8 Tips for College Students Wanting to Apply for a Credit Card

High school life is over. You've moved away from home and you're starting a brand new chapter in your life with college. Independence feels great, but it's sure to feel greater if you've got your own credit card, don't you think?

Here's what you can do to make the credit card application process as hassle-free as possible.

1. Prepare proof of identification. Have your photos ready as well as all your valid IDs. Credit card companies will always have to verify that you are indeed who you say you are before you can proceed any further. IDs where your age is stated are also preferred because you have to prove you're at least 18 years old as well. If you have any bills under your name, take them with you as well because they can serve as proof of residence.

2. Prepare proof of schooling. Credit card companies generally prefer to issue credit cards to students who belong to accredited colleges and universities. If you belong to such a school then you're in luck. If not, you can compensate it by showing your previous records - if they're excellent, that is. Just like when you're applying for a driver's license, issuers also take academic and extra-curricular excellence as a sign of maturity and trustworthiness in your part.

3. Prepare proof of financial assets. Student credit cards tend to charge higher rates than usual, but you might be qualified for lower rates if you're already working or you have money and a bank account in your name. Either way, make sure you can submit documentary proof of your work or assets.

4. Speaking of interest rates, the first thing you should look for in a credit card is the lowest possible interest rates. This might mean not being able to enjoy a reward-based credit card, but at your age, you might not yet afford the higher rates charged by credit cards offering reward points. If you see a 0% APR credit card, make sure to check how long the offer would last and what the standard APR is afterwards.

5. A number of credit cards allows you to apply even without a cosigner, but some of them tend to have stricter application requirements. If you don't want to go through the trouble of submitting additional requirements, simply ask your parent or legal guardian to act as your guarantor when you apply.

6. Always look for a credit card that allows you to manage your account online. This will allow you to check your account balance regularly and know when and how much you have to pay for your credit card every month.

7. There are a few additional perks that you might deem necessary. If you are fond of shopping online, look for a credit card that offers you fraud liability guarantee at no extra cost. Other credit cards offer you "thank you" points for being a prompt payer.

8. Now that you know what you need from a credit card, find one that matches your preferences and then submit your application. Remember to be courteous and answer all their questions honestly. You're sure to have your application approved in no time. Have fun with responsible swiping!

Top 10 Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Credit cards seem to be the American standard for living these days. How many people do you see using cash anymore? We either use debit cards or credit cards for all of our purchases. Credit cards can be a great convenience and can be rewarding if they are used properly. To use a credit card properly, you need to pay the balance off in full the next month so that you do not have to pay interest. But in today's society, many people have a "buy now, worry about it later" mentality and wind up thousands of dollars in credit card debt. So the solution many use? Transfer the balance to a lower interest, or 0%, credit card if your credit is good enough. Here is a list of 10 balance transfer credit cards you can choose from to apply for if a balance transfer is needed.

Citi® Platinum® Select Card
Credit rating required: Good
The Citi® Platinum® Select Card has an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for up to one year depending on your credit history. Once the promotional period has expired, the standard variable APR on the credit card is applied to the remaining balance. Perks to this credit card include no annual fee and $0 liability on any unauthorized purchases. They have secure, free online account management if you choose to pay your bill online. You can apply online to get an immediate response. Good credit is required in order to be approved for this offer.

Discover® More Card
Credit rating required: Excellent
The Discover® More Card has an introductory offer of 0% interest for six months on purchases and 12 months on balance transfers for this credit card. You need excellent credit to apply for this offer, but the rewards and benefits are good. Users can get 5% - 20% in Cashback Bonuses for featured retailers (these change throughout the year) and up to 1% Cashback Bonus that is unlimited for all other purchases throughout the year.

With the Cashback Bonus, you can ask for a check, have the bonus electronically deposited into your account or have your charge account credited. You can also increase, and in some cases double, your Cashback Bonus by using it for gift cards from selected retailers.

You can pay your account balance online with their secure features and there is no annual fee for this credit card.

Once your 0% APR period expires, the standard APR will range anywhere from 10.99% to 18.99%. The rate will depend on your payment history with Discover.

Blue from American Express®
Credit rating required: Excellent
If you have excellent credit, you can get up to 15 months with a 0% APR by using Blue from American Express®. Balance transfer rates can be as low as 4.99% until the balance is paid off. The length of time for your 0% APR will depend upon your credit rating. There is no annual fee and cardmembers have secure, free online access to their account. Blue has the Membership Rewards Express Program where cardmembers can earn one point for every dollar they spend using their credit card. The regular APR is as low as prime + 4.99%.

GM Flexible Earning Card
Credit rating required: Good
The GM Flexible Earning Card, from HSBC, offers a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for up to one year on this credit card. GM Flexible Earning Card has a 1% cash back option and a 1% earnings towards any other new vehicle. You can triple your earnings to 3% if you use it towards a new GM vehicle.

The regular APR is 14.24% and there is no annual fee.

Capital One® Platinum Pledge
Credit rating required: Good
With the Capital One® Platinum Pledge credit card, applicants can receive 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases through September 2008. After the introductory rate expires, a variable rate of 8.4% may be applied to the balance.

One benefit of this Capital One® credit card is that your APR will not automatically increase if you have one late payment. There is also no annual fee for credit cardholders. There are also some pretty nice benefits included with this credit card: roadside assistance 24-hours a day, $100,000 travel accident insurance, exclusive savings on Yahoo! Shopping, and insurance on rental cars.

AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card
Credit rating required: Good
The AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card, by Citi®, has a 0% balance transfer rate for 12 months. The regular APR may be as low as 10.49%. Another perk of using this credit card is during the first 12 months, cardmembers can receive up to 10% savings on AT&T purchases. There are also AT&T phone benefits with up to 30 free minutes a month by using the credit card as a phone card. Other perks include Internet related services, no liability for unauthorized charges, fraud and security protection services, and extended warranty for purchases.

Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Visa® Card
Credit rating required: Good
The Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Visa® Card has 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for the first 6 months. The regular APR is prime + 2.99%. There is no annual fee with this credit card and your credit line may be approved for as high as $25,000.

Perks of having this card include credit protection, online banking services, no liability with unauthorized charges, cash advance checks at no extra charge, and travel and emergency assistance.

Chase Platinum Credit Card
Credit rating required: Good
With the Chase Platinum Credit Card, approved members can receive up to 12 months at a 0% introductory offer on balance transfers. Time period for the length of the introductory offer will depend upon review of the application and credit history. Regular APR is 13.49%.

There is no annual fee, online account access, and cardmembers can get a Hertz car rental discount with this credit card.

Discover® More Credit Card
Credit rating required: Excellent
The Discover® More Credit Card varies a little from the typical Discover® Card in the rewards perks. There is six months with 0% APR on purchases and 0% on balance transfers for 12 months. There is no annual fee and the regular APR may be as low as 10.99%. Users of this credit card earn the typical 1% that regular Discover® members earn and the 5% on select retailers. The extra perk on this card is users can earn up to 20% cash back by shopping online with select retailers at Discover's exclusive shopping site.

Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card
Credit rating required: Good
The Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card has a 0% introductory rate for the first 12 billing cycles. The regular APR is 9.90%. Card users do not have an annual fee with this credit card and users have the flexibility to pay over time.

Credit card holders can earn 1% for every dollar they spend using this card and points can be redeemed for travel with no blackout dates. You can also use reward points for hotels, cash, gift certificates and other merchandise. Users will also have access to special cardmember offers that will help them save even more on purchases.

Source: Associated Content

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