In response to Mr. Pensyl's letter ("Students with no income shouldn't be given credit," Aug. 13), I would like to thank the Penn State Alumni Association for partnering with Bank of America, which during my years in school was MBNA. Without that partnership I would never have been able to buy my first house last year.

I was fortunate enough to be able to work only during the summers when I was in school, but it left me with a very limited budget during the school year. I learned during my first three years to live only by the cash in my bank account, but as my senior year approached I realized I needed a credit card. It wasn't because I wanted to go on that spring break trip or buy new clothes but because I needed to establish a credit history. After I graduated I would need to be able to get a job, an apartment and a cell phone, but without a credit history, I could not have gotten any of those easily. As I applied for credit cards I was repeatedly turned down because I had no credit history. The Penn State MBNA card was the only credit card willing to take a chance on me.

I understand that parents want their children to be fiscally responsible. But in the real world, no credit equals bad credit. If parents teach their children how to use money and credit responsibly then they are helping their children to start their life after college on solid ground.

Jacqueline Zygmund

Class of 2004