What do i look for when applying for my first credit card?

i'm in college and looking to establish credit and use my card for everyday buying if needed, and what are about the best providers to go through?

Look at that little table on the disclosure they send you, and check to make sure there is no annual fee, and that they provide a grace period before charging interest on your purchases. Cards that give you a low interest rate are good, and ones that give you a percentage of cash back on purchases are even better.

I have had the same CapitalOne card for years, and they have been great. They really stay on top of potential fraud and even call me to confirm purchases that seem fishy to them. They have kept my interest rate at 5.9% for years (which is really low) -ever since I called them to request that rate; can you believe it?

Whatever you do, plan to pay your entire balance before the grace period each month, if at all possible. When you are a student like I am, it's not always possible. In that case, pay as much as you can, and call them to request a lower interest rate like I did and see what they say.