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[0:00] Charlie Murphy: Hello, hello, and welcome to Mapping the College Audition. I'm your host, Charlie Murphy, Director of MTCA. That's Musical Theatre, College Auditions, and check us out at mtca.com. And today we've got Mindy Catron on the podcast. Mindy is herself a successful Broadway performer, but principally on the pod today to talk about being an MTCA mom who has just navigated the process with her daughter who started at Elon this month. I promised you all more parents, and I'm giving you more parents. We had Brian Belding on a while back, and I have at least two more lined up for you in the coming months, so fear not. I'm just going to space them out a bit because while I think these episodes are probably favorites for some of you who are current seniors, juniors, even freshmen and sophomore listeners in high school, they're technically a bit of a stretch from the artist template for those of you listeners who are only listening to half of this feed and might be in college or beyond.

If you've already completed your college process, you might only want to listen to the first half of Mindy's episode, and some of these episodes coming later with those non-artist parents, they're not going to be the most entertaining for you. So basically just to say if you came here because you loved listening to Gavin Creel or Jesse Mueller, my apologies. You can skip, skip, skip some of these episodes, but there will still be plenty of those coming if you've subscribed to the artist-only feed, but I can't promise you that it will be zero skips. And speaking of listeners, I do just want to say a big hello and welcome to some of our newer listeners. We've really seen a great jump in listeners in the past few months on our stats.

I'm sure somewhat of that was due to those of our loyal listeners and your kind recommendations, so thank you to those who've been here with us a while, and hello to those who are just joining us. And as you may have intuited from the above, for those of you who are brand new to us, we do do these two kinds of episodes in general, interviews with colleges about their specific programs, and then the next week will be an interview with artists about their careers and the role education played in it, and then variations on that theme with different kinds of artists, different kinds of colleges, all the different kind of some fun bonus episodes, etc. I encourage all of you to scroll through our catalog and check out some of those evergreen episodes of both kinds, and we're going to keep spinning and innovating as we roll deeper into season four.

But as always, your ratings and reviews as well as those direct recommendations are how our listenership grows, and they're very much appreciated. Speaking of, we got an Apple podcast review last week from Eunice Skinnyhound that touched me very deeply, and I'm going to read it into the record here. Eunice said, I can't get enough of this podcast. My son is looking at MT college programs, and it's been a treasure trove of information, but also I just love it. It's so fun. I'd listen even if we weren't embarking on this crazy process. The insights from the artisan faculty that Charlie, a charmer for sure, interviews are fascinating. The education of artists and so many different aspects of living life for performer, a non-ironic and open-hearted five stars here.

I mean, what a beautiful way to send me off into my honeymoon. Eunice, thank you. That is much appreciated. I'm tempted to question whether you'd listen to this podcast if your son were interested in finance, but yeah, I'm just going to take the compliment. I'm just going to take it, and it really does mean a lot to me. And you, dear listeners, can absolutely review us on your podcast platform of choice if you want to make me tear up non-ironically like Eunice did. You can say nice things, funny things, whatever you want, as long as you give us those sweet five stars. All right, let's get into this interview with Mindy. I really enjoyed chatting with her. You're going to hear I met her daughter like three years ago now at TPAP, the Performing Arts Project, where I used to teach every summer, and I just loved getting to know both Michaela and Mindy, as I love so many of our students.

And let's just throw that caveat out there as we listen to this episode. It's just impossible to have all of the parents I love on the podcast, or we would run out of episodes before we ran out of schools. And as many of you know, there are a lot of schools. I wanted to try to give you a few different examples of different kinds of student and parent experiences, just a couple data points on the scatterplot of all that can be from a parent and student perspective. But each data point is just that, right? I cued Mindy before we started, just as I did with Brian, that this is about their experience, and that, of course, one experience will not be comprehensive across the board. It just can't be.

So I caution anyone to draw too many conclusions from any one opinion, other than, of course, Eunice's opinion above. That is a correct opinion when speaking about this podcast. But truly, if you poll 100 parents, you're going to hear a lot of different experiences. There will be signal in the noise if you can find it, and that's something MTCA tries to do. We try to pull out that signal for you, but there's also plenty of noise from a statistical perspective when you're trying to draw causation out. And in my next few parents, I'm going to try to give you some different personality types, different experiences from both the parent and the child. But again, it's still just going to be a few data points.

It will not be representative of all the different diverse possibilities that might be your family. And I really like this idea of having a performer on. That's why I wanted to ask Mindy now, because I think it's actually a really difficult parent-child relationship for a lot of our families, where the parent has some knowledge or expertise, in Mindy's case, a lot of knowledge and expertise, that actually can make it really tricky to navigate. Honestly, when our families say, God, we have no idea about this process, it's normally so much easier than when our parents do actually have some level of knowledge, but maybe not expertise in the current college process. You can imagine your own metaphors with sports parents screaming from the sidelines if you need to.

But we've also seen almost every iteration of a parent-child relationship be workable if there's passion from the kid and an openness to making it work from both. So many ways to be successful in this process, from parents being extremely involved, as long as we'll talk about it's in the right ways, to be involved very little, sometimes not at all, right? You can figure out what works best for your family, and I'm just going to try to give you a couple of different examples of how that can work. Okay, enough preamble. I'm just trying to get as many intros as I possibly can before my sweet honeymoon, which I leave for on the day this episode drops. Again, I said this last week, but if there is a college musical theater emergency, I won't be able to catch it in the next episode, the intro of which I'm recording right after this, but we will catch it up in the deep dive of the next episode after that. And no, playbill dropping their college's most represented on Broadway square on social media does not qualify as an emergency. And again, on that note, please do enjoy this chat with Mindy Catron.

