I highly recommend skipping anything co-signed. It is a personal choice, but that puts you in a position of indebtedness just when you are starting out on your

I highly recommend skipping anything co-signed. It is a personal choice, but that puts you in a position of indebtedness just when you are starting out on your own. You don't want to owe for something before you even get started. I bought a CD for $1000, and secured a credit card with that through the same bank. It worked out better than a 'secured' credit card because I made some interest. CD Rates are different now, but it still works out better than secured. I had to do it secured because I had a $78 water bill that a roommate forgot to pay on my credit from 3 years earlier. Which reminds me of something else, try to get past paid off debts removed if that is hurting you. Sometimes they will do it, depending on your story.