Credit Cards and College Campuses

Right now I am working on a website for my financial blogging. It's my dream to have an advice site, especially geared toward college students. It will probably be launched in the next few weeks. I am currently reading a website that helps you get started. She has an awesome product. I have no doubt I will market her product on my site.

What I have been thinking about the last few days is college campus and credit. I have a really good credit score now. Finally, at 32 I have a good score. However, where would I be if I had not been marketed to by every credit card company during my college years. I was bombarded by credit card companies to sign up. They set up tables at schools and give away free stuff to sign up. I wonder how many parents out there realize this? I recently saw an editorial on television about this phenomena. Yale and Harvard make MILLIONS of dollars per year from the companies to be allowed to set up at the school. That's right........millions. If this is the case, why is tuition so high?

I think that parents need to start BEFORE their kid goes off to college. What can you do to prevent the problem? Do we have control over their social security numbers until they are 18? If your child about to head to college......sit down with them and follow the previous post about protecting your credit.

Question to my readers: Where did you get your first credit card? What was it?