The Best Four

The Best Four

The only student housing podcast by students, for students.

  1. 2D AGO

    Skipping The Dorms: Choosing an Apartment as a Freshman at UMD [Kelsi]

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, Laura sits down with Kelsi, a sophomore hearing and speech science major at the University of Maryland, to talk through her decision to skip dorm life and move straight into an off-campus apartment as a freshman. As the oldest of four who shared a room for nearly a decade, Kelsi knew early on that traditional dorm living with communal bathrooms and shared bedrooms was not the right fit for her.   Kelsi shares how she researched housing before even committing to UMD, what she learned from friends and social media, and how she landed at The View with roommates who were already upperclassmen. She opens up about signing a lease early, choosing housing based on budget and location, and adjusting to the independence of apartment living. She also reflects on the pros and cons of apartments versus dorms, making friends without dorm life, and how living off campus helped her grow up faster than she expected.   In this episode, we cover: Why Kelsi knew dorm life wasn’t for her from the start How she researched off-campus apartments before freshman year Finding roommates who were already UMD upperclassmen Why she chose The View over other popular student apartments The independence (and challenges) of apartment living as a freshman How apartment life impacted her social life and transition to college Lessons learned about leases, renewals, and planning ahead Her advice for incoming freshmen navigating housing decisions at UMD   Rambler College Park Rambler College Park is a new student apartment opening near the University of Maryland in Fall 2027. With floorplan options that range from studios to five-bedrooms, there is a layout perfect for every lifestyle. Designed with Maryland students in mind, you’ll find curated interiors and next-level amenities that make everyday living feel effortless, including courtyards and a heated outdoor spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio, a dedicated study lounge, and an on-site coffee shop, Daydreamer Cafe.    Daydreamer Daydreamer Cafe is every college student's favorite coffee shop. Daydreamer offers amazing handcrafted coffee, espresso, and my personal favorite, matcha, in a beautifully designed space. Daydreamer will open on the ground floor of Rambler College Park in Fall 2027. But even sooner, you can catch a Daydreamer pop-up inside the Rambler leasing office starting Fall 2026. Be sure to follow @RamblerCollegePark on Instagram for sneak peeks and updates.    Landmark Landmark College Park is a premier student apartment located just steps from the University of Maryland. With floorplans ranging from studios to four-bedroom layouts, Landmark offers spaces designed for every kind of Maryland student. And something new is coming soon, ready for August 2026 Move-In. Get ready for a fully renovated lobby, upgraded fitness center, refreshed study spaces, and more—all designed to elevate your everyday routine. With Dunkin’ on the first floor, your daily dose of caffeine is right downstairs. Plus, with the College Park Metro Station, local restaurants, and campus hotspots just steps away, everything you need is always within reach. Use the code BESTFOUR at landmarkcollegepark.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    37 min

  2. FEB 4

    Living Where It All Happens: Pyon-Chen Housing and Finding Your Place at Maryland [Julion]

