Thank you for all! This is very helpful.
It seems we need to allow ourselves plenty of time to write an essay---sounds like it is not essays in school at all!
Appreciate all of your answers :)
... your PS in your optional essay. Since your PS states your ... career goals, your optional essay about X school's specific ... of your PS and optional essay overwhelmingly similar (basically, don't ...
It depends on the content of each essay, but I think it's always good if you can cut down on what you're asking the admissions office to read. If you cover your diversity factors in your PS, you don't need to write a separate DS.