College Students Awash in Credit Card Debt
Credit card companies aggressively court college students with unsolicited credit card offers both on and off campus .Some of the typical marketing methods used are flyers placed in textbooks, bulletin board advertisements, and even affiliation with on-campus groups such as fraternities. The most visible method is the use of tables set up on campus in the student union, offering such enticements as water bottles, T-shirts, music CDs, and candy bars to encourage student applications.
This easy access to credit has created a nightmare for many college students who find themselves heavily in debt and struggling to meet their minimum monthly payments while attempting to maintain a full-time course load. Recognizing the trouble unsophisticated students can get into through unfettered access to credit cards, some colleges and universities have set up formal educational seminars to warn students about the dangers of credit and to help them master money management.