For many young adults, the thought of building a credit history and worrying about a credit score seems unusual. To them the only real draw to a student credit card is the idea of getting the things they want or need with just the swipe of a card. It is also a method for getting the things they need while away at school, such as paying rent, purchasing books, paying tuition, and purchasing items such as food and clothes. Student credit cards are a great way to establish credit and to build a credit history, but they need to be used wisely.
The Credit Score
College students may not realize it, but student credit cards are often the first step toward establishing a credit score. A credit score is a number determined by the credit bureaus. Each of the three credit bureaus has its own method for accumulating credit information and for developing a credit score, but they are generally approximately the same. This number is used by lending institutions and other businesses to determine whether or not you are a financial risk. Even phone companies often look at the credit score to decide if they will grant you a phone line.
The lower your credit score, the...