[6:24] Charlie Murphy: Well, we are so excited to have on the podcast Mindy Catron. Mindy is an MTCA parent, which of course is our most thrilling and exciting reason to have her on the pod, but also herself, a fantastic Broadway actress. She studied at Point Park, where she got a BA in dance, has been on Broadway in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ragtime, Christmas Carol, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, lots of national tours, including some of those shows, and Hello Dolly with Carol Channing, and is the mother of a class of 2023 MTCA student, Michaela, who I believe she just dropped off at Elon. Is that true?

[7:04] Mindy Catron: Yes. Class of 2024. Don't make me say that wrong again. Class of 2024. That's a hundred percent right. Oh my gosh. I always mess up the years. We got that part right that you just dropped her off, but this year is 2024, which makes them 2024.

[7:21] Charlie Murphy: Oh, you should have heard me at the, we did it at Meet MTCA Workshop the other day. Every time I said juniors and seniors wrong of class of 2025 versus 2026, I was like, dang it. No, I mean, 2027. Nope. Nope. 2026. It's a lot to keep track.

[7:35] Mindy Catron: It's a lot to keep track. Luckily, we're going to talk about the ways that you're so good at keeping track of all this on the pod, but first off, welcome. We are just so excited to have you on. Of course, principally I mentioned, you know, being an MTCA mom and someone who's just gone through this process. I think that's the most essential part of it. But I also think it's really going to be helpful for our parent listeners to hear, you know, we're having a diverse array of parents on, I kind of promised a couple of different parent perspectives, but especially to hear this bucket of someone who, you know, you really could have been an artist guest in your own right as just an actress. Right.

And to be able to speak from that parent perspective, I think it's going to be very different than a parent who's a business major or those kinds of things. So we'll get into all of that from all those different angles. But before we dive into your parenthood, can we start with your, a quick journey of your career and maybe even I'd love to start with your college journey. Do you remember the application and audition process? Do you remember maybe, especially from you like 16, 17, as you started thinking about what I'm looking for in a college experience, what was that as you were doing your own approach?

[8:39] Mindy Catron: So my experience was vastly different. I grew up in a very small town in upstate New York in the country, very rural. I didn't really have the opportunity to get to get deeply involved in dance until I was in high school. And when I say deeply involved, the most I could do was one day a week. Unlike anything like my kids and many of the kids have the opportunity to do now where we are. So while I always knew that I wanted to be in musical theater, it seemed ridiculous. It seemed like something just not within any form of reality. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I went to SUNY Geneseo my freshman year as an elementary education major, but that's another podcast because that would be the worst career ever for me.

But I was a dance minor because I did love to dance, but I didn't have years and years of training under my belt. I started relatively late at like 16, getting more serious and involved. I guess I had a lot of natural ability. So during the course of my year there, the head of the dance program at Geneseo, which was not a major, just a minor said, you need to go do this. You've got what it takes. You've got some hard work to do, but you just need to go do this. And that really was all I ever wanted to hear and all I ever wanted to do. The shortest story of this is that luckily my parents got on board. And then I worked that summer in a show that was local upstate, but all the dancers, with the exception of myself and like one other, came from, were hired from Point Park.

And I had yet to figure out what I was going to do, how I was ever going to pursue this industry, this business. And then I met all these dancers from Point Park who just said, you have to come to Point Park. And so I called Point Park in like July before the school started in September 1st and said, I'd love to come to your school. And luckily that's still how it works today. You just call the school and say, can I come attend? And that's it. I just called. I walked down, they arranged for an audition. I showed up, did a couple of dance classes and then walked into an office and they said, we love you. You're great. Classes start in two weeks. Here's a scholarship to help you get here. I cannot relate to what the kids have to go through today is what I'm getting at.

[11:04] Charlie Murphy: So you certainly can haven't gone through it as a mom now, but, but to give me a little bit of your parents experience. So, so were your parents, did they know at 16, 17, would you say, Hey, I want to go be a professional dancer. And they were like, that's not realistic. You should be early education. It seemed like they were supportive, certainly of you making the jump after freshman year, I guess. What was that conversation? If you were to have said to them, I think I want to be a professional dancer, professional actor, what would they have said?

[12:00] Mindy Catron: I don't recall that I ever said that, but all I did was perform. I was, I'm in my town, you were a cheerleader. So I was, I was the head of the cheerleading team and competing. And then I was always in the community theater show. I was in the high school show. I got involved with the dance studio and was always doing stuff there and competitions. And I just was always doing it. And everybody always talked about how natural I was. And my parents were always so proud of how natural I was, but I don't think I really ever voiced out loud the desire to pursue it. Cause it just seemed very far away. Right. And the same way, if you play baseball in high school, you might not think I'm going to be a professional baseball player.

You go, that's some people do that, but those are other people. Who are those people? Really? It's all about the teachers in my life. This dance teacher just said, you need to go do this. And I went home for Christmas break and showed my parents. She, she wrote me a letter and like slipped it to me on opening night of a concert that we were doing first semester. And I brought it home to my parents and like handed it over going, so this happened. And I actually would really like to consider this. And you know, the first response was, we don't want you to be poor. Um, to which I said, well, I don't have to be, I don't know what I thought I knew, but, and yet you were right. You don't have to be right.

I actually was right. And my parents came and they sat down with this college professor, asked her all the questions and she, you know, spoke on my behalf of how much she believed in my ability. And, um, so my parents went, well, then that's it. You just have to do this. And they really never looked back and were huge supporters and enablers of me launching off into doing this.

[13:16] Charlie Murphy: Shout out to your parents. That's awesome. And we're going to talk about the different examples of parents, but that sounds like a parents who maybe didn't come from the industry. So it didn't have that knowledge, which is a little bit different than your own experience.

