This month, students across America will be submitting applications to attend the University of California next year. At UC Davis, the admissions director anticipates an increase in applications due to the larger number of graduating seniors in California high schools. The recent UC Board of Regents resolutions ending the use of race, ethnicity and gender in student admissions will not take affect until 1997. However, in 1996 there will be no automatic admission of eligible underrepresented students as there has been, according to Gary Tudor, undergraduate admissions outreach services director at UC Davis. He says the university will be looking more closely now at other criteria -- such as special talents, experiences, and other circumstances -- for all qualified applicants. High school counselors do not anticipate less interest from underrepresented students in obtaining a UC education, Tudor notes, but there is a strong need and understanding for students and their counselors to review carefully the criteria by which campuses admit students. Those interested in attending UC should apply to more than one or two campuses and they should carefully develop their personal essay.