Parents should play a role in students' credit card selection      
While college-age children may feel that they no longer need input from their parents, the reality is that many kids can still use some help when it comes to credit cards. Data showing that students too often rack up sizable credit card debt in no way makes them unique, since U.S. credit card illiteracy is a problem across age groups and income brackets. But since experts stress that the best way to control debt is to avoid it, college students are at an advantage.
 
Visa offers free credit scores to college students      
To get "Financial Literacy Month" for April 2007 rolling, Visa provided 5,000 free FICO credit scores to college students through its whatsmyscore.org website. College students had the opportunity to receive 5,000 free credit scores on a first-come, first-served basis courtesy of Fair Isaac Corp. Fair Isaac produces the most widely used credit score in the U.S., known as a FICO score.
 
Financial literacy programs help students use credit cards responsibly      
Amid charges that credit card issuers target young people, both lenders and universities are offering financial literacy programs to help educate students. During January 2006 hearings on credit card issuers, a few Senate Banking Committee members brought up the concerns expressed by constituents with children in college. The committee members explained that parents are concerned their college-age kids, unable to resist the stream of credit card applications that come their way, will graduate with so much debt that the young people will be prevented from leasing apartments and cars, taking out loans for graduate school, and passing potential employers' background checks into their credit histories.
 
Credit cards and your college student      
While your son or daughter is off at college getting an education both in and out of the classroom, you should be concerned. Not just about their health and safety, but about their credit card usage and how it may impact their credit score. Parents may not even be aware until after the fact that their college-age child has a credit card account. Since a parent no longer has to co-sign an application, a child 18 years of age or older can easily get a credit card on his or her own.
 
Selecting a student credit card      
Across the country, students arriving on college campuses can expect to get bombarded with credit card offers. Some statistics indicate that college students on average get five to seven credit card offers during their first week on campus. Booths on campus may offer t-shirts, food, frisbees and other goodies for signing up for a credit card on the spot. While a free gift may be nice, potential student cardholders can probably get a better deal elsewhere, such as online .
 
Help credit cards make sense to young children      
Nowadays, children frequently see their parents and other adults swipe a plastic card when making a purchase. But do they understand how paying with a credit card works? Or how putting a debit card into an ATM makes cash come out? Taking time to explain the basics of credit cards or debit cards to a young child may answer questions you never even knew they had.
 
Credit card debt a big concern on college campuses      
Reading, writing, credit cards? Among the things they don't teach you about in school, but probably should, is credit card debt. Credit card debt is a major concern among college administrators, who worry about the effect owing money to credit card companies can have on students. In 2004, 83 percent of undergraduate college students had at least one credit card in their name with an average outstanding balance of over $2,300. Student credit cards often carry high interest rates following a very short intro APR offer, usually lasting about six months. As a result, these cards make it easy for their cardholders to fall into debt. Aside from just costing young people serious wads of cash, credit card debt can have some other serious negative effects on college students.
 
Credit cards and kids      
Just because your children are too young to be cardholders doesn't mean they are too young to get an education in the how's and why's of credit cards. Experts advise sharing the rules of credit cards early with your kids, before they ever have a credit card. Credit card offers addressed to a son or daughter may come well before they turn 18. Once your kids begin to receive credit card offers in the mail, it's a good time to speak to your children about them. Going over a credit card statement with your offspring can allow you to explain things like an interest rate, a card's fees, and what happens if you go over the limit or are late with a payment. You can help them to understand that what they charge with a credit card will have to be paid back and that they should always make more than the minimum monthly payments.
 
Earn extra credit with a rewards student credit card      
Not so long ago, it was virtually impossible for a young person without a solid credit history and employment record to qualify for a new credit card. But, as the saying goes, times have changed. Nowadays, a student that is actively enrolled in an accredited four year college or university can apply and qualify for a wide range of cutting-edge credit card products from the nation's leading banks and issuers.
 
Student Credit Cards 101      
Going away to college is a monumental event on the road to adulthood. For many, this presents the first opportunity for living independently, away from parents and being able to ask for assistance whenever the need arises (especially financial assistance). Parents often open credit card accounts in their children's name or provide them with a companion card to their personal credit card account. Another option open to most college students is to receive a student credit card in their own name. Issuers of Student Credit Cards have recognized the value of being the "first card in wallet" with young people in terms of building long term loyalty.
 
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