[13:21] Mindy Catron: No knowledge. Never, never had any knowledge of how all this works.

[13:25] Charlie Murphy: Um, what about, let's talk a little bit about your journey to success in the Broadway world. Um, you know, we have a few other kind of dance focused artists coming on, which is something again, I've been trying to focus on. It's not my area of expertise. I'm always like, how do I talk about dance with people? Um, but one of the big questions I'm always interested in, you know, it feels like dance often dancers have these kinds of interesting and unique paths to how they break in, especially, you know, and sort of what that process was of like building up cred when, if dance is your biggest skill and you know, of course you may be an amazing singer and actor as well, but if dance is the thing you go, Hey, this is what I'm leading with, which most Broadway performers, they are there principally for their dance. If you think about just number wise, in terms of being an ensemble, how, how is that something that you lead with in terms of like agents and managers and, you know, before you.

[14:13] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. Today, we’re diving into the role of parents in the college audition process. It’s a journey that can be both exciting and overwhelming, and as a parent, knowing how to guide your child can make all the difference.

[14:33] Charlie Murphy: First off, it’s important to understand what your role is during this process. You want to be supportive, but also give your child the space to grow and make their own decisions. It’s a balancing act between being involved and allowing them to take the lead.

[14:53] Charlie Murphy: One of the key aspects is game planning ahead. It’s essential to have a strategy in place, but also to remain flexible. The audition process can change, and being adaptable is crucial.

[15:13] Charlie Murphy: Online resources can be a double-edged sword. While they provide a wealth of information, they can also lead to what I call "online mania." It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of advice and opinions out there.

[15:33] Charlie Murphy: So, how do you use parent groups effectively? Connecting with other parents can be incredibly beneficial. Sharing experiences and tips can help you navigate the process, but be cautious about taking everything at face value.

[15:53] Charlie Murphy: Finding an edge in your audition strategy is also important. What makes your child unique? Highlighting their strengths and individuality can set them apart from the competition.

[16:13] Charlie Murphy: As we move forward, I want to emphasize the importance of communication. Keeping an open dialogue with your child about their goals and feelings can help alleviate stress and build confidence.

[16:33] Charlie Murphy: Remember, this is their journey. While you’re there to support them, it’s vital that they feel ownership over their audition process.

[16:53] Charlie Murphy: In the coming segments, we’ll explore more about how to navigate this journey together, ensuring that both you and your child feel prepared and empowered.

[17:13] Charlie Murphy: Let’s talk about the timeline. Planning ahead is crucial. Knowing when applications are due, when auditions are happening, and what materials are needed can help keep everything organized.

[17:33] Charlie Murphy: It’s also important to set realistic expectations. The college audition process can be unpredictable, and not every outcome will be what you hope for.

[17:53] Charlie Murphy: Encouraging resilience in your child is key. Teach them that rejection is a part of the process and that it doesn’t define their talent or worth as an artist.

[18:13] Charlie Murphy: As we continue, I’ll share more tips on how to support your child emotionally during this time. It’s a big transition, and having a strong support system can make all the difference.

[18:33] Charlie Murphy: Lastly, I want to remind you that this journey is not just about the destination. It’s about the growth and experiences along the way. Celebrate the small victories and milestones together.

[19:03] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for joining me today as we explore the role of parents in the college audition process. Stay tuned for more insights and tips in our next segment.

[19:23] Charlie Murphy: If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[19:43] Charlie Murphy: Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. We’re here to help you and your child navigate the complexities of college auditions.

[20:13] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, keep supporting your young artists, and let’s make this process a positive and enriching experience for everyone involved.

[20:43] Charlie Murphy: I look forward to sharing more with you in our next episode. Thank you for listening to Mapping The College Audition.

[21:13] Charlie Murphy: If you’re interested in learning more about MTCA and how we can assist you in this journey, check us out at mtcollegeauditions.com.

[21:43] Charlie Murphy: We’ve got a wealth of resources and support available to help you and your child succeed in the college audition process.

[22:09] Charlie Murphy: Don’t forget to follow us on social media for updates and tips. You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

[22:39] Charlie Murphy: Thank you again for tuning in. I hope you found today’s discussion helpful and informative.

[23:09] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, take care and keep encouraging your child to pursue their passion for the arts.

[23:39] Charlie Murphy: Remember, every step of this journey is an opportunity for growth and learning.

[24:09] Charlie Murphy: I’m excited to continue this conversation in future episodes.

[24:39] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for being a part of our community here at Mapping The College Audition.

[25:09] Charlie Murphy: Let’s keep the dialogue going and support each other through this process.

[25:39] Charlie Murphy: I appreciate your time and commitment to your child’s artistic journey.

[26:09] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, stay inspired and keep pushing forward.

[26:39] Charlie Murphy: I look forward to connecting with you all again soon.

[26:54] Charlie Murphy: Thank you for listening, and take care.

[27:24] Charlie Murphy: I hope you have a wonderful day, and remember to celebrate the journey.

[27:54] Charlie Murphy: See you next time on Mapping The College Audition.

[28:24] Charlie Murphy: Goodbye for now!

[28:27] Mindy Catron: The studio where my kids train, we have watched several other kids ahead of her go down this path. I had heard snippets of what they were done, and most of them had worked with MTCA. So I had heard little rumblings, and I was trying to kind of keep my head in the sand as long as I could about it, until I couldn't anymore. And was it clear from an early age that Michaela was going to do it at a college level? Like, was there a moment of decision where you go, oh, I guess we're looking at BFAs? Or, I mean, obviously, she was someone who was dancing and acting and singing. But were you like, hey, I don't know for sure if we might be a chemical engineer? Or was it like, oh, no, we're going down this path?

