.00 Student

Evaluation Rating

*Student Evaluation Score based Student Evaluations of teaching on scale of 1 - 7 (7 being Excellent)

Seasonal ClassesSession 1   (aiming for January exams) starts first week of October until first week of January (four to five classes per week, meeting two weeknights and twice on Saturdays with occassional Sundays)

Sessions 2 and 3 (aiming for March/April exams) starts first week of January until third week of March (four to five classes per week, meeting two weeknights and twice on Saturdays with occassional extra weekday)

Sessions 4 and 5 (aiming for April/May exams) starts last week of January until third week of April (four to five classes per week, meeting two weeknights and twice on Sundays with occassional extra weekday)

Session 6 (aiming for July exams) starts first week of May until first week of July (five to six classes per week, meeting two weeknights and twice on Saturdays, and twice on Sundays)

Sessions 7 and 8 (aiming for August/September exams) starts third week of June until last week of August (four to five classes per week, meeting four weekdays and once on either Saturday or Sundays with occassional extra weekend day)

Lecture TopicsBiology 1 Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells, Cellular Function, Viruses, and Biological MoleculesBiology 2 Metabolism, Enzymes, Kinetics, Glycolysis, Kreb's Cycle, and Electron Transport-Oxidative PhosphBiology 3 Beta Oxidation, Gluconeogenesis, Urea Cycle, and Calvin CycleBiology 4 Introduction to Nucleic Acids, DNA, RNA, Replication, Transcription, and TranslationBiology 5 Genetic Information, More Translation, Genetic Engineering, and RecombinationBiology 6 Cumulative Review of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry

Gen Chem 1 Stoichiometry, Limiting Reagents, Concentration Units, Dilution, and SolubilityGen Chem 2 Atomic Theory, Electronic Configurations, Periodic Trends, Excitation/Relaxation, and VSEPR TheoryGen Chem 3 Equilibrium Constant, Equilibrium, Le Châtelier's Principle, Reaction Rate, and Reaction OrderGen Chem 4 Weak Acids & Bases, Strong Acids & Bases, pH Scale, Neutralization, and BuffersGen Chem 5 pH Calculations, Polyprotic Acids, Titration Curves, Multiple Equivalent Points, and IndicatorsGen Chem 6 Gas Definitions, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Gas Laws, Partial Pressure, and EffusionGen Chem 7 Phases Changes, Heat Exchange, Phase Diagrams, Vapor Pressure, and Raoult's LawGen Chem 8 Enthalpy, Entropy, Free Energy, Calorimetry, Bond Energies, Reaction Rate, and OrderGen Chem 9 Classical Experiments in Atomic Structure, Isotopes, Nuclear Chemistry, and Half-LivesGen Chem 10 Balancing Redox Reactions, Electromotive Force, Electrochemical Cells, and Nernst EquationGen Chem 11 Overview of Chemistry Topics, Review of Heavily Tested Topics, and Test Strategy

Org Chem 1 Organic Structure, Resonance, Hybridization, Aromaticity, and Steric HindranceOrg Chem 2 IR Spectroscopy, UV-Visible Spectroscopy, NMR Spectroscopy, and Structure ElucidationOrg Chem 3 Stereochemistry, Enantiomers, Diastereomers, Meso, and Nucleophilic SubstitutionOrg Chem 4 Elimination, Diels Alder Reaction, Terpenes, and Free RadicalsOrg Chem 5 Carbonyl Reactions, Protecting Groups, Acetals, Hemiacetals, and Redox ChemistryOrg Chem 6 Titration, Isoelectric pH, Electrophoresis, Sequencing, Affinity Chromatography, and Protein StructureOrg Chem 7 Chromatography, Distillation, Extraction, Recrystallization, and Basic Lab IdeologyOrg Chem 8 Overview of Chemistry Topics, Review of Heavily Tested Topics, and Test Strategy

Physics 1 Translational Motion, Kinematics, Acceleration, Velocity, and Projectile MotionPhysics 2 Forces, Force Diagrams, Circular Motion, and Newton's LawsPhysics 3 Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Work, Heat, and MomentumPhysics 4 Transfer of Momentum, Transfer of Energy, Friction, and GravityPhysics 5 Periodic Motion, Beats, Period, Frequency, Cyclic Processes, Springs, Pendulums, and WavesPhysics 6 Sound, Doppler Effect, Beat Frequency, Decibel Scale, and Longitudinal WavesPhysics 7 Fluid Dynamics, Bernoulli's Law, Archimedes' Principle, Hydraulics, and SolidsPhysics 8 Electrostatics,Electric Fields, Magnetic Fields, and Motion of Charged ParticlesPhysics 9 Simple Circuits, Current, Resistance, Voltage, Circuit Rules, and Circuit FeaturesPhysics 10 Light Spectrum, Electromagnetic Radiation, Refraction, Reflection, Mirrors, and Lenses

