How College Students Are Taught Personal Finance by Credit Card Companies
Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 |If you have attending college in the past 10 years, it’s likely you keenly remember receiving about 20 pre-approval credit card offers your first semester. And gauging by the numerous emails I receive daily on the subject of credit card debt due to college, it’s likely you applied and received a few of those credit cards. In fact, it was the credit card debt I accumulated in college that served as a catalyst for my credit disaster.
Credit card companies, like cigarette companies, are smart when it comes to luring in potential lifelong customers when they are young and vulnerable. They cleverly setup booths on college campuses, give out free stuff like t-shirts and book bags, and mail students letters aimed to create a subtle hint of pride within. The statements usually say something such as, “You’re in college now! It’s time to start building you’re credit history!” How kind of them to notice and look out for my future. It’s quite alluring.
Students are obviously a good target. They are likely far away from their caution-invoking parents, don’t have a full-time job, need money for food and beer, and may or may not be financially educated. I could name a dozen more logical reasons why students are good targets for credit card companies, but I want to put at least some restraint on your ability to write, “duh!” in this article’s comments.
Universities are banning credit card companies from marketing on campus
There are has been some progress to limit credit card companies ability to market directly to student on campus. An article over at Bankrate says that some 300 universities have banned it altogether. While this is mildly encouraging, it doesn’t address any real plausible solution –again, clever marketing folks will find an equally successful way to grab students.
