As text area has both row and column you have to specify both
<%= text_area(:application, :notes, cols: 40, rows: 15, class: 'myclass') %>
For text field can use
<%= text_field(:application, :name, size: 20) %>
http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActionView/Helpers/FormHelper.html#method-i-text_area