If you’re a college student, you’ve probably noticed three things. First, you need good credit in order to find financing for major purchases, like cars. Second, the fact that you need credit to get credit can be frustrating to young people who are trying to make it on their own for the first time. And, finally, you might have noticed that credit card companies will stop at nothing to get your business.

That last fact is good news for students who need to build up their credit scores quickly. Colleges are one of the last bastions of easy credit. You can take advantage of those credit card offers without digging yourself deeply into debt. Here are some quick do’s and don’t to get you started.

Do apply for credit cards. They will help your credit score if you use them wisely. The more available credit you have, the better off your score will be. On the flipside, if you have too much debt, your score will suffer. So get 2-3 cards with generous credit limits, but don’t even think about maxing them out. If you decide to switch cards, leave your old account open. Your credit score is also affected by the length of your credit history.

Do use your credit standing to secure bank loans. Once you’ve established a good credit history, boost your score higher by taking out small, frequent personal loans from your bank. Always repay these on time. This will establish that you’re not only good at managing your credit cards, you’re also good at making installment payments.

Don’t charge more than you can pay off in a month. Credit cards are not a license to live beyond your means, even though people of all ages sometimes treat them as such. To keep an excellent payment history and avoid financing fees and interest, pay off your card balances in full at the end of every month. Make small purchases that you know you can afford. It might be tempting to open an account and just not use it, but this could cause the account to be closed due to inactivity – which would result in less available credit for you, and a bruise on your credit score.

Don’t forget that your business is valuable. Some colleges even have partnerships with banks, allowing them to solicit students’ business on campus. That’s because your demographic is very valuable to credit card companies. After all, you’re a young adult pursuing an education, and they believe you will have lots of spending power someday. It’s in their best interest to sign you up quickly. If you don’t think a card issuer is giving you good terms, make sure they know that you will take your business elsewhere.

Some authorities warn students not to sign up for student credit cards. But if you use them responsibly, they can actually get you started down the road to financial success.

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