The Venture card is a flat 2% cash back; you earn 2 "Venture miles" per $ and can then redeem the "miles" as 1 mile = 1 cent toward ANY travel purchase. You charge the travel to your card then "redeem" as a statement credit against each specific charge.

The question is, could you earn better than a 2% rate of return from any of the true airline miles cards? For most people, the answer is no. Thus many of us carry a 2% back card for most purchases and use branded airline/hotel cards for only the "bonus" categories. (For example, I use a UA card for groceries and airfare.)

When you add FTF to the mix, it's almost impossible to earn a better return with any of these cards.

You might be able to do it with one of the hotel cards... Marriott and Hyatt have no FTF. I've personally evaluated the Marriott card; if you redeem for a travel package you can earn more than 2% on their bonus categories (airfare, dining, rental cars, Marriott hotels)... but you'd need to use the card for years to get close to a travel package just from credit card spending.

As a student, with a relatively "fresh" credit report, I'd lean toward just getting a Venture card and starting there. After you've returned, you'll have a fuller credit history and can move toward specialty cards and/or "churn" for signup bonuses.

If you can't qualify, there are plenty of 1% back, no FTF CapOne cards for dodgy credit.