Let me give you a timeline....
12/3/12 - Joined MyFico - Got power report
I have 5 credit cards, $8,500/$12,500 cc utilization = 68%, 3-year-old $104k mortgage, $32k in school loans, oldest account is 11 years, never had a late payment, judgement, or anything negative
Myfico score = 677
during December
- got $8k personal loan from bank - paid off $6,500 in credit cards
- my car died.....Bought 2009 Toyota for $13,500 - paid $1,500 down from personal loan above, and financed $12,000 with Wells Fargo @ 4.99% for 60 months
- One of my credit cards lowered my credit limit from $1,800 to $500 because of my 2 recent inquiries (so they claimed...whatever)
1/23/13 - Got power report
5 credit cards, $2,000/$11,000 cc utilization = 18%, 3-year-old $103k mortgage, $32k in school loans, $8,000 personal loan, $12,000 auto loan
Myfico score = 741
1/24/13 - Applied for Navy Federal Cash Rewards card, I make $60k a year
Approved over the phone for $17,000 credit limit!!!!!! Holy s***!! Was expecting a few grand maybe!
10/15/2012 - 664
12/15/2012 - 684
01/24/2013 - 741
Starting Score: 526 EXP 09/2012 600 FICO 10/2012 608 EX (lenderpull)11/2012 
Starting Score: EQ 717 EX 724 TU 736