Monster and Bank of America's 'Making College Financial Planning Count' Program In Its Fifth Year

Making It Count, an educational service provider for students and parents and a business unit of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST), and Bank of America, one of the world's largest financial institutions, today announced Making College Financial Planning Count is underway for the fifth consecutive year. This free program provides parents and students nationwide with a comprehensive overview of the financial planning process.

Topics addressed during the one-hour seminar include:

Options for developing a college funding strategy including scholarships, grants and loans.

An introduction to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as an overview of crucial tips and deadline dates.

Insight on how to send their child to college without risking the family's financial future.

Over the last decade, we have seen a considerable rise in the overall costs to attend college. 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(1), said J.R. Cifani, vice president and general manager, Making It Count. 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.

I felt overwhelmed about how to pay for college before I came to this seminar. Things were explained so easily that I feel confident about sending my daughter to the school she wants to go to, says Delona Durano, seminar attendee and parent of a college-bound student.

The Making College Financial Planning Count program is also available online at elearning.makingitcount.com. With audio and video functionality, as well as useful tips, detailed information to help plan and manage costs, and the ability to save, update and print a personal funding strategy, the online tool provides parents and students with an interactive overview of the college financing process.

Students and parents who are preparing for the cost of college, especially during the current economic climate, face more financial challenges than ever before, said Sandy Dunleavy, Student Banking executive at Bank of America. Through this innovative program, parents will gain a better understanding of the college financial process, as well as the knowledge and confidence for them to develop their own college funding plan.

In addition to Making College Financial Planning Count, Bank of America aligns with Making It Count to offer parents and students a variety of other financial education programs, including the Ultimate Money Skills program. Ultimate Money Skills (www.ultimatemoneyskills.com) provides students with tools and techniques to help them build an effective budget, manage their credit wisely and begin investing for the future.

Additional information, including a list of Making College Financial Planning Count locations, is available at: