Ascencion Garcia and his 17-year-old son, Alejandro, sat side by side, staring at the computer screen, wrestling the long electronic application to the ground.

The father and his son, a senior at Mt. Pleasant High School in San Jose, were engaged in an annual rite of passage for savvy high school students the year they graduate: filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

The federal program, along with the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, are the keys to free money for college for students with a C grade-point average or higher and whose families meet income and asset guidelines. But to open the door to state aid that is guaranteed to all recent qualifying high school graduates with financial need, families must fill out the two required forms no later than Tuesday.

``It's just a little intimidating, but it's not that hard,'' the younger Garcia said of the federal form. ``Sometimes the questions aren't that straight and many of us are afraid of making a mistake.'' Still, he said, ``the most important thing is filling out the forms because there is a deadline.''

The elder Garcia said he came with his son to the financial aid workshop at San Jose State University this year because ``I want him to have choices. I worry about his future. I want him to be prepared.''

Garcia, who was working as a driver after being laid off from a customer service technician job at a manufacturing company, thinks college is the key.

The historic guarantee of state college aid for needy students was made by the Legislature in better times. The Cal Grant promise applies to new and recent high school graduates to help with tuition and expenses at California colleges. The grants do not have to be repaid.

There are several kinds of Cal Grants, which are awarded based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. They are available to help cover tuition expenses at the California State University and University of California systems, as well as the state's private colleges. Grants are also available for community college students and new high school graduates attending vocational schools.

Cal Grants provide up to $2,046 for students attending CSU campuses, up to $4,984 for UC schools and up to $9,708 for California's private colleges. However, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed substantially reducing the size of the private school university grant.

The Cal Grant GPA Verification form is available at high school counseling offices and college financial aid offices. The federal form is available at the same locations or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Filling out the federal form also is required to qualify for a federal Pell Grant for college and all other federally sponsored financial aid programs.

Tom Key, head counselor at San Jose's Independence High School, advises families that they do not have to have done their 2003 income tax returns to complete the federal form by the Tuesday deadline. Income can be estimated and the form can be amended after tax returns are completed. ``The important thing is they have to get it into the system by March 2,'' Key said.