Yeah, she, she just had it. She had the drive and the passion for it. I always, I think I often say that Michaela, actually, both my kids have dragged me to the studio. I never pushed my kids to the studio. If anything, I was the one going, but wait, that's just so much. Like, you're super smart. And you're like, really good at school. And you could do so many other things. If Michaela were here, she would tell you that I pushed her for a while towards architecture. Because she's so creative. She's very creative. She's a good, she can draw. She's a very good artist that way. And she's very good with math. And I was like, you should look into, like, I kind of gently was encouraging other things.

But the reality was, I mean, my husband and I, the first time that, you know, she did something, we were looked at each other, we said, well, we're it, we're sunk. This is it. There's no coming back. Like, yeah, it just, if you know her, you just see that this, this is just what she does.

[30:06] Charlie Murphy: Yep. It's a, I understand it. Well, I'm dreading the possibility that that could be true for us as well. We're saying, oh, no, she'll be in STEM, she'll be in whatever. And then people are like, no, she's not. And we're like, we don't know. We don't know. You don't know sports for a while. I was like, I think she'd be a really great tennis player.

[30:22] Mindy Catron: Yeah. Nothing stuck. Nothing stuck except the performing arts studio. Okay. So you had heard some rumblings about MTCA, but what, what made you seek out us specifically? And, you know, and again, I told this to Brian when he was in the podcast, this of course does not need to be a commercial for us. We would love listeners to really hear your honest evaluation of like, you know, if you looked at different companies, if you knew you, hey, I want this kind of company, or if I don't even want someone that's sort of specifically does college prep, but you can seek out. Cause you certainly would have also known you ended up with ironically a coach and Ann Nathan, who was in a show with you at doing ragtime forever ago, but you would have known individual actors where you could have said, hey, can you help me with the college monologue? So I guess what made you end up deciding to go with MTCA when you did?

[31:07] Mindy Catron: Yeah. It's a good question. Um, I didn't know if we needed a coaching company. Um, I felt like Michaela has really solid training and her studio, uh, to some degree would be not to some degree. That doesn't sound right. They would very much be willing to help her. But I also felt like that this performing arts studio is 100% involved in the current year and the current training and everything they do for their students. Yeah. For me to ask them to do something more just felt like that doesn't seem right there that they're in that lane there. And so I talked with a couple of friends who had their students go through this, had worked with you. I don't think all had, I'm pretty sure all had not.

What's wrong with those other ones? What do we have to do? We have to talk to them, give me their names. But I think at the end of the day, I jumped on the website. We did the consult with Leo and I, the process is so, I don't like to say it's complicated. It's really not complicated, but it's busy. There's a lot of things that there's a lot of requirements. And at the end of the day, I felt, why would we jump into this very tricky process and not let the people who know it so intimately help us along the way? Otherwise, I think I would have just been second-guessing ourselves, second-guessing maybe some of the coaches, the outside coaches we might have worked with. It just felt, and we live right outside of New York City, so we're here. It just seemed like a no-brainer for us.

[32:46] Charlie Murphy: No, that's really well said. And I like you saying, I don't want to say the process is complicated. I actually, I think I often have said it's complicated. I often say it's like not hard, but nothing's hard, but really it's not even that it's complicated. It's just, there is so much, so many elements of it, but none of them are particularly intricate. Nothing's like, oh, this is impossible to do. It's just weaving them all together where it can be overwhelming, if not necessarily complicated. But what about discipline specific? Because I love you said, you know, Michaela came into training. I mean, I know I encountered Michaela, I think for the first time at TPAP, must've been right after her sophomore year, right? Is that right?

[33:20] Mindy Catron: Yes. She had the best experience. She did TPAP for two summers and she loved you and she loved so many that she worked with.

[33:27] Charlie Murphy: Of course she did. Yes, she's got good taste.

[33:31] Mindy Catron: Yes. She already started to feel familiar with so many of you.

[33:37] Charlie Murphy: What an ethos of an MTCA would be like. Yeah. But the, you know, I was going to say from a skillset perspective, the, I'm saying, it was remarking that she was a sophomore cause I, or a rising junior, I guess when I met her, but I wouldn't have never thought that I don't always track. I'm like, what are you and who, where are you in the world? But then when she came back another year, I was like, oh my gosh, you're only now going to be a senior. Like I had thought from the first year, this person's ready to be doing. And there was nothing. If you'd line Michaela up with all the other rising juniors at the time, rising seniors at the time, absolutely from a skillset perspective was they're equal, you know?

So you would not have thought, oh, this is somebody who's, you know, green in any, any area really kind of across the board. Was there something when you, you thought about, hey, discipline wise, you know, someone who clearly was a very strong dancer coming in already. Was there something that you thought, hey, I, I do need, we do need specifically, we want to focus on acting, want to focus on, on songs. You know, I kind of looked back at Michaela's neck. I think, you know, she did a pretty typical across the board, you know, various disciplines, but not a ton in any one discipline. It wasn't like, oh, we really seem to focus a ton on monologues or a ton on songs. Was there something that you came in and thought, hey, I think, I think we're going to want more help here or less help here.

[34:44] Mindy Catron: Definitely for monologues. She did not at that time have a lot of experience doing monologues at all. So pretty typical. Yeah. 100%. We were like, we need help with monologues. And I would certainly never be one to help with that either. And then song choice. So Michaela has a voice teacher she's worked with for many, many, many years who she loves and is phenomenal. But I think Michaela just needed one other person to speak in about song choice. Of how do we lead? You may have already had a book kind of built up or the beginnings of a book, but going, well, what's my lead? And some of the songs originally early on, one or one, if maybe not two of the songs that Anne was considering were already in her book. So it wasn't like, but it was just nice to have one person again, who knows the college audition process so well and seemed to have a good idea about what kind of material would go over best.

