abed

Thanks everyone for the responses! I'm glad I posted, this has been really helpful. The reason I was feeling iffy was because the department website didn't say that the diversity statement was optional -- well, it didn't say anything about the diversity statement at all. But I'm heartened by the responses that if there is space for it in the online application, it can't hurt to include it, especially since I've already prepared one for another school. I'm an immigrant and a racial minority, which ties directly into my research interests in political science. I'm focusing on that and how it has shaped my research agenda and pedagogy as a teaching assistant, as well as how my background has encouraged my involvement in community organizing efforts that have sparked my interest in social sciences in other ways.

I feel like there's an obvious answer to this question that I'm missing, but I can't seem to find it so I thought I would turn to the good people of gradcafe for help. Yale's Poli Sci department website states "Please note that ALL applicants for the Ph.D. in Political Science are required to submit GRE General Exam test scores, a writing sample, a personal statement, transcripts, and 3 letters of recommendation", but the online application portal also has a section where you can upload a diversity statement. Should I go ahead and upload a diversity statement (I have written this for other schools so adapting it for Yale wouldn't take too much time), or does the department's lack of request for it mean that it's irrelevant/wouldn't be read/would be frowned upon? Thanks in advance for any help on this!