Physiology 1 Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, and Skeletal/Muscular SystemPhysiology 2 Cardiovascular Physiology, Hemoglobin, Myoglobin, and Circulatory SystemPhysiology 3 Gastrointestinal System, Renal Physiology, Nephron Dynamics, and Regulation of GIPhysiology 4 Reproductive Systems (M/F), Female Hormone Cycle, Gastrulation, and DevelopmentPhysiology 5 Immune System, B-Cells, T-Cells, Antigens, Antibodies, Defense Mechanisms, and HormonesPhysiology 6 Physiological Pathways, Integration of Pathways, Physiological Feedback Mechanisms

Verbal 1 Introduction to the Verbal Reasoning Test, Eclectic Topic Overview, and Establishing a Game PlanVerbal 2 The Mapping Technique, Typical Questions ("The List"), and Letting Go of Science Reading HabitsVerbal 3 Introduction to Speed Reading, Effective Skimming, Test Timing, and Your Testing StrategyVerbal 4 Critical Reading for Ideas and Concepts, Pre-reading Questions, and Recognizing the 'Best' AnswerVerbal 5 Recognizing Topics, Concentration Skills, and Time Allotment During ExamEssay Comp Establishing an Outline, The Essay Formula, and Making it Look Good

Course Materials to be used with lectures (all passages include full explanations)Biology Text 1 (Physiology) 75 passagesBiology Text 2 (Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics) 75 passages

General Chemistry Text 1 (Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure, Equilibrium, and Acids & Bases) 68 passagesGeneral Chemistry Text 2 (Gases, Phases, Electrochemistry, Thermodynamics, and Kinetics) 63 passages

Organic Chemistry Text 1 (Organic Structure, Spectroscopy, Stereochemistry, and Hydrocarbons) 53 passagesOrganic Chemistry Text 2 (Carbonyls, Carbohydrates, Amino Acids, and Laboratory Techniques) 54 passages

Physics Text 1 (Translational Motion, Forces, Work, Momentum, Torque, and Waves) 50 passagesPhysics Text 2 (Sound, Fluids & Solids, Electrostatics, Circuits, Light, and Optics) 50 passages

Verbal Reasoning Text includes 105 passages with full answer explanations and test strategy tipsEssay Composition Text includes sample essays and a strategy formula for writing a strong essay

Test Materials (9 Full-Length CBT Exams)Full-Length Tests TBR Practice Test I 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test II 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test III 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test IV 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test V 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test VI 21 Passages with complete answer explanations

TBR Practice Test VII 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test VIII 21 Passages with complete answer explanationsTBR Practice Test IX 21 Passages with complete answer explanations

Extra Materials for Continued ReviewVerbal Reasoning 32 In-Class Passages and 21 Test Passages with complete answer explanationsPhysical Sciences 14 Passages in Two Topical Tests with complete answer explanationsGeneral Chemistry Problem Session Passage Sets 14 Passages with complete answer explanationsCumulative Chemistry Tests 14 Passages with complete answer explanationsIn-Class Passages 40 Passages with complete answer explanationsOrganic Chemistry Problem Session Passage Sets 12 Passages with complete answer explanationsCumulative Chemistry Tests 14 Passages with complete answer explanationsIn-Class Passages 28 Passages with complete answer explanationsBiology Integrative Review I 11 Passages with complete answer explanationsIntegrative Review II 11 Passages with complete answer explanationsPhysics Problem Session Passage Sets 14 Passages with complete answer explanationsCumulative Chemistry Tests 14 Passages with complete answer explanationsIn-Class Passages 50 Passages with complete answer explanationsMiscellaneous MCAT Grab Bag I, II, & III 20± Passages with complete answer explanations

Supplemental Materials (for application assistance)Application Guideline A detailed timeline for and statistical look at applying to medical schoolInterview Tips Collected comments from people who have given and received interviews

Key FactsStudent-to-Teacher Ratio of 4 : 1 to 8 : 1, depending on the season.Class Size: 20.3 students on average, 26 Students maximum in WestwoodMCAT only, so we know MCAT strategies and techniques better than anyone

“Turn 26s into 32s, 30s into 35s, and 36s into 40s”__________________Some of the most amazing doctors I know, the ones who've started clinics for the underserved and reached out from their hearts to help others, didn't do all that well on the MCAT. Maybe because they had to work so hard to become a doctor, they work that much harder as a doctor.