The Best Four

In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, Laura chats with Constance, a junior marketing major at the University of Maryland from Northern Virginia. Constance shares why UMD was her top choice, how she went into college knowing very little about housing, and what she learned from navigating every stage of campus living, from freshman year dorms to sorority life and off-campus apartments.   Constan...

In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, Laura chats with Jenna, a junior communication major with a concentration in public relations at the University of Maryland. Jenna shares how a late night football game and the energy of UMD’s school spirit helped her choose a school close to home, and what it was really like transitioning from high school into college life through Freshman Connection.   J...

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...

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 sh...

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 admi...

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 l...

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 t...

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 Hassayamp...

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 competi...

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...

In this episode of The Best Four, Laura sits down with Brenna, a senior at Ohio State University, to discuss everything you need to know about living on campus and beyond. From her experiences in South Campus dorms (Park-Stradley Hall) to living in her sorority house and finally landing a coveted off-campus house, Brenna shares practical tips and advice for navigating the competitive housing scene...

We're kicking things off in Columbus, OH, as Laura sits down with Colleen, an Ohio State junior, to dive into everything you need to know about living at Ohio State. From the best dorms and off-campus housing options to life in a sorority house and the competitive housing scene, Colleen shares her experiences and tips on making the most of campus life. Whether you’re an incoming freshman or alread...

In our latest episode, Laura chats with Joseph, a UT Austin student, about his experience living in one of West Campus’ co-op houses (aka cooperative living). Never heard of the co-ops? Check out this episode to get the inside scoop on this alternate housing option near the University of Texas. Joseph dives into what co-op living is all about, discussing the costs, the community, and the pros and...

In our latest episode, Laura chats with Caleb, recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, about his firsthand experiences transferring to UT Austin as a CAP student, studying abroad and living in West Campus apartments. Caleb dives into the details of living at Hilltop and Quarters on Cameron, offering insights into what it's really like to live in these popular student housing option...

In our latest episode, Laura chats with Anna Grace, a recent UT Austin grad and former Texas Cheerleader, about navigating the UT housing scene. Anna Grace shares her experiences and strategies for securing housing, starting with her decision to sign for an off-campus dorm, Scottish Rite Dormitory (a.k.a. SRD), even before being accepted into UT.   Anna Grace discusses the pros and cons of living...

In our newest episode, Laura chats with Audrey Atienza, a recent UT Austin graduate, YouTuber, and Founder of The Sorority Sister, about her experience as an out-of-state student navigating the housing landscape at UT.  Audrey candidly shares her regrets about choosing on-campus housing instead of an off-campus dorm and the highs and lows of living in a sorority house. She also offers valuable adv...

In our newest episode, Laura chats with Ava, a Junior at UT Austin, about her unique journey through college housing. Ava is both a UT student living in West Campus and a former Leasing Agent for a West Campus apartment. In this episode, she gives an insider's take on what you need to know when looking for housing near UT, including questions to ask on tours, hidden costs to consider, and more. Pl...

In our latest episode, Laura talks to Riley, a rising Junior at UT Austin, to chat dorm life versus West Campus living from someone who's done them both.  Riley shares his firsthand experience living in Jester Hall at UT. From the pros and cons of meal plans and roommate matching to candid discussions about communal bathrooms and the realities of laundry day, Riley offers an inside look at dorm li...

In our first episode, Laura sits down with Sharlene to dive into the ins and outs of living in West Campus near UT Austin. From living off campus as a freshman to life in a sorority house, plus roommate tips and regrets, get the inside scoop from a recent UT grad. Together, they explore the entire decision-making process and share valuable advice from Sharlene’s own college journey. Sharlene weigh...