As a freshman headed off to college you may be apprehensive about living independently for the first time. While there are few experiences as rewarding as dorm life, it can bring a host of challenges. If your living space becomes uncomfortable or unpleasant it can have a negative effect on your entire college experience.
Dorm mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. But why are they so exceptionally bad? A big part of it boils down to cost as schools want the least expensive mattress, which means cutting costs on materials.
Your first year at college is an exciting time. It can also be pretty stressful as you adjust to a new, more independent life away from home. What many freshmen don’t know yet is how dorm-life can contribute to that stress. That’s not to say dorm life is bad — on average, studies find that living on campus all four years can increase your GPA by nearly a full point — but it may require some insight and a little navigation to avoid a bad fit.
Before you move in, be ready with a list of questions to ask college admissions about dorms to make sure you’ve got the right fit. Here are some to get you started:
Dorm room mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable. This is due in part to mass production, as well as an emphasis on durability over comfort during construction. The less-than-cozy quality of a mattress presents a problem for college freshmen who are already dealing with huge life adjustments. A solid night’s rest is a must for these new students and an uncomfortable mattress can hinder that. Luckily a few changes to your college mattress will noticeably improve its comfort.
When it comes to specialty textiles, quality is absolutely critical. This is especially true for dorm room mattresses. Here, quality is determined by the design, durability and reliability of its fabric.
Often, dorm room mattresses are subjected to rips, tears and stains in the student setting. The longevity of the mattress is dependent on its construction, so materials must be made from quality fabrics.
Air mattresses are often viewed as the convenient guest bed in storage that comes in handy during the holidays. However, air mattresses are used for more than just the occasional guest. In the medical mattress industry, alternating pressure air mattresses (APAMs) are used in hospitals or for in-home patient care to help prevent bed sores.
