Students of Social Sciences primarily study human behaviour and social relationships. They also participate in many courses related to Arts & Humanities. Aside from the traditional classroom college setting, long distance and online degree courses are also available.

What jobs are hot in Social Science?

Graduates of Social Science Majors enjoy a wide array of career opportunities. The most popular social sciences jobs include:

Archaeologists. These professionals discover the past human civilizations through expeditions and study.

Educators. A Social Science graduate may also choose a career as a teacher and share his knowledge and skills to other students.

Geographers. Geographers primarily study the earth and its surface. These Social Scientists deal with natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

Politicians. A Social Science student may also choose a career in politics by pursuing a master’s degree in political Science.

Sociologist. Laws, behaviour, religion, race, gender, social policies- these are the aspects that a Sociologist deals with.

Why take up a College Degree in Social Science?

According to a survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment for Social Science graduates are expected to grow more and that salaries are most likely to increase. Career opportunities also abound, not only in companies and businesses but in schools and universities and government agencies as well.

Who are the perfect candidates for Social Science Majors?

Students of Social Sciences must develop their management skills, organizational skills, writing skills, communication skills, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Motivation is also a crucial attitude that would help them succeed. They must also learn to recognize trends and patterns efficiently.

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Money Management Lessons Can Start Early

Introducing basic financial management techniques to kids will help them become more prepared in handling their personal finances in the future. Teaching kids to save money from their allowances is a good way to develop their money skills. Instead of giving money for school on a daily basis, older kids may be given a weekly or monthly allowance so they can budget their own money.

Parents should become role models for their kids and money matter isn’t an exception. Children often look up to their parents and if your kids can see how you manage your finances, it shouldn’t be difficult to share with them financial management tips that you practice in your own household.

Kids who are in high school should already be aware of what a credit report is and its importance. When ordering a copy of their individual credit reports, parents can show it to their kids and discuss the contents of the document. Teach your kids about the categories in your credit report and explain why it’s important to build a good credit rating. Parents must see to it that their kids understand the credit report before they be allowed to have their own credit cards.

Obtaining a Student Credit Card

Youngsters who have graduated in high school are often the best candidates for student credit cards. Although some parents choose to give their kids credit cards while still in high school, many college students apply for their own credit cards in college. Take note that having a credit card at this point is essential for building personal credit history.

Parents play a big role in helping their kids make the right credit card choice. As a card holder themselves, parents can recommend specific issuers that they can consider. Since it will be the first time that your kid will own a credit card, you can guide them through the whole process of comparing different student credit cards, weighing choices, down to submitting their credit card application.

Many issuers of student credit cards do not require a cosigner for the applicant as long as he/she is at least 18 years old. This means, a college student can get obtain a credit card for student with or without parent’s permission. Hence, it’s best for parents to volunteer in helping their kids find the right credit card with the best deal.

Guidance should not end with choosing the best credit card for college. Parents should share their own experiences in managing a credit card account. Of course, students must be constantly reminded to pay their bills on time and use their credit cards with discretion. Last but not the least, parents should encourage their kids to maintain a balanced point of view with regards to money issues as doing so will protect them from the dangers of bad debt.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

Young People and Financial Challenges

In the past years, credit card issuers allow students to open their own credit card accounts provided they have a co-signer. Some credit cards still require a co-signer but since credit card companies introduced student credit cards in the market, it allowed young people to apply for a credit card on their own.

Issuers of credit cards for students often send advertising mails to potential cardholders as soon as they graduate from high school. Many college students opt to apply for a student credit card because it gives them the convenience to spend even without cash. Parents also provide their kids with student credit cards to ensure that they’ll get the financial support they need.

There is a danger in signing for the first attractive credit card offer you receive in your mail. If you haven’t done your own research, you won’t be able to compare potential choices. For instance, the card may offer a very low introductory APR. However, the low interest rate may only last for 6 months and afterwards the regular rate would be much higher than you expected. If you won’t take time to shop around, you could be stuck with a student credit card that imposes expensive charges.

Reading and understanding the fine print is a very important step that you should never overlook when choosing a credit card. This advice isn’t just for young people but for adults who are planning to get a credit card as well. Don’t be discouraged even if the Terms and Conditions are written in very small letters and may seem to be very long. Knowing the real deal can save you from possible trouble in the long run.