[35:55] Charlie Murphy: And then what about from a dance perspective? I mean, I noted from Kandi's note of your first dance assessment, she wrote, we're really going to be choreographing this together, basically just in terms of how strong Michaela was already as a dancer. How did you utilize that? Or how did she utilize that from a perspective of how she was going to shape her own little pre-screen choreography? For those who don't know, you need something like 60 to 90 seconds of a dance that you're putting together, showing off all your skill sets. How did she use another Point Park alum in Kandi's case? How did she use Kandi in terms of helping her when she already had that skill set as strongly as she did?

[36:25] Mindy Catron: Well, to be completely honest, Michaela was not intending to use Kandi for her dance pre-screen. She kept saying, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it. But it was mid-August. And I was like, so about that dance pre-screen that you need, like, that she didn't do it, then she couldn't do it. And she hadn't started her essays yet. So she was solid on her songs and monologues, but just kept putting off the dance, because I think, you know, like, ah, that's the easy part for me. So then I sort of did an SOS reach out to Kandi and said, okay, we need to quickly pull this together, because time is ticking. And I don't, I'm not going to let her put it off any longer. So they quickly came together and knocked it out and loved working together.

[37:17] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, that's so fun. It's so fun when it gets to be that way, where it's like two collaborators, and not like, I'm teaching you technique, or I'm teaching you this beginning, but it's going, let's just show off, you know, an outside eye to what you already do really well.

[37:29] Mindy Catron: Yeah. Okay, so and when I want to get more into essays and organization to go a little deeper, and we're going to get pretty granular here, I promise, in the process. But just to kind of start off, you know, you've just gone through it, you just drove Michaela off to Elon. Do you have any kind of big conclusions, big overarching conclusions you would draw from the experience? Right? Is there anything that you feel like you did really right? You go, I would definitely repeat this if I did this again. And then anything, if you were to go back, you go, you know what, if I did this again, I would have tweaked this, I would have changed the way that we approach this.

[38:03] Mindy Catron: I do think MTCA did a great job of explaining the process and letting me figure out what I can do to help. I feel kind of confident about how we managed last year. I feel like we actually had a great experience. Michaela loved her auditions.

[38:21] Charlie Murphy: Yeah, that's a big step right there. Auditioning was not something she loved. TPAP was a big switch around, like huge, huge things changed for her during those summers as far as how she approached auditioning and now she loves auditioning. So I will say, and I hate it, but the kids do end up where they're meant to go. What would I do differently? For me, probably what I would have wished I had understood better and done a little deeper dive into is just the cost. I don't think I fully understood. All the different costs that you're going to have. How expensive college is and where does the money come from and where does it not come from? And I don't know if I would have processed it a year or two prior, but until I was deep into it and now I'm like, oh, it's so clear to me now. But even then, I don't know if it would have changed anything because I can't imagine my kid going to any other college.

[39:33] Charlie Murphy: I want to talk a little more about scholarships as we get in there, too. But you almost exactly hit a question that I had for you just because you're someone who did start early. So it's worth noting that for as you look at it, we met you in December of 2022. So I guess that's, you know, you're still a junior year, winter of your junior year. And so you really, you know, had some time as you're looking and approaching it. Did you feel like, you know, I know you're someone who I saw in multiple parent meetings and webinars and all these things. Did you ever feel like you were ahead of the information? And certainly you guys were. I mean, it's the experience often of people who start early. I think the biggest difference, it's not necessarily that you're going to be way, way more successful if you start early, but I think you often are way more relaxed in terms of like enjoying the experience at each of the phases where I'm like, you always, like, Mikhail always looked relaxed, you always looked happy, you know, it was like, which is nice just because it's like, felt like she knew what she was doing and you guys felt like you knew what you were doing.

Did you ever feel like a little ahead of it? Like, was it like, oh, well, I'm hearing this information again. I know what Unified does. You know, did you ever feel like, hey, I'm pretty, I'm ahead of the ball in terms of sort of just the way you were consuming information?

[40:32] Mindy Catron: I did actually. And I think that's just because I kept showing up. I showed up on the webinars, I read things, I listened and I took notes. And then that's just sort of, I'm like this little taskmaster person. So I'm like, I just need to have my list of what can I do and what can I not do and like overanalyze all of those things along the way. But I think my husband even joked as one of the parent Q&As at the end of the mock or something, he was like, do you really need to be in there? I think you'd be leading this questions for them now because we've heard them so many times. I'm like, yeah, well, no, I can't answer the questions, but it's nice to keep hearing it and confirm that my understanding is on track.

[41:20] Charlie Murphy: I did feel like, you know, sometimes I watch you taking notes or whatever. I'm like, she's more of like a TA at this point. I'm like, she really could be, you know, she's at least ready to help the class at least a little bit more than I was.

[41:32] Charlie Murphy: What about, what was your consumption of online information? So were you a big Facebook group person? Were you taking on Insta and TikTok and YouTube information in terms of other parents going through this? How were you consuming sort of other parents' experiences online?

[41:46] Mindy Catron: Just Facebook. I'm actually still not on TikTok. My kids have one safe space.

[41:53] Charlie Murphy: Fair, fair.

[41:55] Mindy Catron: Facebook, the parent groups, I'm still in them. I keep saying I'm not going to be in them, but then there's that helper part of me that's like, I'm just going to chime in.

[42:07] Charlie Murphy: And were you doing some comparing and despairing? Were some of it helpful to go, hey, I see what other people have done and what worked from the previous classes? Or were you going, oh God, that's making me more anxious. I just did an initial consult with a family who the mom was like, I feel so behind. I feel so bad. And I was like, you need to take a break. You need to take a TikTok. Is it a little too much for you right now?

