Good grades may help you land your dream job after you graduate, but there is something else you’ll be graded on throughout college that may be just as important…

…how well you use credit. Did you know that many companies now check your credit history when you apply for a job? Landlords also check your credit when applying for a lease. Good credit, you get approved, move in with your roommates, and have a stellar year.

“Bad credit, your roommates get in, and you get stuck living with Pee Wee Herman and Jar Jar Binks on the wrong side of campus”.

After all, why would a landlord think you’d pay rent on time if they know you don’t pay your other bills on time? Having a good credit score can be just as important as getting good grades, sometimes even more important, here’s why…

You’ve probably at least heard of a credit score, a number based on your credit history, or how well you use your credit. Lenders and banks use this number to determine if you are eligible for a loan, how much to loan you, and at what interest rate. Your credit also matters to anyone considering your application for a student loan, a car or house loan, auto insurance, credit cards, utilities, apartment rentals, mobile phones and jobs. Simply put, if you pay your bills on time, your credit score will increase. Pay late and it can decrease. Any late payments you make to credit cards, utilities, hospitals, loans, or landlords can appear on your credit report and lower your score.

Credit cards are among the most convenient ways to establish credit, but credit card bills are different than other bills. If you pay late, even by literally one minute on the day it’s due, you will be charged a late fee averaging $35 a pop and this can actually hurt your chances for obtaining credit later in life. You could spend four years working hard to do well in school, but a missed credit card payment can come back to haunt you and cost you money…a lot of money.

Bad credit can negatively affect your ability to get a loan for a car or a house. That could mean no loan at all, or simply a higher interest rate on that loan. A higher interest rate of just one percent on a mortgage can cost you more than $40,000 during the course of the loan. That’s more than the average American’s yearly salary! On the subject of annual income, think about this: if you had a poor history of paying bills late and missing payments, why shouldn’t you expect a prospective employer to think you could have a problem meeting deadlines at work? If you lose out on a job because of bad credit it can cost you more than $10,000 a year in salary – an awfully high price for that iPod you couldn’t afford or procrastinating on paying your bills during freshman year.

“The day you turn 18 your credit history clock starts ticking and doesn’t stop until, well, you’re lunch for a hungry family of worms… or maybe sleeping with the fishes if your credit score with Guido gets too low”.

Because your credit history begins with a blank slate, decisions you make early on can significantly impact how you receive credit down the road. Let’s say one of the first things that shows up in your credit history is a negative entry, like a missed credit card payment. The next time someone checks your credit that bad mark will really standout because you haven’t yet had a chance to establish a good credit history over time. This can have a cannonball effect because individuals checking your credit in the future can see information concerning credit decisions others have made about you in the past. It’s also important to understand these actions will lower your credit score and your credit score is frequently the only thing companies look at when evaluating you and your credit.

On the flip side, if you use credit wisely it can open a lot of doors and save you a ton of money. Establishing a credit history is easy, but building and maintaining good credit takes responsibility and planning. Educate yourself on how to use credit properly. If you’re serious about doing well in college and getting a good job when you graduate, remember:

Your GPA measures your classroom performance

Your Credit Score measures your financial performance

Your GPA and Credit Score are important indicators of who you are during and after college, but in the long run it’s your Credit Score that really matters. Making good credit decisions now is like being your own boss and giving yourself a lifetime of raises at work. Make poor credit choices and you might just find yourself cleaning up after Pee Wee and paying back Guido three times the amount you owe him…if you last that long!

Steve Kozyk is the founder of the technology company Aqua Technology Solutions and a former credit card marketer on college campuses. For more information about how to use credit wisely, please visit his site http://www.aquatechnologysolutions.com

As a true advocate for college students within the credit industry, Aqua Technology Solutions, Inc.’s goal is to educate students on how credit works and how to use it responsibly. We effectively communicate credit education to students through a medium that they can easily understand while rewarding students for using credit wisely and getting good grades in the classroom.

