A call for entries on a tough topic results in 7 stand outs:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/your-money/essays-about-work-and-class-that-caught-a-colleges-eye.html
Here are the essays:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/05/20/your-money/college-essays-on-money.html