Being rejected doesn't hurt your credit score. Asking for credit hurts your credit score, whether you're accepted or not.

Why don't you try one of those prepaid debit cards? There are some that help build credit for free.

Join a credit union. I am also a 24 year old college graduate and Navy Federal rules... but there are other credit unions if you have no military family members. US credit? or something like that.. just google it! They are better than banks. I was immediately qualified and got the lowest APR 7.9%. Word to the wise don't sign up fore CC with huge APR %s-- like 24% store cards-- unless you know you are going to pay it off every month.. but.. be realistic....

Get a secured credit card. Almost impossible to get rejected for one of those since you gotta put down money as collateral.

Actually being rejected does hurt you since now the person has a inquiry and no new tradeline to show for the ding it caused. Poster is much more likely to be rejected based on just that fact. This is a bad economy and time to try and build credit. You gotta be smarter about it. DO as the other poster suggested, start out with a "starter card", a secured card for about $500. Bank of America used to have a good one that would "unsecure" with 12 on time payments. (this means the secured card would become a regular credit card and your security will be returned back to you) Its worth cheking into to see if this was a program that they still offer. And yes you do need good credit to get a job, get a car, get insurance, to get a house (either to rent or buy). Unfortunatly the American way of life has made it harder to live without good credit. And yes you will run into the "cant have credit till you get credit" run around until you do your homework and find a starting point. Been there done it, have great credit and dont live with huge debts or fears.

#114... the point isn't black mail... the point of requiring a credit line is to prove that you can budget well. If you have a job and are great with saving your money but go to a bank and ask for a loan, or go to an apartment complex and ask for a room... what do you have that proves you're NOT one of those people that doesn't know how to budget and will cause them debt and collection issues? Like others have mentioned... a phone bill is sometimes enough... it shows a history that you make payments on time and are responsible. Same thing with having a credit card or a secured loan. Just because someone has a credit card doesn't mean they're spending like crazy or going into debt. Buying 30 bucks worth of groceries? Pay for it with a card instead of cash... then at the end of the month pay off the 30 bucks from the card in full. No debt. No problem.

I had a similar problem a few years ago. When I was in college I couldn't find a job (because my life sucks) but I kept getting credit card applications in the mail. My parents suggested I apply for a credit card to build up good credit. I applied for a card and got rejected because I didn't have a job. They were kicking me when I was down. It was bad enough I couldn't find a job but they wouldn't let me build up good credit either. I eventually got a Discover card but as the joke goes, "Good luck discovering a place that accepts the Discover card."

I do not sympathize with you at all because you have alternatives. Like someone said earlier, get a card with a low limit like $500. There are cards out there just for college students. I had my first card at 18 years old that was like this. You really don't have an excuse.

wow the world has some pretty dumb catch 22s

If you haven't established a credit history, what makes you think that they would automatically resolve to give you credit? That's not to mention that you could've asked for advice or help on building credit first. YDI for not thinking it through.