Muhlenberg was definitely among her good options. She made a real connection with the faculty member she auditioned with, and they gave her a nice array of merit aid and grants. She liked the proximity to NYC and the friendly vibe on campus.
I think the main things that made it not a top choice in the end were that the academics didn’t seem as strong as at some of her other options, and she felt that the size of the theater program would mean constant tough competition for roles. Neither of those were dealbreakers, but other schools rose above it in her list.
I’ll just add that, though everyone was indeed friendly and welcoming, Muhlenberg was one of the schools that gave us the “Oh, everyone is tolerant here” answer when we asked about safety and community for trans students. What I’m always looking for, with that question, is some sign that the school is truly aware of the specific concerns a trans student might have. When the answer begins and ends with basically “We love everyone here,” that tells me they’re not really paying attention or taking responsibility for the specific safety and health concerns. Muhlenberg might be an awesome school for a trans kid, but I wasn’t especially sold on it on that score.