I am not sure where I should post this question, so I will start here.

I am currently 18 years old (19 in February) and I have been looking to apply for my first credit card as a joint account with my parents so that I can begin to establish a credit. I love to fly and travel, so I would like to have a card that earns me points/miles as I spend.

Is there a program that sounds like it would work, and if so, which program is the best?

Thank you,
cptuttle
CT

You'll honestly have to wait a year before you can apply for point earning cards in order to build your credit. I'd recommend you sign up for the Citi Forward or Discover More for students, and your local credit union/bank card. Pay bills on time, request a credit limit increase at 6 months, and then apply for points earning cards after a year.

you'll have to wait for aroudn a year before you can get larger credit cards with signup bonuses Like cardinalkid said just try to get your foot in with starting cards such as discover student, maybe a secured card. Also, if you have a checking/savings account with a certain bank they may be more willing to help you open a credit card. Once you have that pay in full every month and you credit score should be around 740 in one year. At that point you have around the minimum score+credit history to start being approved for major cards.

I think the Chase Freedom would be the ideal card to start IF you can get it. I've heard people being approved without any credit history. However, chances are you will not and it is a good card to get around 6 months in.

Don't apply for a joint account, unless you want to forever be dependent on your parents' credit. Do this:

1. Open a Chase College Checking account

2. Apply for Chase Freedom and Discover It (or other no AF card)

3. If you get lucky and get approved, great, wait 6 months and apply for something else. If not, apply for a Secured card from Capital One. Then in 6 months re-apply for Chase Freedom

When I turned 18 I got declined for the Chase Student card. IMO Student credit cards are 100% BS. They're not necessarily easier for you to get approved for as a student. They just have rewards program that "cater to students" but actually just kind of suck.

After I got declined, I got a $200 secured card from Orchard Bank. I paid in full every month, 6 months later I applied for Chase Freedom and was approved.

I don't think this is true. While some student cards may have rewards that cater to students, it's easier to get approved as a student compared to other cards. A student is more likely to get approved for the Chase Freedom vs. Sapphire Preffered or Discover More for Students vs. Discover It, etc. The requirements for income, time at job, time at residence, etc, are lower for these cards and for students.