Credit for College Students
Prep Your Credit
Going to college is a big deal, funding it is even bigger. Understanding your credit report can be a key element to the success of surviving higher education financially. Even if you are a high school student a year or two away from your undergraduate studies, now is the time to focus on your credit.
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to request a copy of your credit reports and review them. You may be surprised at what you find. For example, what if someone, somewhere has used or is using your Social Security Number to gain credit? Don’t think it can happen to you? Don’t be too sure. Identity theft is a growing concern we all should be aware of. By requesting a copy of your credit report, you can ensure the activity it displays is actually based on your actions. If you find that your credit report has erroneous information on it, you can file a dispute to clean up your report.
Remember, your credit score, something lenders review before extending you money, derives directly from your credit report. Whether it is for a private student loan or college student credit cards, you very well may find yourself in need of a good credit score as you are exiting high school.
Also, as a teenager, your credit score may actually be lower then you think. By pulling your credit report, you will see your score and can take action to improve it if needed. Something that hurts students is a lack of good or even bad credit history. Most likely, if you are a high school senior, you aren’t going to have any credit cards. Without a history, lenders won’t know what to expect out of you and may be leery to extend you a private student loan.
To learn more about how credit works and to get additional inormation on acollege credit card, visit StudentCreditCards.com.
Student credit cards.com @ December 4, 2007