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).
How does the GRE essay work? The GRE essay section, also known as the GRE Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), is actually comprised of two essays: the Issue and the Argument. You are allowed 30 minutes for each essay. Both test your ability to formulate a cogent thesis statement, which you must defend over the course of several paragraphs.