 TITLE: How Is a Student Credit Card Different From a Regular Credit Card? CONTENT: Alternatives to a Student Credit Card\n-------------------------------------\nIf you can't qualify for a student credit card or you're not sure it's right for you, try one of these alternatives:\n*   **Become an authorized user**: If a parent, guardian or older sibling has pristine financial history, consider asking to join their credit card account as an authorized user. You won't be held responsible for making payments, but you can use the card (if the primary cardholder agrees). As long as the card issuer reports authorized user activity to the credit bureaus, on-time payment history on the account can help your credit.\n*   **Get a secured credit card**: With its low credit limit, a secured credit card is a smart first credit card if you don't meet a student card's income or cosigner requirements. The deposit generally falls between $200 and $2,000. Once you've shown you can use your secured card responsibly, some issuers will automatically qualify you for an unsecured card.\n*   **Apply for a retail credit card**: Credit cards issued by stores may not have the same stringent requirements as other unsecured cards. But they often come with high interest rates, which makes it particularly important to pay off the balance each month to avoid interest charges. In general, look into other credit card options before going this route.\nStudent credit cards can help you jump-start your credit history—while giving you benefits that can make campus life easier, or cheaper, in the meantime. Use a student card wisely, and a regular credit card could be on the horizon. END