Well, most active and passive basses when you don't use EQ are very similar. After all, the front end of your head is basically an active preamp! An active bass merely moves part of that EQ circuit into the bass where it more convenient to adjust while you are playing.
In the Common Application, it says that the Personal Essay should be at least 250 words, and attached on a separate sheet (presumably, if you're submitting it online, you attach a one-page file).
let me explain further: a typical Essay in Middle-School should be three to five paragraphs long, at least five sentences per paragraph, and be between one to two pages. High school may require five to seven paragraphs, 5+ sentences per paragraph, and be between one-and-one-half to three pages in length. College essays usually go on until you can prove a point with sufficient evidence. don't be surprised to see 20-page essays, but 5 page essays are not uncommon.