Whoa. This thread has changed from "top 3 things Rice looks for in an individual" to a debate as to why literaturegirl and her classmates didn't get into Rice. Why don't we just forget about it? What's done is done, and why it was done doesn't matter anymore.
For prospective Rice students and those who have no idea why they got accepted to/rejected by Rice, here's the link to Rice's Philosophy and Evaluation:
Rice University | Prospective Students
Remember, there are more qualified applicants than spots available each application season. Being rejected does not mean you are worthless as a scholar or as a person.
Hope this helps prospective Rice students and consoles those who did not get into Rice.