Off the top of my head Chicago, Columbia, Rice, Berkeley, WUSTL? A lot of it depends on how your willing to spin your project. My project does not need to be theory heavy but that's what I'm into so it is.
This is my second attempt since dropping out so I've applied to graduate programs three times now. I think it's really normal right now to apply more than once to get into a good program. If you want I can check out your SOP for round 2 and make some suggestions.
MG is right on. You don't lose LOR after a year or two of being away from school. The last class I took from one of my LoRs was in 2005. My other two where from post-undergrad research.