Close cap 1 secured?

[Anonymous]

I have had a secured cap 1 card since January 2015. Paid a $200 deposit and had a $200 CL. Around the 6 month mark cap 1 gave me a $300 CLI. Now I have a $500 CL. I was hoping to upgrade this card to an unsecured card but was just told by cap 1 the only way to get out of this card is to close it. I've had it since Jan 2015. I don't plan on doing much with my credit for 2-3 years. I'm starting college in May, once I'm done with school and working we want to buy a house, so in about 3-4 years. I would like to refinance our car in January of next year. Currently my scores are 596 EX, 605 TU, 611 EX. They were a little lower when I got the card and the $300 CLI. I've only been late on this card by a day or 2. Current balance is $432 which I was planning to pay off next month. I also have a kohls charge opened in November 2015 $300 CL $0 balance, a fingerhut account opened in late 2014, auto loan with cap 1 opened Jan 2015, so several newish items. Would it hurt me a lot to pay off and close the secured card and open an unsecured card? Being that I don't plan to do anything with my credit for 2-3 years? Any advice is appreciated! I would love to be in the 700 club in 2-3 years when I graduate and get a job and start looking to buy. Basically I want to make sure opening a new card and closing this secured card won't hurt me too much.

[Anonymous]

Based on your scores, I'd advise you against closing it.  Get your scores up a bit more aand then get rid of it.

[SpiceIslander]

Aggre with yes-its-me!

[Anonymous]

I'd agree.  By all means, pay it off/down to reduce your utilization, but keep the account for a while.  If you want to look at unsecured options, maybe wait until the Cap1 balance is reporting 0/low.  But to close it entirely would eliminate that year of account history/age that it carries for you now.