Common App Essay- thesis

<p>I just noticed that my essay does not exactly have a thesis. It starts off with a quotation from my favorite poem and then dives into a story. The conclusion brings it back to the quotation from the beginning. Should I try to force a thesis into the introduction?</p>

<p>Also, is it true that the essay can be longer than the 500 words? I would probably either go over 500 or have to delete something noteworthy to add a thesis.</p>