Austin’s eclectic atmosphere can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming, especially for UT Austin students juggling classes, exams, housing and more.
Whether you’re a freshman settling into dorm life, an out-of-state student navigating a new city or an upperclassman exploring West Campus apartments, these episodes from The Best Four podcast are here to help you through the process of student living at UT Austin.
Read Next: Where do Students Live Near the University of Texas at Austin?
To help you narrow down the episodes to find the answers you need, we compiled a brief breakdown of each episode and what they entail.
Episode One: West Campus Tell All from a Recent UT Austin Grad: Housing Regrets, Roommate Tips, and more with Sharlene
In the first episode, Sharlene explores the ins and outs of living in West Campus near UT Austin. From navigating off-campus housing as a freshman to the experience of living in a sorority house, as well as sharing tips and regrets about roommates, you’ll get an insider’s perspective from a recent UT graduate. Together, they walk through the entire decision-making process, offering valuable advice based on Sharlene’s college journey. Sharlene discusses the pros and cons of living with a best friend, compares apartment living to sorority house life and explains what a sleeping porch is all about.
This episode covers:
- Living in a West Campus apartment as a freshman at UT Austin.
- Living in a sorority house.
- Living in a new development/new construction in West Campus.
- First-hand tales of living at Rambler, Villas on Rio and Moontower.
- Random roommate matching v. living with your best friend.
- When to start looking for housing near UT Austin.
Episode Two: On-Campus v. West Campus Apartments: UT Austin Junior Talks Jester Wester, Meal Plans, and more
In this episode, Riley, a rising Junior at UT Austin, shares his experiences with dorm life and West Campus living. Riley discusses his time in Jester Hall, covering the pros and cons of meal plans, roommate matching and communal bathrooms, along with a candid look at laundry day. His insights provide an honest view of dorm life for incoming freshmen. He also discusses transitioning to off-campus living in a West Campus apartment. As a leasing agent, he offers tips on what it’s like living steps from campus and the pros and cons of apartment living in this vibrant area.
This episode covers:
- Living in the dorms (Jester West) as a freshman at UT Austin.
- Living in a West Campus apartment (Rambler).
- Pros and cons of on-campus meal plans and dining halls at UT.
- Tips from a West Campus leasing agent.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to UT Austin Meal Plans
Episode Three: UT Austin Housing Secrets from a Current Student and Leasing Agent: What you NEED to Know
In this episode, Ava discusses her unique journey through college housing. Ava, who has lived in West Campus and worked as a leasing agent for a West Campus apartment, offers an insider’s perspective on what to know when searching for housing near UT. She covers key topics like questions to ask on tours, hidden costs and more. Ava also shares her experience living off-campus as a freshman, including roommate matching and the process of renewing a lease.
This episode covers:
- Insider tips from a leasing agent.
- Questions and costs to consider when choosing where to live.
- Living off-campus as a freshman in a West Campus apartment (Moontower).
- Living with randomly matched roommates.
- Pros and cons of renewing your lease v. moving.
- The benefits and challenges of renewing leases instead of moving each year.
- Key questions to ask when touring apartments.
- Important costs to consider when choosing off-campus housing.
- Ava’s personal tips and insights for UT Austin students navigating the housing landscape.
Episode Four: Freshman Housing Regrets from an Out-of State UT Student: Life in Duren Hall, Sorority House, etc.
In this episode, Audrey Atienza, a recent UT Austin graduate, YouTuber and Founder of The Sorority Sister, talks about her experience as an out-of-state student navigating the housing scene at UT. Audrey opens up about her regrets choosing on-campus housing over off-campus dorms and the highs and lows of living in a sorority house. She also shares essential tips on finding the right roommates, the risks of waiting too long to sign a lease and the benefits of living in newer developments in West Campus.
This episode covers:
- Audrey’s experience as an out-of-state student at UT Austin.
- Living on-campus as a freshman and the regrets that followed.
- Experience living in the Duren Hall dorm.
- Pros and cons of living in a sorority house.
- Tips for finding the right roommates.
- Consequences of waiting too late to sign a lease.
- Living in new developments in West Campus, including Waterloo and Rambler.
Read Next: How to Find Roommates at the University of Texas at Austin
Episode Five: How to Get Ahead in the UT Austin Housing Hustle: Off-Campus Dorms (SRD), North Campus Houses, etc.
In this episode, Anna Grace, a recent UT Austin grad and former Texas Cheerleader, talks about navigating the UT housing scene. Anna Grace shares her journey, including her decision to sign for an off-campus dorm, Scottish Rite Dormitory (SRD), even before being accepted into UT. She dives into the pros and cons of living in off-campus dorms as a freshman, offering insights on popular housing options for students planning to rush. Anna Grace also shares her roommate success stories and explains how early students are signing for housing, including her own experience of securing a lease for her senior year house as a freshman.
This episode covers:
- Living in SRD, an off-campus dorm, as a freshman.
- An overview of off-campus dorms.
- Popular housing choices for students planning to rush.
- Roommate success stories and tips.
- The reality of how early students sign up for housing.
- Living in West Campus apartments and a North Campus house.
- Life in a sorority house.
Episode Six: UT Austin Housing Hacks and the Real Life West Campus Apartment Scoop: Hilltop, Quarters
In this episode, Caleb shares his experiences transferring to UT Austin as a CAP student, studying abroad and living in West Campus apartments. Caleb gives an in-depth look at living in Hilltop and Quarters on Cameron, sharing what it’s truly like in these popular student housing options. He also discusses how to choose the best part of West Campus based on your lifestyle, offers tips for saving money on an apartment and shares his experience finding a subleaser while studying abroad.
This episode covers:
- Caleb’s experience as a CAP transfer student at UT Austin.
- Living at Hilltop and Quarters on Cameron in West Campus.
- How to choose the best part of West Campus for your lifestyle.
- Money-saving tips for living in West Campus apartments.
- Finding a subletter while planning for studying abroad.
Read Next: 8 Steps to Finding the Perfect Student Apartment Near UT Austin
Episode Seven: Inside West Campus Co-Ops: The Alternative to Traditional UT Austin Housing
In this episode, Joseph, a UT Austin student, shares his experience living in a West Campus co-op house. If you’re unfamiliar with co-ops, this episode offers an inside look at this alternative housing option near UT. Joseph explains what co-op living is like, from costs and community to the pros and cons. He shares who typically lives in co-ops, what daily life looks like and why it might be a great fit for students seeking something different from traditional dorms or apartments. Plus, hear about Joseph’s experience getting a last-minute dorm assignment as a freshman in Moore-Hill Hall.
This episode covers:
- Joseph’s experience living in Moore-Hill Hall (an on-campus dorm) as a freshman.
- An introduction to co-op living in West Campus (College Houses & ICC Austin).
- The costs, pros, and cons of co-op housing.
- Who lives in co-ops and what daily life is like in these communities.
Read Next: Where to Live Near UT Austin if You Don’t Want to Live on Campus
We hope this compilation of podcast episodes serves as a tool for the varying questions you might have regarding living and housing at UT Austin. For more information on off-campus housing, contact our leasing staff. If you’d like to learn more about Rambler, visit our website.
