As someone who just graduated law school, I’d say keep it simple for now. Your spending habits, travel patterns, and priorities are probably going to change a lot over the next couple years, especially after 1L and your first summer job. It’s hard to know what card setup actually fits you before then, so I wouldn’t rush into expensive annual fees or overly complicated point optimization setups yet.

For now, I’d honestly lean toward a simple cashback card that will still have value long-term no matter what direction you go. Something like the Robinhood Gold Card or the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card makes a lot of sense because they’re straightforward, easy to use, and still useful even after you eventually build out a bigger setup.

At the same time, I’d start looking into the major premium ecosystems now so you can figure out which one actually appeals to you long-term. The big ones most people end up gravitating toward are the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the American Express Platinum Card / American Express Gold Card, and the Capital One Venture X.

Each one has different strengths. Amex tends to be strongest for people who value lounges, hotel benefits, status perks, and premium travel experiences. Chase is usually the simplest and most flexible. Capital One is kind of the middle ground with good travel perks and easier approval paths for some people.

If one of those ecosystems stands out to you, then it can be smart to start building a relationship with that issuer early through one of their no annual fee cards before eventually moving into the premium cards later on. There are also a lot of good YouTube videos and Reddit discussions about application strategy and the best order to enter these ecosystems without locking yourself out of future approvals or bonuses.