If a Personal Statement (not a "Why Us?") is described as optional, is it really optional?

LoveTheBard
Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:13:12 +0000

It sound like the “additional information” section on the Common App. Unless there is something that needs explaining, I wouldn’t think of it as an “optional essay;” it sounds more like a “if you have anything unusual that you need to explain, do it here.”

What is the exact wording?