As a college student, you may not have had many opportunities to establish credit. You may begin to build credit by opening a checking or savings account and keeping the accounts in good standing by avoiding overdrafts. If you have rented an apartment for a length of time and have a good history of paying your rent on time then you could see if your landlord would be willing to serve as a credit reference for you. You can also apply for a department store credit card, but be sure to pay the bill each month. Otherwise the purpose of showing your responsible use of credit cards will be defeated.