[42:25] Mindy Catron: Definitely all of the above. People can really spiral on those Facebook groups. And there's also a lot of, it's unavoidable, but there's like, oh, we've already done A, B, C, and D. I'm like, it's July 3rd, people. Back off.

[42:41] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back! We're getting into some granular details about the college audition process, and I have a bunch more questions, but let's take a short break here. We'll be right back with more, including the big question of how many schools to consider.

[49:16] Charlie Murphy: Okay, we're back with Mindy Catron. We floated a number of schools earlier, and that seems like a lot of applications at the beginning. Do you know how many total schools Michaela ended up doing when you count Pittsburgh, walk-ins, and how many school auditions?

[49:37] Mindy Catron: So, I can't believe I'm here without my little green notebook.

[49:49] Charlie Murphy: Where's the green binder?

[49:50] Mindy Catron: Not everybody was so organized that they have every number memorized. Nothing fancy, nothing fancy. She had 21 applications. Some of those were at Pittsburgh Unified, so they were covered by Pittsburgh. I think four of the schools out of that 21 were at Pittsburgh Unified. She did one walk-in, so maybe it was 22 in the end. She did end up applying to the school she did the walk-in for, but that was super easy. That was just the Common App supplement.

[50:27] Charlie Murphy: But then it seems like she didn't end up applying to a ton of the Pittsburgh schools that weren't originally on her list.

[50:34] Mindy Catron: No, she added one, I think she added one school. I know for sure. I looked at the email before this conversation that she added one school.

[50:41] Charlie Murphy: Yeah.

[50:42] Mindy Catron: She got some very nice offers from schools, but she didn't decide to add them. She only added one school to her list after Pittsburgh.

[50:56] Charlie Murphy: And was that because now we're starting to hear back from these prescreen passes and feeling more confident in terms of like, hey, maybe I don't need to add?

[51:03] Mindy Catron: Yeah, definitely. Just for her, what turned out to be very positive feedback from Pittsburgh made her feel like, you know what? I'm going to be okay.

[51:12] Charlie Murphy: I love it.

[51:13] Mindy Catron: She didn't take any of the offers for granted and was so honored and flattered, but several times she'd be like, I don't really want to go there, which has nothing to do with the school itself. A lot of it was just the location.

[51:27] Charlie Murphy: I love that.

[51:28] Mindy Catron: And I think it's such a good point. Everyone's experience is going to be different in terms of child and all the different things. But I think it's one of the places where the process has gotten really inflated because of people's anxiety.

[51:41] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely.

[51:42] Mindy Catron: I think Mikayla's in like the 25% of students who did not self-identify as having anxiety, at least in the initial consult with her. I think it is remarkable how not stressed out both of you were throughout this process.

[51:55] Charlie Murphy: It seemed like you guys were calm.

[51:56] Mindy Catron: I remember she was totally ready at her mock when she was at Pittsburgh. She sat calm and ready. She knew what she was doing. Not every student is going to be in that place. Some of that is about starting early and just sort of where Mikayla was training-wise.

[52:12] Charlie Murphy: Right.

[52:13] Mindy Catron: But I think because of that anxiety, and honestly, I think because of reading some stuff online, people will sometimes hear the last number that someone did in terms of schools and think, well, I have to do that many.

[52:25] Charlie Murphy: Exactly.

[52:26] Mindy Catron: They'll hear I did 30 schools and think, does that mean I need to do 40? If I do less than 40, am I not going to do well? It becomes a self-fulfilling process.

[52:39] Charlie Murphy: It would be easy to get caught up in that.

[52:41] Mindy Catron: She had a really good friend who also used MTCA a year older, and he told her he auditioned and ended up applying to like 30 schools. He looked at her and said, don't do that.

[52:54] Charlie Murphy: That's right.

[52:55] Mindy Catron: If you really don't want to go to a school, don't apply. Just don't get caught up and think you have to apply to all of them. If you really don't think you would ever see yourself going somewhere, just don't even apply.

[53:10] Charlie Murphy: Great advice.

[53:11] Mindy Catron: She really took his advice to heart. We got similar advice from everyone at MTCA: build your list. We also had some schools on her list that were big reach schools, artistically but financially. I said, please understand that if you get into these, unless the heavens open, there's just no way we can possibly send you there.

[53:30] Charlie Murphy: Right.

[53:31] Mindy Catron: I do not want to break your heart. She said, I totally get it, but I want to see. Plus, you hear stories that scholarships appear, but we were very clear about that too.

[53:42] Charlie Murphy: That's smart.

[53:43] Mindy Catron: She did not let herself get caught up in it. She also wasn't on Facebook, so she wasn't seeing a lot of the stuff that I wasn't about to share.

[53:50] Charlie Murphy: That's a good strategy.

[53:51] Mindy Catron: Caught up is a good way of saying it because you had a really cogent approach to the process.

[53:56] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely.

[53:57] Mindy Catron: It's not that there wouldn't be a specific student who maybe 30 schools ends up being right for them. If a certain number of prescreen rejections happen and they go, I need to add more schools to the list.

[54:10] Charlie Murphy: Right.

[54:11] Mindy Catron: But for you to make those decisions with deliberation and clear eyes, it seems like you were able to assess the offers in Pittsburgh and the prescreen yeses, and then decide to add a school because you really connected with a faculty member.

[56:55] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. Today, we have a special guest, Mindy Catron, who is not only a Broadway actress but also an MTCA mom. Mindy, thank you for joining us today.

[57:25] Mindy Catron: Thank you for having me, Charlie. I'm excited to be here and share my experiences.

[57:55] Charlie Murphy: So, Mindy, let's dive right in. What do you think is the most important role a parent plays during the college audition process?

