And that is the official starting point for me to freak out, because I applied to UCSD and have not heard back anything from them. Ps: Congrats to the ones that got accepted!
I see it the same way, that is why I think is better to just get straight no. In that case you do not have to torture yourself for not having the money and making plans imagining how to raise it.
I found these example very useful when writing my own SOP, but keep in mind what fuzzylogician said and do answer the questions and make sure to address the prompt. http://admissionsource.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/successful-essays/