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).
Subsequent Pages. Continue the header, which includes both your last name and page number, on subsequent page, numbering these consecutively. The header should be, again, 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) from the top of the page, and the text of your essay one inch (2.54 cm) from the top of the page.