Have you had your current cards for a year or better?
If so just apply for the BCP right now. Good income, good report for a mixed file (better than mine was when I was approved by a large margin) and you're above the anecdotal FICO requirement by a non-trivial amount.
I'd also hit Sallie Mae before the new accounts post, Barclay's can be picky and I don't think they'll help, rather they'd likely hinder.
Re: CSP, I'm thinking you may need to two step it honestly and get the Freedom now, show some history on that, then apply for the CSP. Chase does care about relationships more and more. If it were me, and I didn't need a travel card right away, I'd do BCP / Sallie / Freedom now, then wait till sometime next year and pick up the travel card you want. CSP vs. Arrival I'm not qualified to suggest on, other than to say I somewhat doubt you'd get the CSP right now unless you have an extensive relationship with Chase currently.
@Anonymous wrote:Credit Scores:
EQ: 700, EX: 716, TU: 722
Annual Income: $108,000
Inquiries: 1 on each report
AAoA: 8 years
Oldest open account: 10 years, 9 months
Open cards:
1st Financial Bank: $1800 CL, 1% uti CLI
Home Depot: $500 CL, $0 balance CLI
Car loans: (Joint with husband)
1st: $7000/$27,000
2nd: $2000/$9,000
Student loan: $4500/$5000
Baddies:
(1) 30 day late on a closed BOA card in June 2007. GW to remove late, it will go anyway in june this yr
(1) 60 day late on closed BOA card in July 2007 - TU/EX are reporting these as 90day lates, as late as Oct 2007. GW as well
(5) 30 day late payments on the car loans (2 on one car, 3 on the other), latest one being Aug 2011.
2 paid collection from Feb 2010 on EQ GW to see if will drop1 paid collection from Feb 2010 on EX GW to see if will drop
0 collections on TU
I am interested in these cards but am not sure if I will get approved. I need some insight and a push to app!
Sallie Mae: Really want this card, I don't spend a lot on gas and would love to use it for Amazon purchases every month. Prob ok for this one
Barclay's Arrival: This would be a great everyday card and I think it would benefit me over CSP. My family of 6 takes domestic coach flights at least once a year and it would be great to choose what airline and travel site we could use the points on.
AMEX BCP: My DREAM card!!! I would use this for all the groceries we buy every month and would love to be apart of the AMEX family. Our spending could definitely justify the AF. Would wait to try get more negs taken care of
____________________________________
I have been banking with Chase for 12 years at least, so I am interested in the Chase Trifecta with the Freedom and CSP although I think the Barclay's Sallie Mae/Arrival would better suit my needs. Would the CSP fit me better than the Arrival? If so, I have no need for the Freedom really but if it would help me get the CSP I would get it.
Should I let those new credit lines (NFCU $25k cashrewards, and hopefully the full $15k Navcheck) post and wait until my 60-90 day baddie falls off (and hopefully GW my 30day lates and 2 collections) in July to apply for the Sallie Mae/Arrival/BCP? Or will they not like that I just got new credit with NFCU so I should apply now (even though I only have one main credit card with an $1800 limit)? NFCU is likely to approve you I would do it now
I am hoping to obtain these cards by the end of the year, as they really are the only cards I want and I will then need to garden for 2years+ so we can buy a house.
Any advice is appreciated, just looking for a good strategy for apping. I have the app itch but I can be patient. I am going for higher limits (although I know I have to start somewhere) and I don't want to waste inquiries =(
Good luck to you 
@baller4life wrote:I say take Freedom to start a credit card relationship with Chase. Call Barclay to recon Sallie Mae. Try Amex prequalify site.
Pre-qualify for Amex is pretty lackluster in my opinion; if you can get a Freedom pre-qual, BCP is pretty much a given I think especially with OP's income. Chase's UW standards on pre-qual are way above their minimums anecdotally.
If taking the shot at Sallie and Freedom, should do the Amex regardless for the usual statistical FICO goodness reasons. Get those inquiries aging ASAP when either establishing new credit, or establishing first round of keeper cards. Maybe even second round of keepers come to think of it too, doesn't make nearly as much sense after that as one should already have most reward categories covered by that point.