Aqua Technology simply will not tolerate high-pressure sales reps on campus, aggressively marketing credit card applications and harassing students on their way to class. Aqua Technology produces exceptional campus representatives through our carefully designed training programs and selection process who promote our card program while adhering to the highest standards in the student credit card industry. In fact, many of Aqua Technology’s campus representatives are current college students serving as members of our extensive internship program. The founders of our organization participated in internships during their college careers and we strongly believe in the experience and career advantages that internships create for students.

Aqua Technology uses an innovative, highly secure electronic means of acquiring new student card accounts, Electronic Credit Application (ECA) technology. The ECA is very effective at preventing identity theft and is much safer than simply using traditional paper applications. It is

Aqua Technology Solutions, Inc requests the opportunity to provide your students with a valuable service while making a positive contribution to your campus culture. If you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to visit www.aquatechnologysolutions.com or contact us directly.

“Company X” Wireless Application Test #1

Dodger Stadium

Thursday, June 5, 2006

Notice

All information herein contained is confidential and proprietary to Aqua Technology Solutions, Inc. Aqua Technology Solutions, Inc. respectfully requests that this proposal remain confidential and for the sole purpose of evaluating this partnership opportunity. Because of the proprietary nature of the information contained herein, Company X, by accepting this document, agrees that this material will not be used, or its contents revealed, in any way except to respond to this specific proposal.

Who we are

Aqua Technology Solutions, Inc. brings together software, technology, and personnel to provide a complete wireless solution for securely acquiring any type of data in the field. We accomplish this through the use of our proprietary DIAS technology which includes a powerful software suite, customizable hardware, and event staffing and planning solutions.

The DIAS software suite allows credentialed individuals the ability to create secure forms and applications, wirelessly administer them at events in the field or remotely, and provide real-time reporting tools that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Depending on the type of information being acquired, DIAS can be deployed in a variety of formats including a series of laptops or portable tablet PCs administered at a staffed event, a self-service kiosk, or on the web.

Aqua Technology also provides complete event staffing and program planning solutions including hiring and training field representatives and brand ambassador teams to acquire data in the field for our clients. Aqua Technology capitalizes on highly secure, proven technology that streamlines front-end data acquisition while improving cost-efficiency.

Introduction

Aqua Technology Solutions traveled to Dodger Stadium on June 1^st, 2006 to conduct a feasibility study to determine if our data acquisition technology, DIAS, could reliably and consistently connect to the internet inside the ballpark. The primary goal of this study was to determine if DIAS would meet or exceed the requirements for “COMPANY X”‘s event marketing and acquisition initiatives at Dodger Stadium. We performed the study with one laptop, a mobile wireless data card, and our proprietary Secure Digital Application (SDA) software, a component of Aqua’s DIAS technology suite. A signal boosting antennae was also used during portions of the study. The study primarily consisted of 6 tests at 5 locations in the Reserve level of Dodger Stadium (see figure A below). Specific test locations were selected:

1. within diverse structural areas of the ballpark including unenclosed, partially enclosed and fully enclosed locations.

2. in different geographic regions of the ballpark.

3. that were in near proximity to the current locations of the Dodgers Think Blue Rewards kiosks.

Testing was designed considering the following criterion:

1. Mobile phone reception during games is decreased due to the large volume of voice data being transferred.

2. Concrete and steel in the ballpark structure can greatly reduce the integrity of mobile data transmissions.

3. The specific geographic locations of cell towers in proximity to the ballpark will affect our internet link.

4. Testing will be performed near current Dodgers Think Blue Rewards kiosks to replicate real-world conditions at current marketing locations.

5. The hardware and software configuration of the device used for testing will be identical to that of the actual devices used during a live, in-game “COMPANY X” mobile marketing event.

Observations

Our test laptop, in conjunction with our DIAS technology suite, was able to stay connected to the internet and Aqua’s remote application server continuously for the duration of our entire study which lasted over 2 hours. We generally observed broadband up/download speeds in unenclosed and mostly unenclosed areas and better than dial-up speeds in enclosed areas. Considering the small file size of the card application data, file compression, and our proprietary data packet transmission module, the bandwidth footprint required to reliably transfer files from the field to the web is very small; typically one-fifth that of standard dial-up speed. Additionally, through DIAS’s link optimization, it automatically sets the transmission parameters that are most efficient for each type of wireless link and available bandwidth. This reduces the number of retransmitted data packets, excess control information, and other network “chatter.”