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, host Laura talks with Julion, a senior at the University of Maryland double majoring in business management and marketing while on the pre-law track. What started as UMD being last on his college list turned into a full 180 thanks to honors housing and finding the right place to live on campus.   Julion shares how living in Pyon-Chen Hall all four years shaped his entire college experience, from being placed in honors and graduating debt-free to becoming a community assistant and later a resident assistant. He breaks down what makes Pyon-Chen stand out, how UMD housing is structured, and what students should actually be looking for when choosing where to live.   In this episode, we cover: Why UMD was his last choice and what changed his mind completely How the honors housing process works and what students should know about getting placed Living in Pyon-Chen Hall: the pros, the cons, and why it’s one of UMD’s best dorms North vs. South campus and how housing vibes change across campus The typical UMD housing trajectory—from dorms to suites to off-campus apartments Hacks for getting into better housing  Why freshmen should get an on-campus job early How to adjust to sharing a space, setting boundaries, and handle move-in smoothly Must-have apartment amenities to look for in housing Campus resources students should actually use  Advice he wishes he knew sooner—and why the most important thing is remembering "to live" Rambler College Park Rambler College Park is a new student apartment opening near the University of Maryland in Fall 2027. With floorplan options that range from studios to five-bedrooms, there is a layout perfect for every lifestyle. Designed with Maryland students in mind, you’ll find curated interiors and next-level amenities that make everyday living feel effortless, including courtyards and a heated outdoor spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio, a dedicated study lounge, and an on-site coffee shop, Daydreamer Cafe.    Daydreamer Daydreamer Cafe is every college student's favorite coffee shop. Daydreamer offers amazing handcrafted coffee, espresso, and my personal favorite, matcha, in a beautifully designed space. Daydreamer will open on the ground floor of Rambler College Park in Fall 2027. But even sooner, you can catch a Daydreamer pop-up inside the Rambler leasing office starting Fall 2026. Be sure to follow @RamblerCollegePark on Instagram for sneak peeks and updates.    Landmark Landmark College Park is a premier student apartment located just steps from the University of Maryland. With floorplans ranging from studios to four-bedroom layouts, Landmark offers spaces designed for every kind of Maryland student. And something new is coming soon, ready for August 2026 Move-In. Get ready for a fully renovated lobby, upgraded fitness center, refreshed study spaces, and more—all designed to elevate your everyday routine. With Dunkin’ on the first floor, your daily dose of caffeine is right downstairs. Plus, with the College Park Metro Station, local restaurants, and campus hotspots just steps away, everything you need is always within reach. Use the code BESTFOUR at landmarkcollegepark.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    38 min

  3. 09/04/2025

    No Dorms, No Problem: The Journey Through ASU Apartments, the GLV, and an Airbnb

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, Laura chats with Laurie, a senior business student at Arizona State University and a Scottsdale native. Laurie shares why she skipped the dorms freshman year, how she found her stride at ASU socially and academically, and what she learned from living everywhere from an off-campus apartment to the Greek Leadership Village and even an Airbnb. Originally admitted as a nursing major, Laurie opens up about switching to business, rushing Alpha Phi, and working her way up to VP of Recruitment. She also breaks down her full housing journey at ASU, from her first year in the District at Apache to the pros and cons of living in Apollo, GLV, and a senior-year Airbnb house. Along the way, she gives candid advice on making friends, navigating recruitment, and choosing the right housing timeline. In this episode, we cover: The dorm setup at ASU and why she decided to skip them Her freshman year at District at Apache: the good, the bad, and the reality vs. online photos How to find roommates as a freshman using ASU Snapchat/Instagram groups—and what to say in that first DM Making friends freshman year and her take on dorms vs. apartments What it’s like going through ASU sorority recruitment and her advice as Alpha Phi’s VP of Recruitment The pros and cons of new-build apartments, why you need to sign early, and her biggest regret about housing Her sophomore year at Apollo and why it didn’t live up to expectations Why the GLV was her favorite housing experience, how she got her own room, and what it’s like living with 30 sorority sisters Her Airbnb hack for finding a house senior year, and the trade-offs between apartments and houses Her biggest piece of advice for freshmen starting at ASU  This episode is brought to you by Rambler Tempe.   Rambler Tempe (https://ramblertempe.com) is a student apartment just steps away from ASU. With options ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments, there’s a layout for every lifestyle. Thoughtfully designed with ASU students in mind, Rambler offers curated interiors and elevated amenities—including two pool decks, cold plunges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dedicated study lounge, an on-site coffee shop and more. Rambler also gives larger groups the option to lease nearby units on the same floor and create their own neighborhood, making it easy to live just steps from all of your best friends while still enjoying the comfort of your own apartment. Use the code BESTFOUR at ramblertempe.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    39 min