Prepare Yourself for the Responsibilities

What responsibilities should you prepare for? Owning a credit card isn’t just about the luxury of spending without cash. It involves duties to your credit card issuer. Staying true to your obligations as a credit card holder is your best protection against bad credit.

As soon as you receive your student credit card, make sure that you use it only on important purchases. Before charging any expense to your card, consider carefully if you can pay back your balance in full and on time. Where will you get the money to pay off your charges?

Use your student credit card to build your personal credit history while you’re still in college. Having good credit will prepare you financially especially when graduate from college. A good credit standing will give you an advantage when looking for a job or applying for a loan.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

Don’t Just Cancel Any Card

Why should you be very careful when closing out a credit card account? First of all, canceling the wrong account can badly affect your personal credit history. Yes, closing out the wrong account can significantly pull down your credit score. Why so?

If you have an existing balance in one of your credit cards, you should pay it off first before canceling. Never cancel a card if you have a unpaid balance. If you do, your credit card issuer will report it as defaulted charges and will be reflected in your credit report.

Don’t close out your old credit card accounts especially if that was your first card. Remember, the credit history you’ve built is largely based on that particular account. If you cancel, it would be like deleting the oldest parts of your credit history. If you must cancel a student credit card, pick out the ones that are more recent.

What if you want to cancel your old student credit card because of its high interest rate? One way to deal with it is call up your credit card issuer and request for a lower rate. Yes, you can actually make this request from your credit card company especially if you’ve been a long time customer and a good payer. Tell your credit card company that you may be forced to close the account because of the high rate. Even if your request isn’t granted, it is still worth a try.

You can still keep your old credit card without letting the high interest rate bother you. How? Use your card occasionally for small purchases and pay off your balance in full immediately. Do not wait until your due date comes before submitting your payment. If possible, pay off your balance the same day you made the purchase. This way, you won’t have to pay the additional interest rate cost and you’ll still be able to keep your student credit card active.

How to Cancel Unwanted Student Credit Cards

Again, seriously consider the student credit cards you own and pick out one that is safe to close out. Once you’ve made the choice, you must call the issuer and make the request. The representative of your credit card company may try to change your mind by making offers.

You will surely be asked why you want to close the account. If you’ve already decided to cancel the account, just tell the representative politely that you’ve made a final decision. Don’t forget to note the name of representative you’ve spoken with.

Follow up your phone-in request with a letter. Stipulate in your letter that you are personally requesting to close the account and that there are currently no problems in your active account whatsoever. It may take a few weeks or a month before your credit card issuer sends a notice that your request has been done. Once you do, check your credit report right away to make sure that the account has indeed been closed.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

The Risk of Owning Too Many Credit Cards

Can you really have too many credit cards under your name? The fact is, college students are not the only ones who should be concerned about this issue. Even adults can be put at risk of bad debt if they own too many credit cards in their wallets. It actually doesn’t matter whether you’re a college student or not. Everyone should think about the risks each time they sign up for a new credit card account.

Sadly, young people are more at risk. Issuers of credit cards for students may take advantage of this vulnerable market. Since there is a great number of college students in the market, credit card companies spend a lot on advertising campaigns directed to this group of market. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself easily enticed by the seemingly attractive deals from student credit card issuers.

How many credit cards should you get? According to financial experts, one or two credit cards for students should be enough. One to two cards should be sufficient to help your personal credit history and provide financial support.

Why must college students avoid getting multiple student credit cards? First, managing too many accounts can be complicated. There is also a bigger tendency that you will use your credit card if you know you have available credit. The challenge of repayment may come later. Unfortunately, many youngsters find themselves already stuck in bad credit before they even realize that they had a problem. Yes, uncontrolled credit card use can be avoided if you only have one card in your name.

Don’t Give In to Credit Card Debt

Some students may reason out that they’re conscious about their spending and that they will never fall in the debt trap. This could be true but if you really seriously think about it, there’s no good reason why a student should apply for multiple credit cards.

Remember that you’re still in college and you’ll most probably be paying off your balances from the money your parents send you. If you are a working student, imagine how burdensome it would be if you had to juggle between multiple balances from each of your credit cards. Yes, you’ll lessen the risk of bad credit if you stick with just one to two credit cards.