The field component of Aqua’s DIAS technology requires an external power source. We were not able to determine if electrical outlets were directly present at the current kiosk locations, but assume that power can be provided inside the ballpark. The current Dodgers Think Blue Rewards kiosk structure can support approximately 6-8 standard size laptops. Based on the observed traffic flow at the kiosks, this should be a sufficient number to avoid potential bottlenecks when large numbers of individuals decide to sign-up simultaneously. It appeared that the home plate payment kiosk was using a Verifone OMNI 3750 POS terminal to take payment for the card program. This is a very versatile terminal which can be easily integrated into the framework of our DIAS technology as can most other modern POS terminals.

Data

Weather: 77 degrees, clear, calm breeze.
Game Attendance: 38,643.

I. Left Reserve Lot 3 Gate (section 31)

Outdoor location inside ballpark on concourse near gate and concessions

Test 1: 7:05 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 140.7, 104 kb file sent successfully, without aux antenna

Test 2: 7:14 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 164.4, 902 kb file sent successfully, without aux antenna

II. Left Reserve Lot 3 (section 11) “X CARD” Kiosk R3 (IQ)

Mostly enclosed location inside ballpark on concourse near Dodgers Think Blue Rewards kiosk and entrance to enclosed concourse area under the top deck

Test 3: 7:44 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 140.1, 902 kb file sent successfully, with aux antenna

III. Reserve behind home plate (section 1) Kiosk Activation (“COMPANY X”)

Fully enclosed location inside ballpark on concourse directly beneath center of top deck surrounded on all sides by concrete and steel except for the opening of the reserve deck to field area below the terminus of the upper deck

Test 4: 7:52 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 67.4, 902 kb file sent successfully, with aux antenna

IV. Right Reserve Lot 4 Gate (section 16) “X CARD” Kiosk (IQ)

Outdoor location on concourse near gate, concessions, and “X CARD” kiosk

Test 5: 8:01 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 143.7, 901 kb file sent successfully, with aux antenna

V. Right Reserve Lot 4 (section 12) Seats

Outdoor location in reserve seating area

Test 6: 8:22 PM, Max transmit rate (kbps): 79.4, 901 kb file sent successfully, with aux antenna

Conclusion

Based on our study we were able to determine that we can reliably transfer card application data from all locations on the Reserve deck and above. Locations on the lower levels were not tested because we didn’t have access. Based on the bandwidth connectivity levels we achieved in enclosed test location #4, it is reasonable to surmise that bandwidth should not be reduced significantly at fully enclosed sections of the lower levels and by no more than a factor of 4X. Regardless, any connectivity issues that may exist on the lower levels can be remedied by the use of inexpensive signal repeaters and/or booster antennas. Further testing on the lower levels will need to be performed to determine if these extra measures will need to be taken.

POS terminals can be used at all kiosks for the Dodgers Think Blue Rewards program within the ballpark using our technology. Dodgers Think Blue Rewards self-service kiosks can be installed at key locations around the ballpark or at merchant partners for the public to interact with without the need for a staff member to be present to administer the product. Our kiosks can send captured information directly to “COMPANY X” in real-time and can be configured to dispense and encode cards, accept credit cards and cash, and print tickets and receipts. The potential also exists to allow the applicant to link their existing cards to the Dodgers Think Blue Rewards program in the ballpark at a kiosk when they initially sign-up.

Given the current kiosk structure and marketing program design, DIAS can be easily integrated into the Dodgers Think Blue Rewards ballpark marketing system. Simple field representative training will be provided by Aqua Technology. In summary, Aqua Technology believes our DIAS technology suite will be a very successful component of “COMPANY X”‘s marketing initiatives at present and as you grow.

-Please feel free to contact us at your convenience to schedule a time to discuss this study and how Aqua Technology Solutions can help grow your business.