Program that offers college savings tips kicks off

Making It Count, an educational service provider, said today that its "Making College Financial Planning Count" initiative is underway for the fifth consecutive year.

This free program provides parents and students nationwide with a comprehensive overview of the financial planning process, the company said, and with the US economy in such tough shape, the program may be especially relevant this year. (To read a recent Globe story about how parents and students are now considering applying to more affordable colleges, please click here.)

Making It Count is an Ohio-based business unit of Monster Worldwide Inc., the technology and job-search company with headquarters in New York and offices in Maynard, and of Bank of America Corp., a North Carolina financial services company with a big presence in Massachusetts.

Among the topics addressed during "Making College Financial Planning Count" seminars are options for developing a college funding strategy including scholarships, grants, and loans.

"Over the last decade, we have seen a considerable rise in the overall costs to attend college," J.R. Cifani, vice president and general manager of Making It Count, said in a statement. "According to College Board's 2007 Trends in College Pricing, the total costs for full-time students attending private four-year colleges and universities climbed an average of 2.6 percent and in-state students at public institutions saw an average rise of 3.5 percent. This program can help take the guesswork out of college financial planning and allow parents to enjoy this exciting time in their child's life."

The New York Times Co., parent of The Boston Globe, has an alliance with Monster to sell help-wanted advertising.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)