Hey, I'm a 22 year-old student also, so I know where you're coming from.

I guess the first answer we need to know is whether you have any kind of credit-history. If not, then it's advisable that you allow at least a year (or even longer) to establish one before applying for major airline cards with lucrative sign-up bonus.

Before applying, do a lot of research. Applying with a bank that has a connection to the exact miles/airline card(s) that you want in the future may sway the decision-making process to your favor if you've built an impressionable history with them.

However, if you do have a good credit-history I don't see why you can't take a shot with at least one card. It would probably ding your score a bit, but if you're financially independent and mature (and it shows on-paper) then there is a chance that you could be accepted. Just play the game wisely and don't let it play you.

My story--I have a 765 FICO score (that probably doesn't mean much in the real world), a 2.8 year credit-history, a 0-5% revolving balance (I always pay balances in full), a $5,500 total credit-line, less than $9K in total income, and somehow I was approved for the 50K Continental deal. I've seen people with 6-figure salaries and stellar credit-scores initially denied, so you never know what may happen.