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cul3s
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Jerz
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fall09
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isa
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My understanding (and this could be wrong) is that if you have a gap of longer than 6 months, you should explain it. I don't think it necessarily has to go in the optional essay but you should find a way to work it into one of the other essays or your resume. Basically, the idea is to tell the adcom what you were doing during those months (e.g. studying, new hobby, etc) so they know you weren't slacking off. :)
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A lot of the applications that explicitly ask about gaps in employment ask about gaps longer than 3 months. So I would use 3 months as the drawn line warranting the optional essay. (I would consider post university, not just between jobs, as a gap needing explanation)