[58:15] Mindy Catron: I believe the most important role is to be a supportive guide. It's crucial to help your child navigate the emotional ups and downs of auditions while also encouraging them to stay true to themselves. Parents should provide a safe space for their kids to express their fears and aspirations.

[58:35] Charlie Murphy: That makes a lot of sense. How do you balance planning ahead with living in the moment during this process?

[58:55] Mindy Catron: It's all about finding that balance. Planning ahead is essential, but it's equally important to be present in the moment. I suggest setting realistic goals and timelines while also allowing for flexibility. Sometimes, the best opportunities arise unexpectedly.

[59:15] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely. And with so much information available online, how do you suggest parents manage the "online mania" that often comes with this process?

[59:35] Mindy Catron: Online mania can be overwhelming. I recommend parents focus on credible sources and limit their time spent in online groups that may create unnecessary anxiety. It's also helpful to connect with other parents who are going through the same experience for support and advice.

[59:55] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Now, what strategies do you think can give students an edge in their audition process?

[1:00:15] Mindy Catron: One key strategy is to really understand the schools they're applying to. Students should research each program's strengths and tailor their auditions to showcase how they fit into that specific environment. Additionally, honing their unique talents and finding ways to stand out can make a significant difference.

[1:00:35] Charlie Murphy: That's a fantastic point. Personalization is key. What are some common pitfalls you see parents fall into during this process?

[1:00:55] Mindy Catron: One common pitfall is over-involvement. While it's important to support your child, parents should avoid taking control of the process. It's essential for students to take ownership of their auditions and decisions. Parents can guide, but they shouldn't overshadow their child's voice.

[1:01:15] Charlie Murphy: That's a valuable perspective. How can parents best support their children emotionally during this time?

[1:01:35] Mindy Catron: Listening is crucial. Parents should be there to listen to their child's concerns and celebrate their victories, no matter how small. Encouragement and reassurance can go a long way in helping students feel confident and supported.

[1:01:55] Charlie Murphy: Definitely. And what advice would you give to parents who might be feeling overwhelmed themselves?

[1:02:15] Mindy Catron: It's important for parents to take care of themselves too. Finding a support system, whether it's friends, family, or other parents in the same situation, can help alleviate stress. Remember, it's a journey for both the student and the parent.

[1:02:35] Charlie Murphy: Wise words, Mindy. Thank you for sharing your insights today.

[1:02:55] Mindy Catron: Thank you for having me, Charlie. It's been a pleasure to discuss this important topic.

[1:03:15] Charlie Murphy: And to our listeners, if you have any questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[1:03:35] Mindy Catron: Yes, and don't forget to check out our MTCA events for more resources and support!

[1:03:55] Charlie Murphy: Until next time, keep pursuing your passions and remember that every step in this process is part of your journey.

[1:11:09] Charlie Murphy: Welcome back to Mapping The College Audition. Today, we have a very special guest, Mindy Catron, who is not only a Broadway actress but also an MTCA mom. Mindy, thank you for joining us today.

[1:11:39] Mindy Catron: Thank you for having me, Charlie! I'm excited to be here and share my experiences.

[1:12:09] Charlie Murphy: So, Mindy, let's dive right in. As a parent, what do you think your role is during the college audition process?

[1:12:29] Mindy Catron: I think the role of a parent during this process is to be a supportive guide. It's important to help your child navigate the complexities of auditions while also allowing them to take the lead in their journey. It’s about finding that balance between being involved and giving them the space to grow.

[1:12:49] Charlie Murphy: That makes a lot of sense. How do you approach the idea of planning ahead versus living in the moment during this process?

[1:13:09] Mindy Catron: I believe that having a game plan is crucial, but it's equally important to stay flexible. There will be unexpected challenges and opportunities that arise, so being adaptable while having a solid foundation can really help.

[1:13:29] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely. And what about the online aspect? There seems to be a lot of "online mania" surrounding auditions. How do you think parents can navigate that?

[1:13:49] Mindy Catron: Online resources can be incredibly helpful, but they can also be overwhelming. I recommend finding a few trusted groups or forums where you can connect with other parents and share experiences. It’s all about filtering the noise and focusing on what truly matters for your child.

[1:14:09] Charlie Murphy: Great advice! Now, let's talk about finding an edge in the audition strategy. What tips do you have for parents to help their kids stand out?

[1:14:29] Mindy Catron: One key aspect is to encourage your child to showcase their unique talents and personality. Help them identify what makes them special and how they can bring that to their auditions. Also, practicing in front of different audiences can help them gain confidence and adaptability.

[1:14:49] Charlie Murphy: Those are fantastic tips, Mindy. Thank you for sharing your insights.

[1:15:09] Mindy Catron: Thank you, Charlie! I hope this helps other parents feel more equipped to support their kids through this process.

[1:15:29] Charlie Murphy: It definitely will! If anyone has questions about the college audition process, feel free to reach out to us at mailbag@mappingthecollegeaudition.com.

[1:15:49] Mindy Catron: Yes, and don’t forget to check out our MTCA events for more resources and support.

[1:16:09] Charlie Murphy: Absolutely! Thanks again for joining us, Mindy.

[1:16:29] Mindy Catron: Thank you for having me, Charlie!

[1:25:53] Mindy Catron: As a parent, your role during the college audition process is crucial. It's about being supportive and understanding the journey your child is on. You want to help them navigate the complexities of auditions while also allowing them to take the lead in their own process.

[1:26:23] Mindy Catron: Game planning ahead is essential. You should start early, researching schools and understanding what each program offers. This preparation can alleviate a lot of stress later on. However, it's also important to live in the moment and not get too caught up in the frenzy of the process.

[1:26:43] Mindy Catron: Online mania can be overwhelming. There are so many resources and opinions out there. It's vital to filter through the noise and focus on what truly matters for your child. Parent groups can be incredibly helpful, but they can also add to the anxiety if not approached wisely.

