<p>agreed - same goes for American Express. I have the Citi Platinum Select for students and I love it. I've had it for exactly a year, and so far my CL (credit limit) has more than tripled! Gotta love that - I tend to charge a lot on that card (just looking at my past 6 month's payments, I've spent $7,000 so it's probably almost double that for the life of the card), so it's nice to have the higher limit now.</p>
<p>But make sure you understand how to use credit. Don't, for the love of your credit report, make use of the card as "free money". You will get screwed in the end. I pay my bill in full each month. For college students, I recommend only using a card if you have the cash on hand (or will have it) to pay the full bill at the end of the month.</p>
<p>I got a Mastercard as a freshman (I'm a senior now). It has served me well. I can view everything online and I have protection plan that alerts me (by phone or email) about charges that seem unusual. My limit has reached $3600, which is more than enough for what I use the card for. I get countless other offers in the mail. When I graduate I'll most likely need a higher credit limit.</p>
<p>Treating a credit card as free money like Icarus said will put you in a world of trouble. When I was younger my dad maxed out every card he had and his credit has been screwed since. Honestly, I don't really think he ever intended on paying them off.</p>
<p>I have been advised by so many to not have a credit card unless I am absolutely sure I can pay it off at the end of month in full. Too many college students graduate deep in depth thinking credit cards are just full of "free money" and subsequently forget they will eventually have to pay it off in the end. Be careful with that, don't buy anything you don't need, because it will hurt you alot in the end with regard to debt and credit. Make sure you know you can absolutely pay it off.</p>
<p>whatever you do, DO NOT GET A CREDIT CARD WHILE IN COLLEGE. why do you think credit card companies target naive college students? they know that most people will get carried away and will spend recklessly. even if you think you wont over-use it...you will. you will want to go somewhere but realize you dont have any money, and you'll use the card. if you dont want to be in debt, DO NOT DO IT.</p>
<p>that's a very naive thing of you to say.. ive NEVER misused my credit card, and i'm 22 now. neither have ANY of my roommates, or ANY of my friends.. and that's a few hundred people on this campus alone.. plenty of people know how to use a credit card properly.. it's just the sour eggs that you hear about...</p>
<p>I've had a credit card for a while now (although a crappy Discover card, thus my post, it is nowhere you want to be) and I haven't had any problems involving misuse.</p>
<p>So long as you know you won't spend more than you're going to be willing and able to pay off at the end of the month, you're safe getting a credit card.</p>
<p>Just make sure before you whip it out that you think about whether you'll be able to pay off that expense at the end of the month.</p>
<p>Wow, this thread is an annual thing too.
I would go for First Financial Bank (almost always 250 guaranteed), Bank of America will work if you sign up though an upper-level representative, Citibank is also pretty good, it has the highest credit limit.</p>
<p>The reason why people are careless with credits cards is that they are stupid. Like I already said I've seen firsthand what can result from being careless with a credit card. If you are someone who is incapable of making smart financial decisions then a credit card is not for you. But I am not one of those people. By being responsible credit card user I have a good credit rating and that will definitely help when I need to get financing for a car, house, etc.</p>
<p>Vinny, if you get a credit card to pay for books make sure you have some source of income (i.e. job) that can pay the balance off. If you want to save money on books you can buy some for very low prices from sites like ebay. A lot of students at my school do that but I stick with the campus bookstore. At the first school I went to I didn't buy used books because they were in terrible condition. At my current school the used books are like brand-new. I saved over $100 this semester by buying used, but the still cost me $465. I put that amount on my credit card, but it won't get paid off until I get my research stipend.</p>
<p>yeah i'm sorry, but blonditr is completely wrong - you SHOULD get a credit card in college. Even if you are only going to charge one $15 pizza a month on it and pay in full at the end of the month, do that. Your credit rating (FICO score) will be so much better off for it. You will have established a four year history of revolving credit (this is different than student loans, which are installment lines of credit), which is very important for determining your creditworthiness, along with a good payment history with no lates.</p>
<p>I bet your credit score will have problems with it :). I think Citi is pretty much universal with students. Just get one and if you're really scared, chop it up after you activate it.</p>
<p>I think every college student needs a card with like $500 on it. That way if your car breaks down or whatever other emergency you might have you can take care of some of it right away. I don't think anyone would want to spend the night in a repairshop because they didn't have a credit card to get a hotel room.</p>
<p>millie, you are right about needing emergency money, but a credit card isn't necessary. a debit card would fare just as well in that situation. just keep enough money in your account.</p>
<p>debit cards also don't help your credit rating.. credit cards do. and in an emergency situation you may need more money than you have in your checking account... i'm just going to laugh at the people who don't have a credit card.. yet expect to get a car loan, or a house loan for that matter.. i didn't need a cosigner to buy my new car, and i was 21...</p>