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).
A personal profile essay requires two functions: interviewing the person and writing the profile. According to The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers, the goal of a personal profile is to write a biographical sketch that gives a sense of the person's appearance, behavior, character and accomplishments..