  4. 08/28/2025

    First-Gen and Figuring It Out: What No One Tells You About ASU Housing

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, host Laura talks with Sofi, a junior and first-generation college student at Arizona State University student from the Bay Area. From navigating her college transition solo to documenting it all on TikTok, Sofi shares what it’s really like to figure things out as you go. She covers everything—from the ASU housing portal and move-in prep to what it’s like living in a social dorm like Hassayampa, dealing with not-so-great roommates in an off-campus luxury apartment, and why she wishes more students knew how early you need to start looking for housing. In this episode, we cover: Advice for first generation college students Everything to know about freshman year – FAQs, saying yes to everything, dorm essentials and her top tips to incoming freshmen Talks through the housing portal and what students need to do and and why they need to do it early How she found roommates and friends before even starting college Dorm life at Hassay Why she became a content creator for college advice Living at Park Place: roommate issues, what went wrong, and why research matters Tips for time management, scholarships, and staying true to yourself in college This episode is brought to you by Rambler Tempe.   Rambler Tempe (https://ramblertempe.com) is a student apartment just steps away from ASU. With options ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments, there’s a layout for every lifestyle. Thoughtfully designed with ASU students in mind, Rambler offers curated interiors and elevated amenities—including two pool decks, cold plunges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dedicated study lounge, an on-site coffee shop and more. Rambler also gives larger groups the option to lease nearby units on the same floor and create their own neighborhood, making it easy to live just steps from all of your best friends while still enjoying the comfort of your own apartment. Use the code BESTFOUR at ramblertempe.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    41 min

  5. 08/14/2025

    Roommate Red Flags and Housing Realities: A Candid Look at ASU Living

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, host Laura sits down with Ashton, a senior at Arizona State University majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Originally from Allen, Texas, Ashton dives into her experience navigating ASU’s multiple campuses, making big housing decisions, and learning how to advocate for herself along the way. From switching majors just to live on the Tempe campus to dealing with a toxic roommate situation and finding her people in the Greek Leadership Village (GLV), Ashton shares it all.  In this episode, we cover: Why she changed her major just to move to a different ASU campus and how it paid off Pros and cons of dorms like Manzanita, Palo Verde, San Pablo and Best Hall What to do if you’re in a tough roommate situation and why speaking up matters What living in the GLV is really like (including sharing a bathroom with 15+ girls) Why she chose a house over an apartment and what students often overlook when picking housing Whether or not you need a car in Tempe Advice to other out-of-state students attending ASU This episode is brought to you by Rambler Tempe.   Rambler Tempe (https://ramblertempe.com) is a student apartment just steps away from ASU. With options ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments, there’s a layout for every lifestyle. Thoughtfully designed with ASU students in mind, Rambler offers curated interiors and elevated amenities—including two pool decks, cold plunges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dedicated study lounge, an on-site coffee shop and more. Rambler also gives larger groups the option to lease nearby units on the same floor and create their own neighborhood, making it easy to live just steps from all of your best friends while still enjoying the comfort of your own apartment. Use the code BESTFOUR at ramblertempe.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    41 min

  6. 08/07/2025

    Arizona State Housing TELL ALL: Dorm Life, the GLV, Sorority Life, and More

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, host Laura sits down with Alli, a junior at Arizona State University and president of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. A Scottsdale native, Alli shares what it’s like to stay close to home for college, and how her housing experience shaped her college journey. From navigating ASU’s housing portal as a business student to living in the social hub of Hassayampa (Hassay) her freshman year, Alli offers a detailed look at dorm life, Greek housing in the unique GLV setup, and her transition to apartment living at The Carmin. She also opens up about roommate matching, budgeting tips, and what she wishes she’d known earlier. In this episode, we cover: What to expect from the ASU dorm selection process (and why it’s confusing) The pros and cons of where she’s lived: Hassay, the Greek Leadership Village (GLV) and The Carmin What Alli learned from dealing with dorm maintenance issues and navigating move-in stress Which neighborhoods ASU students typically live (Apache vs Mill) How she chose her apartment off-campus and why she’s heading back to the GLV her senior year Advice for incoming freshmen on getting involved, managing money, and finding the right roommates   This episode is brought to you by Rambler Tempe.   Rambler Tempe (https://ramblertempe.com) is a student apartment just steps away from ASU. With options ranging from studios to 4-bedroom apartments, there’s a layout for every lifestyle. Thoughtfully designed with ASU students in mind, Rambler offers curated interiors and elevated amenities—including two pool decks, cold plunges, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dedicated study lounge, an on-site coffee shop and more. Rambler also gives larger groups the option to lease nearby units on the same floor and create their own neighborhood, making it easy to live just steps from all of your best friends while still enjoying the comfort of your own apartment. Use the code BESTFOUR at ramblertempe.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    48 min
  7. Inside Ohio State Housing: Dorm Lottery, Scholars Program, and Apartment Living Revealed

