You're both right, the wording prior to the list of reasons isn't "This is why we denied you", it is instead "The key factors that adversely affected your credit score are". I think the one that concerned them the most was length of revolving accounts in this particular case. When I attempted to recon that was the only reason they mentioned, and they mentioned it consistently.
Now, the definition of consolidation roots itself in 'combining'. I only have the one. Maybe I can convince somebody the principal and interest are two seperate loans and they need to consolidate the two together for me? 
Or is consolidation a loose term in this case given that 99% of the time it's used for multiple loans but can also be used to essentially refinance a single loan?
This is veering away from credit card discussion so if a mod wants to move it, I'll completely understand.
BOFA is notoriously conservative, even compared to lenders like Chase.
Your issue is simply a matter of time and money. You have the scores to justify a mortgage, if you have enough income to justify your DTI on the mortgage app, and enough cash or assets for a reserve you'll be fine.
That's a long way from haunting, assuming you maintain your increase your income as time goes on, you'll be OK. Just work on reducing your debt which is never a bad thing to do regardless. Frankly, you're in with Chase and Amex, what do you need BOFA for anyway? Current credit offerings, if I had those two lender's cards in my pocket, I'd pretty much be done for 99% of my credit needs from a rewards perspective... and I suspect even most people cover between 90-95% of their spend between products offered by those two.
Really, unless they change the old student loans and kick up the interest rate, it's not as if you've done anything wrong to date: without a mortgage, those are probably still the cheapest money you've ever been lent from an APR perspective... those are the loans you're supposed to make minimum payments on compared to a more expensive revolving or auto loan balance.
Forget the words and call someone about it and see if it is eligible
@Anonymous wrote:You're both right, the wording prior to the list of reasons isn't "This is why we denied you", it is instead "The key factors that adversely affected your credit score are". I think the one that concerned them the most was length of revolving accounts in this particular case. When I attempted to recon that was the only reason they mentioned, and they mentioned it consistently.
Now, the definition of consolidation roots itself in 'combining'. I only have the one. Maybe I can convince somebody the principal and interest are two seperate loans and they need to consolidate the two together for me?
This is veering away from credit card discussion so if a mod wants to move it, I'll completely understand.
@Revelate wrote:
That's a long way from haunting, assuming you maintain your increase your income as time goes on, you'll be OK. Just work on reducing your debt which is never a bad thing to do regardless. Frankly, you're in with Chase and Amex, what do you need BOFA for anyway? Current credit offerings, if I had those two lender's cards in my pocket, I'd pretty much be done for 99% of my credit needs from a rewards perspective... and I suspect even most people cover between 90-95% of their spend between products offered by those two.
Oh I'm super happy to be in with them. I got giddy when Amex approved me, and I think I actually made an unearthly noise when I saw the Chase instant approval as well. If I could play the night over again I wouldn't app for BoA or CapOne, but that's easy to say what with 20/20 hindsight.... I just figured that since I took the inquiry I might as well play it out as far as I could. 
You just let the moment get away from you 