<p>If you dont end up pledging, what is there to do on/off campus. I have heard about the benefits/detriments of pledging, but what about he benefits/detriments of not pledging?</p>
<p>what do you mean by “to do” ?
activities and fun?</p>
<p>I have no idea really. I have gone to a movie and seen a show downtown. I guess I don’t “go out” much though.</p>
<p>It will be similar to ur first semester but without all the open parties (altho you’ll throw some small ones urself/go to apartment parties). I’d definitely recommend at least looking into joining a frat. Rushing is not a commitment and you’ll be able to better weigh your options by going. Also rush week is realllly fun so that in itself is a reason to go. gl</p>
<p>I am clueless as to how the greek system works. The point of my question was like, if you do not pledge, how will your social life be different down the road. Are non affiliated upper classmen outcasts, will not pledging make it significantly harder to have friends or fit in? Are most parties frat/sorority parties, or are they parties thrown by nonaffiliated people.</p>
<p>Are you a freshman? </p>
<p>If so…during second semester on North Campus you will (possibly) hear a lot about the Greek scene- like who joined what frat or sorority, what events people have, who’s mixing with who. I’ve heard from my non-greek friends that it was either annoying or that they felt left out (depending on the person).</p>
<p>Are many of your friends pledging? If they all pledge and you don’t you may feel left out as they have events you aren’t invited to and as they begin to bond with the brothers.</p>
<p>If most of your friends aren’t pledging, you probably won’t be affected that much if you choose to not pledge anywhere.</p>
<p>If you don’t have friends you’re happy with (not trying to be rude-- a lot of people feel this way after 1 semester)- going through rush and/or pledging could be a way (not the ONLY way) to make new friends. Same as getting into any other highly involved club.</p>
<p>Do you go to a lot of frat parties? If you do not pledge, you will notice that there are significantly less open frat parties second semester than first semester. This is because first semester frats have a lot of parties to attract pledges, and second semester a lot of mixers with sororities. </p>
<p>Greek life isn’t for everyone and I know people can find a similar social niche in sports teams/video game clubs/other activities. So its not like you lose out if you don’t join.</p>
<p>This is coming from a senior in a sorority.</p>
<p>Also want to say that during freshman and soph yrs most parties are frat parties, while junior and senior year when most people are in apartments, everyone just has parties.</p>
<p>There is plenty to do at Cornell if your not in greek life. Although, I highly encourage everyone to consider greek life. </p>
<p>All the open parties continue throughout the year, you will be able to attend the same frat parties that you did in the fall (although most frats have less parties in the spring) </p>
<p>if you have an id, collegetown bars are always a good time </p>
<p>House parties as well</p>
<p>additionally, im sure there are plenty of clubs you may be interested in that you can join still meet people and have a good time.</p>
<p>yea, im an ED admit, not a freshman, I was just wondering because I see a lot of threads the other way around here. Thanks for your post, it was the info I was looking for.</p>
<p>Coffee’s post is great and I’d just like to concur</p>
<p>In response to ixjunitxi’s comment that : “All the open parties continue throughout the year, you will be able to attend the same frat parties that you did in the fall (although most frats have less parties in the spring)”</p>
<p>Frats have MANY less open parties in spring. Their efforts are mostly focused on the pledges and on mixers. The open parties really only start again during “pledge party season”, when the pledges throw the big parties they had been planning for many weeks, which is towards the end of pledging.</p>
<p>Um no, there are many parties during the spring semester, as i said before not as many as the fall but at least one or two each day of the weekend</p>
<p>There are plenty of open parties each fall semester. There are fewer open parties (but some) in the spring semesters. After sophomore year, you won’t be going to frat parties anyway so essentially we’re talking about 2 semesters where you might be constrained in where you can party.</p>
<p>2/3’s of the school is not Greek so there’s no outcasting. Your social life will be the same as before. If you’re into the frat/sorority stuff, then pledge. If not, you can enjoy a wonderfully fulfilling social life nonetheless.</p>
<p>There’s plenty of life outside of Greek Life. </p>
<p>I would say that it won’t make or break your college social life, but it can be convenient. Especially freshman and sophomore year, where weekend social life is largely oriented towards frat parties. Of course, there are apartment parties, clubs, movies, concerts and all the other activities on and off campus that make Cornell such a dynamic place. That being said, as someone who was in Greek Life, it was nice to just go over to the house and hang out on the weekend (I should say that by junior year, I was avoiding our open parties because I didn’t care for all the drunk freshmen). </p>
<p>If you’re thinking about Greek Life, I’d suggest exploring it during rush (you don’t have to accept a bid if one is given to you). If you’re not really interested, there’s plenty of life on campus and off campus to keep you busy and happy.</p>