Beginning with students seeking admission for fall 2005, all University of California and California State University hopefuls must submit their applications electronically.

Officials at both the UC and CSU systems said they are abandoning paper applications because most applicants already are using the Internet to apply. Last year, roughly 70 percent of applicants to UC and CSU filed applications online, officials said.

That percentage is even higher at California State University, Sacramento, where admissions officials say 75 percent of applications for this year were filed electronically.

"We expect that most students will have no problem with this change," said Susan Wilbur, director of undergraduate admissions for the UC system.

Students applying for fall 2004 admission may still use paper applications, and officials at UC and CSU said students who don't have access to a Web-connected computer can still use paper applications even after the online requirement kicks in.

"It just makes sense because this is the way students want to apply," said Emiliano Diaz, a CSUS admissions official. "Of course, we will have to make some exceptions."

Officials said an all-electronic application system will make the process speedier and more efficient.