Apple Monthly Installments

I start college in about a month or so and I think I would really benefit from having an iPad that I use specifically just for my schooling stuff. Here's the issue: I'm not capable of paying for what I need all at once. Then I noticed that you could do monthly payments with the Apple Card so I applied for it. Keep in mind I have never owned a credit card before so I don't have any credit history which resulted in me getting declining for the card. Is there anything else I can do or should I just give up on the subject?