    11/05/2024

    Inside Ohio State Housing: Dorm Lottery, Scholars Program, and Apartment Living Revealed

    In the final episode of The Best Four Season 2, Laura sits down with Cat, an Ohio State senior and Columbus native, to discuss her journey navigating housing at Ohio State. From living in Blackburn House as a freshman in the Business Scholars program to moving into Scott House as a sophomore, and eventually into an off-campus apartment, Cat shares valuable insights on dorm life, the highly competitive lottery system, and her reasons for choosing to live off-campus. She also dives into the culture differences between North and South Campus, the pros and cons of scholars programs, and how to balance college life. In this episode, we cover: Navigating the dorm lottery: how to get the best dorms at Ohio State The perks of joining Ohio State Scholars Programs  Blackburn House, Scott House, and life in a North Campus apartment Why Cat chose to live in an off-campus apartment and her tips for securing one  The competitive housing scene at Ohio State  Explore more episodes and continue the conversation on our website: https://thebestfourpod.com This episode is brought to you by Rambler Columbus.  Rambler Columbus (https://ramblercolumbus.com/) is a student apartment located in North Campus near The Ohio State University. With options ranging from studios to 6-bedroom apartments, there’s something for everyone. With curated interiors and amenities including a heated rooftop pool, state-of-the-art  fitness center, a dedicated study floor and more, you don’t want to miss this. Use the code BESTFOUR at RamblerColumbus.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    38 min
  8. Life as an Ohio State Student Athlete: Campus Tips & Tricks from an OSU Men's Volleyball Player

    10/29/2024

    Life as an Ohio State Student Athlete: Campus Tips & Tricks from an OSU Men's Volleyball Player

    In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, host Laura sits down with Ben, a junior at The Ohio State University and a student-athlete on the men’s volleyball team. Ben shares his journey from being recruited by Ohio State to his experiences living with teammates, both on and off campus. From his freshman year living in Lawrence Tower on North Campus (a dorm repurposed from a hotel) to an off-campus house near South Campus.  Ben dives into the challenges of balancing life as a student-athlete, the pros and cons of living in various dorms and housing options, and his advice for incoming freshmen. They also chat about the culture on North vs. South campus, what it’s like living with eight housemates, and the realities of Columbus student housing. In this episode, we cover: Living in North Campus vs. South Campus dorms: the major differences The perks and challenges of living with fellow athletes Tips for finding off-campus housing and why it's so competitive Dorm options for Ohio State freshmen and sophomores Ben’s experience as a student-athlete at Ohio State  Explore more episodes and continue the conversation on our website: https://thebestfourpod.com This episode is brought to you by Rambler Columbus.  Rambler Columbus (https://ramblercolumbus.com/) is a student apartment located in North Campus near The Ohio State University. With options ranging from studios to 6-bedroom apartments, there’s something for everyone. With curated interiors and amenities including a heated rooftop pool, state-of-the-art  fitness center, a dedicated study floor and more, you don’t want to miss this. Use the code BESTFOUR at RamblerColumbus.com to waive your application fee when you sign a lease (a $50 value).

    32 min
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About

The only student housing podcast by students, for students.

Information

  • Creator
    The Best Four
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Best Four