<p>is it bad to NOT submit an optional additional statement? </p>
<p>it seems like it could go either way...either its an extra chance to prove your writing abilities and tell them more about you, or its an extra place to give them a sob story about all the tough things you've overcome.</p>
<p>any thoughts?</p>
<p>I would write the essay. We have been told by a few schools that "optional" doesn't really mean optional. Not from Chapel Hill, mind you, but they have made it clear that they place a lot of emphasis on the essays. Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks so much!</p>
<p>Take the time to make the optional personal statement a good one, and in no way, shape, or form will it hurt you. I used that space to explain my lack of super cool summer adventure programs, and how I still managed to learn a lot about both myself and my life via my job. It wasn't groundbreaking, and I think my other essays were probably better, but it obviously didn't hurt me either.</p>