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.

Constance walks through her full housing journey at UMD, starting with her freshman year in Easton Hall, where she found her roommate through the class Instagram page, lived in a learning community, and quickly built a strong community by being outgoing early on. She reflects on adjusting to communal bathrooms, moving into a sorority house sophomore year with 30 to 40 girls, and how that high energy environment shaped her socially. She breaks down her apartment hunting process, including signing early, touring apartments, and asking the right questions, which eventually led her to sign at Landmark. Looking ahead, Constance explains how competitive senior year housing is at UMD and why she locked in a senior house earlier than expected.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Constance chose UMD and what she knew about housing going in
• Her experience living in Easton Hall and being part of a learning community
• The pros and cons of freshman dorm living including communal bathrooms and shared spaces
• How leaving your door open and talking to everyone helps you make friends early
• Transitioning into college and dealing with homesickness
• Rushing at UMD and her advice for going through sorority recruitment
• Starting the apartment search early and comparing Landmark and The Standard
• What questions to ask on apartment tours including pricing, fees, and amenities
• Living at Landmark junior year and adjusting to having her own room
• Planning senior year housing, why it’s so competitive, and how she secured a house in Old Town
• Her biggest piece of advice for incoming UMD students about putting yourself out there and talking to everyone

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).

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.

Jenna walks through her full housing journey at UMD, starting with her freshman year dorm in Elkton, complete with elevator mishaps, laundry room lessons, and the highs and lows of classic dorm living. She opens up about finding her roommate last minute through the class Instagram page, navigating the adjustment to a non-traditional class schedule, and why living in the dorms was an essential part of her freshman year experience. From there, she shares why living in her sorority house sophomore year was one of her favorite chapters, and how moving into The Standard junior year gave her a new sense of independence, privacy, and balance.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Freshman Connection at UMD really is and how it compares to the traditional freshman experience
• How to find roommates and friends through the UMD class Instagram and Facebook groups
• Her freshman year in Elkton including dorm life highs, AC struggles, elevator chaos, and laundry room lessons
• Dorm essentials every freshman should bring to campus
• Adjusting from a high school routine to a later college class schedule
• Why she believes freshmen should live in dorms
• Living in her sorority house sophomore year and what made it such a special experience
• Signing early at The Standard, getting a rent discount, and what it’s like having her own room and bathroom
• Why freshmen do not need a car at UMD and how she gets around campus
• Starting the search for senior year housing and why it’s more competitive than expected

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).

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).