College Station Beyond A&M: Off-Campus Housing, Finding Your Community, and Leasing Agent Secrets

In this episode of The Best Four Podcast, Laura chats with Ashtyn, a marketing major from Houston who moved to College Station after changing her college plans at the last minute. Ashtyn explains why she chose Blinn College instead of Texas State and what it was like adjusting to college life away from home. Ashtyn shares her housing journey through The Barracks, The Heights, and her upcoming one-bedroom apartment at Lake Walk at Traditions. From navigating roommate conflicts and caring for multiple pets to becoming a leasing agent, she explains why students should start their housing search early, ask detailed questions, and look beyond how a property appears. Ashtyn also opens up about anxiety, making friends naturally, and how college helped her become more independent. In this episode, we cover: ● Why Ashtyn changed her plans and moved to College Station ● Blinn College, RELLIS, and alternative paths to Texas A&M ● The reality of living with roommates and multiple pets ● Communicating through roommate conflict with the goal of resolving it ● Comparing townhomes and apartments in College Station ● Leasing agent advice for touring and signing student housing ● The importance of maintenance, security, amenities, and lease details ● Learning to be independent and comfortable with unexpected change Explore more episodes and continue the conversation on our website: https://thebestfourpod.com This episode is brought to you by 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 The Jay in Fall 2027. But even sooner, you can catch a Daydreamer pop-up inside The Jay’s leasing office starting Fall 2026. Be sure to follow @thejaycollegestation on Instagram for sneak peeks and updates. This episode is brought to you by The Jay. The Jay is a new student apartment opening near Texas A&M College Station in Fall 2027. With floorplan options ranging from studios to six-bedroom apartments, there is a layout for every lifestyle and roommate group. Designed with Aggies in mind, The Jay combines Texan warmth with luxury amenities that make it easy to balance school and downtime, including a resort-style pool with a jumbotron, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dedicated study floor and an on-site coffee shop, Daydreamer Cafe. This episode is brought to you by The Heights. The Heights is a premier student apartment located just a short drive away from Texas A&M College Station. With floorplan options ranging from two to five bedrooms, there is plenty of space for every kind of roommate group. Recently renovated with Texas A&M students in mind, The Heights offers upgraded amenities that make it easy to balance studying and downtime, including a resort-style pool with a hot tub and jumbotron, a brand-new pickleball court, a dedicated study lounge and an outdoor fire pit.