Owning many credit cards will not boost your credit score. Instead, you can build good credit and keep it that way if you stick with just one card and be consistent with your payments. So if you plan to get a student credit card, pick out the one that matches your needs and use smartly.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

Owning a Credit Card is a Responsibility

Just because you’re old enough to own a personal credit card doesn’t mean you should rush to get one. Ask yourself, are you really ready to be a credit card holder? Do you know how to manage a credit card account and avoid the dangers associated with uncontrolled spending? Have you really found the right credit card for student? Did you take time doing research and comparing your choices or did you just submit your application without much thought?

Many credit card companies offer a very low minimum due payment which at first glance, may seem like a very enticing deal. However, the minimum due payment doesn’t exempt you from your obligation to pay the interest rate costs each time you carry a balance in your account.

Thus, the longer you put off paying your entire credit card balance, the more you’ll have to pay on additional interest rate fees. This is why student credit card holders shouldn’t fall into the habit of submitting only the minimum due payment because it will put you at risk of bad debt.

Building Your Credit History

Some students have the false notion that in order to build a higher credit score, they need to maintain a balance in their account. Is this true? Hardly. The fact is, you can raise your credit score and maintain a good credit history by being consistent with your payments. If you pay off your monthly balances in full, you avoid the risk of late payments and bad debt.

If you decide to get a credit card for student, your primarily goal should be to build up a solid credit history. The only way you can achieve this goal is to avoid late payments and to stay within your given credit limit.

Know Your Student Credit Card Well

Deciding on which student credit card to get can be a tough one. If you won’t study your choices very carefully, all credit card offers in the market may seem like a great deal. In order to find out the truth, you need to compare your choices based on the Terms and Conditions of the card.

Once you have a student credit card, how can you avoid the snare of bad debt? Use your student credit card on sensible expenses and closely keep track of your account. Pay off your bills on time and avoid exceeding your credit limit. In case you can’t submit your payment on time, pay your minimum due and speak with your credit card issuer to request for a deadline extension. Whatever you do, never ignore your credit card bills. If you didn’t receive your bill on time, inform your issuer immediately and inquire about your balance.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

In survey conducted by Nellie Mae- a subsidiary of Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading student loan company, graduating student carry an average balance of $8,612 on their credit card accounts and half of this month is the average balance incurred by undergraduates.

Finance help experts put the blame on student credit card issuers since they are the ones who encourage young people to get more than one student credit card using smart marketing tactics. Read newspapers and magazine, surf the internet, watch television, and listen to radio broadcasts and notice how credit card companies use cunning advertisements to entice young people to sign up for a credit card.

Important Points to Ponder

If you are a student, are you thinking about signing up for your own student credit card? If you already have one, do you still have plans to open another credit card account? Are you enticed to sign up for a new credit card because of the seemingly attractive offers? Do you think that you are prepared to manage a student credit card account or multiple accounts?

In a 2008 survey done by The Hartford Financial Services Group, 55% of parents reveal that their doubts as to whether young people (from ages 15-24) can really own up to financial independence. It is interesting to compare another survey by The Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literary which proves that 48.3% of young people answered incorrectly on questions about fundamental personal finance skills.

Nowadays, classes on personal finance management are conducted in many universities and colleges in the hopes to help students avoid credit card debt and develop efficient skills in dealing with money matters. On January 2008, the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) introduced an online course on financial management training which is called CashCourse. This online course is offered in 126 universities.

Learning Credit Card Terminologies

Every credit card holder must learn how credit cards really work and today, lessons on credit card terminologies included in a regular math class. When you read the fine print, it is crucial that you understand the meaning or implications of the specific terms such as interest rates, APR, transaction fees, repayment terms, closing costs, late penalty, pre-payment penalty, credit report, FICO score etc.

Understanding the basic terminologies is the key to making a smart credit card choice. If you know exactly how the costs are calculated, you can weigh your choices more efficiently, rather than just pick a credit that seems to offer a good deal.

