Cover Letter for Online PhD Applications?

[The_Longest_Hound]

Should applicants include a cover letter for online PhD applications?  I'm getting a lot of mixed information on this point, and none of the applications I've looked at specifically ask for it, so it'd have to be uploaded as an "additional" or miscellaneous document.  Thanks in advance for your help.

[rising_star]

I wouldn't bother with a cover letter unless it is specifically asked for. All of the information that you'd include in that cover letter should already be in your other application materials.

[The_Longest_Hound]

For future searchers: I have confirmed with the professor that was telling me to write the cover letters that they are probably unnecessary.  Thanks for your help rising_star.