[1:27:03] Mindy Catron: Finding an edge in your audition strategy is key. Encourage your child to showcase their unique talents and personality. This is what will set them apart from other applicants. It's about authenticity and finding the right fit for them.

[1:27:23] Mindy Catron: Remember, this process is not just about getting into a school; it's about finding a place where your child can thrive and grow as an artist. Support them in exploring their options and making choices that resonate with them.

[1:27:43] Mindy Catron: Communication is vital. Keep the lines open with your child. Ask them how they're feeling and what they need from you. Sometimes, they may just need a sounding board or a little encouragement.

[1:28:03] Mindy Catron: It's also important to manage expectations. The college audition process can be unpredictable, and not every child will get into their dream school. Help them understand that rejection is part of the journey and can lead to new opportunities.

[1:28:23] Mindy Catron: Encourage your child to take care of themselves during this time. Stress can take a toll, so remind them to find balance and engage in activities that bring them joy outside of auditions.

[1:28:43] Mindy Catron: Lastly, celebrate the small victories along the way. Whether it's completing an application or nailing an audition, recognizing these moments can boost their confidence and keep them motivated.

[1:29:03] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is a journey filled with ups and downs. As a parent, your support and understanding can make a significant difference in how your child navigates this challenging yet exciting time.

[1:29:23] Mindy Catron: Stay informed, be involved, but also give them the space they need to grow. This balance will help both you and your child through the college audition process.

[1:29:43] Mindy Catron: Remember, it's about finding the right fit for your child, not just the most prestigious program. Each student has their own path, and it's essential to honor that.

[1:30:03] Mindy Catron: As you guide your child, keep in mind that this experience is not just about auditions; it's about personal growth and discovering who they are as an artist.

[1:30:23] Mindy Catron: The connections they make during this time can last a lifetime, so encourage them to build relationships with peers and mentors in the industry.

[1:30:53] Mindy Catron: Ultimately, your role is to be their biggest cheerleader. Support them through the challenges and celebrate their successes, no matter how big or small.

[1:31:13] Mindy Catron: The college audition process can be daunting, but with the right mindset and support, it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience for both you and your child.

[1:31:33] Mindy Catron: Trust the process, trust your child, and remember that this journey is just the beginning of their artistic career.

[1:31:53] Mindy Catron: Stay positive and encourage your child to embrace the journey ahead. They have so much potential, and with your support, they can achieve great things.

[1:32:13] Mindy Catron: As they prepare for auditions, remind them to stay true to themselves and their artistry. Authenticity is what will resonate with the schools they are applying to.

[1:32:33] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is not just about the end goal; it's about the experiences and lessons learned along the way.

[1:32:53] Mindy Catron: Encourage your child to take risks and step outside their comfort zone. This is where growth happens, and it can lead to unexpected opportunities.

[1:33:13] Mindy Catron: As a parent, your role is to provide guidance and support while allowing your child to take ownership of their journey. This balance will empower them to succeed.

[1:33:33] Mindy Catron: Remember to celebrate their individuality and encourage them to express themselves fully during auditions. This is their chance to shine.

[1:33:53] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is a unique experience for each student, and it's essential to honor their personal journey and choices.

[1:34:23] Mindy Catron: Stay engaged, stay supportive, and most importantly, stay positive. Your encouragement can make all the difference.

[1:34:43] Mindy Catron: As they navigate this process, remind them that they are not alone. There are resources and communities available to support them.

[1:35:03] Mindy Catron: The college audition process can be a rollercoaster of emotions, but with your support, they can ride the waves with confidence.

[1:35:23] Mindy Catron: Encourage them to seek feedback and learn from each experience. This will help them grow as performers and individuals.

[1:35:43] Mindy Catron: Ultimately, the goal is to find a program that aligns with their values and aspirations. Help them explore their options and make informed decisions.

[1:36:03] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is an opportunity for self-discovery and growth. Embrace the journey together and support each other along the way.

[1:36:13] Mindy Catron: As a parent, your role is to be a source of strength and encouragement. Your belief in their abilities can inspire them to reach new heights.

[1:36:23] Mindy Catron: Stay connected with other parents and share experiences. This community can provide valuable insights and support throughout the process.

[1:36:43] Mindy Catron: Remember, this is a collaborative journey. Work together with your child to create a plan that feels right for them.

[1:37:03] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is a chance for your child to showcase their talents and passion. Encourage them to embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm.

[1:37:23] Mindy Catron: As they prepare for auditions, remind them to stay focused and maintain a positive mindset. This will help them perform at their best.

[1:37:43] Mindy Catron: Celebrate their hard work and dedication. Each step they take brings them closer to their goals, and your support is invaluable.

[1:38:03] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is a journey of growth and discovery. Embrace it together and cherish the memories you create along the way.

[1:38:23] Mindy Catron: As a parent, your role is to guide and support, but also to allow your child to take the lead in their own journey. This balance is key to their success.

[1:38:43] Mindy Catron: Trust in their abilities and encourage them to pursue their passions. With your support, they can achieve their dreams in the performing arts.

[1:38:51] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is just one chapter in their artistic journey. Embrace the adventure and enjoy the ride together.

[1:39:01] Mindy Catron: Remember, your support and encouragement can make all the difference as they navigate this exciting yet challenging time.

[1:39:11] Mindy Catron: Stay engaged, stay positive, and most importantly, be there for your child as they embark on this journey.

[1:39:21] Mindy Catron: The college audition process is an opportunity for growth, exploration, and self-discovery. Embrace it together and support each other along the way.

[1:39:31] Mindy Catron: Trust the process, trust your child, and remember that this journey is just the beginning of their artistic career.