Parents can also play a big role in helping teens and college students get out of bad debt. As a parent, you can share your personal tips on how to handle credit cards effectively. Guide your kids in looking for the right student credit card in the market or make recommendations based on your personal experience.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

If you find that your credit rating is below par, it isn’t too late to do something about it. If you take action today, you can still improve a poor credit history and raise your credit score before you graduate college. Below are valuable tips on you can rebuild poor credit as a student:

Avoid false credit repair agencies. Don’t fall victim to fake credit repair agencies that may promise to give your credit history an instant fix. Bear in mind that you cannot erase charges or negative marks in your credit report unless you file a dispute with the credit bureaus.

After filing a dispute, the credit bureau will conduct an investigation on the matter to see if your claim is valid. If the information is proven to be false, that’s the time the credit bureau can update your credit report. However, if your low credit score is a result of unpaid charges, the only way you can improve your credit is to pay your debts.

Watch out for credit repair agencies that claim to fix your credit history in exchange for a fee. These agencies are out to take advantage of people in bad debt situation.

Study your credit report. To come up with a good plan in rebuilding your personal credit, order a copy of your credit report so you can see for yourself whether the information it contains is accurate.

Dispute errors. Again, if you found erroneous details in your credit report, you can dispute them and ask for corrections. The proper way to dispute errors is to send a dispute letter to the credit bureau that issued your report. Make sure that your letter is sent via registered mail and that you keep copies of your correspondence with your creditors and the bureaus for your reference.

Create a repayment plan. If you have unpaid debts, you should immediately set a repayment plan. Put debt repayment on top of your priorities. Find ways to cut down your costs and use a significant portion of your income to pay off your debts. This move calls for self-discipline and determination but if you’re really willing to improve your credit history, your efforts and sacrifices would surely pay off.

Talk to your creditors. If you’re having difficulty in keeping up with your debt payments, speak with your creditors right away. Be open about your current financial situation. Request for new payment terms so that repayment would be a lot easier for you.

Many creditors would be willing to modify their own repayment terms to help a client facing financial crisis. If you haven’t tried negotiating with creditors on your own, perhaps you may consider seeking help from a credit counseling agency. A representative of the agency can negotiate with creditors on your behalf and come up with better repayment terms.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009

Open a Secured Credit Card. A secured credit card is one that requires a security deposit. If your security deposit amount is $300, the same amount would be given to you as a credit line. For parents who want to exercise control over their teen’s spending, a secured credit card is a good option.

Open a credit card account in your name. You may also consider providing your teen with a supplementary card. This is a credit card that is connected to your own account. By giving your kid a supplementary card, you can closely keep track of your kid’s credit card use. If you have kids in high school, this is a good choice to start training them on proper credit card management.

Co-sign for your teen. There are many credit cards for students that still require a co-signer. As a parent, you can act as a co-signer for your teen’s account. This means, you will be accountable for the payments in case your teenager fails to keep up with his/her payments.

Find a student credit card. There are also student credit cards in the market that do not require for a co-signer. For students who can’t find someone with good credit history to co-sign the account, it is still possible to open up a credit card without one. These credit cards for students may come with more limits such as lower credit limit but they are efficient tools in building your teen’s personal credit history.

Teach Your Teens about Correct Credit Card Use

No matter which type of credit card for student you acquire, you can do much in helping your kids stay out of debt trouble. Teach them about the wise use of credit card especially when it comes to submitting payments. Make sure that your teenager understands the implications of using the card.

It’s best to work with your kids in looking for the right credit card. You can compare the possible choices together and consider the disadvantages and advantages of each card. This way, your teenager would learn the importance of doing research and comparison before making a choice.

Teenagers should realize the importance of building good credit history while they’re still in college. Point out the advantages that maintaining a solid credit history especially after they graduated from college. When it’s time for them to look for employment, they should know that enjoying good or excellent credit rating can help them get hired more easily.

As a parent, you can share your personal experiences on being a credit card holder. What are the things that you’ve done that helped you attain good credit? Are there things that you could’ve done differently? How were you able to keep your credit history in good standing? What tips can you give your child with regards to using credit cards in building credit?

These are pointers that you can share with your teenager to keep them out of bad debt. After helping them choose the right credit card, parents should give guidance on using credit cards the smart way.

About the Author

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit cards articles that would help build student credit.
Copyright 2009